September Song

Oh, it’s a long, long while from May to December,
& the days grow short when you reach September.
The autumn weather turns the leaves to flame,
& I haven’t got the time for the waiting game.
Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few;
September, November. . . .
& these few precious days I’ll spend with you,
These precious days I’ll spend with you.

It is only the 2nd day of September, we have another couple of weeks of summer to enjoy, & late September & October can be glorious in Portland, but I still feel real melancholy for the end of summer. Summer is my favorite season & August is my favorite month (it has 31 days & no holidays). I know my friends in NYC & Chicago had the coolest & wettest summers ever while Portland had a record 10 days in a row over 90 degrees, including 5 days over 100. Still, there is now a hint of Autumn in the air, especially in the morning. I find myself drawn to this song, as I have been many times in my life. It is from a musical- Knickerbocker Holiday (1938) with music by Kurt Weill & lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. It is a beautiful song that makes me a little sad… in a good way. I offer you 2 versions, by 2 of my favorite, but very different singers. I once stole a look at my audition card ( for Side By Side By Sondheim… I did get cast) & the director had written- “a young Jimmy Durante”. I was very flattered.