Fall is on its way. All around campus, people are covered in cardigans and jeans instead of tank tops and shorts. With the overturn of the frequently-worn in closets comes the overturn of the frequently-listened-to in headphones. These tracks boast lyrics of colder weather or at least musical implications of a slower-moving, more relaxed environment than those associated with summer.
“Underneath the Sycamore,” Death Cab for Cutie — Ben Gibbard sings of being lost and finding refuge in love in a typical yet brilliant Death Cab fashion, but this time visuals of fall are woven between the metaphorical lyrics. “Now we are under the same sun/Feel it through the leaves, let it heal us/We are the same/We are both sane/Underneath the sycamore.” There’s something about hoodie weather that makes the thought of having a companion that much more appealing, and DCFC captures those emotions well in this song off of its new album “Codes and Keys.”
“If Work Permits,” The Format — Although The Format is long broken up, its music still lives on through relevant lyrics and elaborate orchestration. “If Work Permits” begins with gentle guitar strumming and the faint whisper of crickets that only fall evenings hold. Vocalist Nate Ruess utters, “but that wind that blows across your room/it’s gonna set the sails, and send me back to you.” The breeze that seems to be cooling campus this week shares the same nostalgic feel as these lyrics. Freshmen newly accustomed to the college experience will relate to the no-longer-homesick feel that the lyrics give off when they exclaim, “I’m writing the folks back home to tell them ‘hey I’m doing alright.’” The way the song is constructed has a feel reminiscent of the end of summer and early fall, the awkward stage of weather we’re living in now.
“Pirate Blues,” As Cities Burn — Unlike the previous songs, “Pirate Blues” doesn’t have lyrics blatantly referencing fall or the turn of seasons, but the slow pulsing bass and drum lines symbolize the way things seem to move slower in the fall than any other season. The lyrics will remind you of the past, whether it be this summer or last year. Something about fall and the start of classes sets the perfect mood for music involving longing. As Cities Burn cover both of these topics in this slowly building fall anthem.
“I Will Play My Game Beneath the Spin Light,” Brand New — The opening line says it all. “The time has come for colds and overcoats.” Although it may not be that chilly outside yet, it is a little bitter in the mornings, and much like other songs on this playlist, the slow steady beat and gentle guitar strums are the perfect combination to accompany you while you wait for your bus in the morning or walk across campus to that 8 a.m. you’re ready to be done with. Brand New has a way with emotions and channeling them perfectly to fit a wide array of people in its music and lyrics, and this song is no exception.
“Volcano,” Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan — Something about Damien Rice’s cold and oftentimes bitter voice reminds me of the seasons cooling and the leaves changing. His haunting lyrics and tone accompanied by Lisa Hannigan’s raspy and warm voice pull this song together in an eerie masterpiece about love and what it means to be in a healthy and equal relationship. The lyrics don’t directly relate to the seasons changing, but the mood of the song makes it the epitome of fall music.
So the next time you’re bundled up in a cardigan and scarf, waiting for class, desperately searching for a song you like on your iPod, download some of these titles and embrace fall with open (but covered) arms.