Les Feuilles Mortes… The sight of a colourful autumn scene in a forest reminds us of a popular French song written in the aftermath of WW2. “Les Feuilles Mortes” (Autumn Leaves in English) has this nostalgic touch attached to it and fits perfectly for the autumnal season when summer is long gone and the prospect of a cold winter is ahead.
About the song “Autumn Leaves”
Les Feuilles Mortes (literally “The Dead Leaves”) is a popular French song originally recorded in 1945. It is known in English as “Autumn Leaves”.
The song was composed by Joseph Kosma with lyrics by French poet Jacques Prévert. It was featured for the first time in the movie “Les Portes de la Nuit” (1946) starring Yves Montand. However, the song was first recorded by Cora Vaucaire before the release of the film.
The English version of “Les Feuilles Mortes” was written by American songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1947 under the title “Autumn Leaves“. The song was introduced in America by Jo Stafford.
On Christmas’ Eve 1950, Édith Piaf sang the French and the English version of the song on the radio programme The Big Show.
It gives its name to a Hollywood movie in 1956 starring Joan Crawford. Nat King Cole sang “Autumn Leaves” in the title sequence of the film.
Many other singers have released a version of the song either in French or in English: Richard Anthony, Andrea Bocelli, Eric Clapton, Dalida, Serge Gainsbourg, Juliette Gréco, Patricia Kaas, Tino Rossi, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Susan Boyle, Cora Vaucaire, Andy Williams.
A beautiful if melancholy song.
Please also consider the exquisite recording in French by Joan Baez on the 1967 album “Joan”
Where is the back story on how it came to be written. Said to be of a Jewish couple; one did not make it due to the war, at the hands of the Nazis. The lyrics are the autumn rembrance of that lost love.
Thank you for adding this piece of information for the song’s history! 🙂
I had read that the composers had offered the song to Marlene Dietrich to record. She was in France after the war making a film with Jean Gabin. Gabin liked the song. But for whatever reason, Dietrich declined to record it. Pitty. Dietrichs film was a flop and he song became a standard.
Thank you Robert for letting us know about this, this is a very interesting contribution ! 🙂
There are many great versions of this song…Nat King Cole, Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Edit Piaf, Matt Monro…but my favorite version is by Doris Day…perfection.