The Autumnal Equinox is here, and that means it’s going to start getting chillier, the nights will be longer, and the leaves will start changing before our eyes. To get everyone in the mood to celebrate the Equinox, here are eight songs with Autumnal elements, from instrumental tracks, to jazz, to New England vibes.
2024 Autumnal Equinox Playlist
“Flaming Red Hair” — Howard Shore
The Autumnal Equinox falls on September 22 this year, and for all you Lord of the Rings fans, that’s also Frodo and Bilbo’s birthday. “Flaming Red Hair” is the cheerful jig that plays during the Long Expected Party scene in the Fellowship of the Ring, and it’s arguably one of the best songs on the soundtrack. It creates a sense of celebration and merriment even if you haven’t seen the movie. The Autumnal Equinox is a time to celebrate the coming cool weather, harvest time, pumpkins, Halloween, and all the other aspects of Autumn that make it a favorite season for so many. The horns, pipes, and drums on this song come together to create a magical party atmosphere, transporting you to a raucous Shire night.
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“Rocky Mountain High” — John Denver
This John Denver classic has an Autumnal feel in its imagery, as Denver sings lovingly about Colorado. It’s easy to imagine sitting around a campfire during a chilly Autumn night, sharing stories as the night progresses and the stars wheel overhead. The instrumentation is also light and breezy, which brings to mind simplicity and crisp mountain air. All these elements come together in this song to create an unexpectedly Autumnal tune—just listen to “Rocky Mountain High,” imagine you’re hiking a trail covered in crisp Autumn leaves, and tell us you don’t feel an overwhelming sense of calm.
“Homesick” — Noah Kahan
While this song is more about being sick of home than homesick, it’s Noah Kahan’s overall New England vibe that makes this a good pick for the Autumnal Equinox. New England has always been ideal for fall color, and thinking about New England makes us think about Noah Kahan. Hence, his inclusion here. However, there’s more to this song (and Noah Kahan) than just being from New England. It’s an exploration of being sick of home while still staying at home. There are always things about home that we hate, but it’s still home. Autumn has a feeling of being a homey season—coming home, spending time with family and friends, maybe making a home with yourself in a new place. “Homesick” expresses that tiredness of being at home while also accepting that our home is part of what makes us what we are.
“‘Tis Autumn” — Nat King Cole
Indeed, ‘tis Autumn—the leaves will soon change, the air will get cooler, and people will venture outside in their scarves and hats after the long, hot summer. This is a cool jazz tune that elevates the Autumnal Equinox as more than a celestial phenomenon. It’s a bone-deep feeling, an experience, a mindset.
“Autumn in New York” — Billie Holiday
As mentioned above, there’s no place like New England for Autumn, but New York, which borders New England, is a close second. If you don’t want to go out in the woods with all the leaves, there’s Autumn in the city. This is an experience all its own. Parks and green spaces with views of skyscrapers mingling with orange and red leaves and crisp air leaving your lips a bit chapped as you wander through Soho or the Village. Billie Holiday beautifully expresses what it’s like to experience Autumn in New York, and it’s like nothing else.
“Shine On Harvest Moon” — The Blasting Company and C.W. Stoneking
The Cartoon Network limited series Over the Garden Wall is the epitome of Autumn vibes, and the soundtrack delivers cozy tracks and thrilling instrumentals. “Shine On Harvest Moon” is a classic tune that goes all the way back to the early-1900s, first popularized by married couple Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth with the Ziegfeld Follies in 1908. There are many different versions and some contradictions concerning who really wrote the song, but “Shine On Harvest Moon” remains a beautiful love song that The Blasting Company and C.W. Stoneking turned into an Autumnal masterpiece. If you’re looking for a more traditional version, though, Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney did one as well.
“Diamond Day” — Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan’s ethereal vocals transport listeners to the harvest in “Diamond Day,” where wheat fields await, stretching on forever. This song calls to mind The Moomins by Tove Jansson. It also brings up feelings of rural living, simplicity, and working the land. “Diamond Day” is a beautiful song that makes you want to wake up early and sip coffee on the porch while leaves swirl in the wind in your front yard.
“The Sun In September” — Matthew Halsall
This instrumental track is a great one for sitting back with the windows open and basking in the warmth of Autumn sunshine. You know, where the air is chilly but the sun remains hot on your face. The flute and gentle percussion of “The Sun In September” will lull listeners into a semi-conscious state of relaxation, leading you into the depths of Autumn. That place where leaves crunch under your boots, and you’re weighing a pumpkin in your arms, and there’s hot spiked cider waiting at home. Later, the trumpet and piano lend a jazzy air to this piece, and, let’s face it, Autumn is a jazz season. Nothing beats a jazz record on the turntable while you cook dinner with the windows open to the cool night air.
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