Almost a Conversation

Below are two versions of a song my friend Danny Johnson and I wrote a good while ago, like in 1995. He composed and played the guitar part and I wrote the lyrics and melody. In both versions, you can hear Danny’s voice echoing the words, “Autumn’s comin’ home.”

Recently, I told Danny I was going to share “Autumn” on this blog and that I was planning to post the more recent version which has better sound quality and multiple tracks. Danny suggested sharing the original version instead. We recorded it on a tape recorder in his apartment. After rehearsing for awhile, we did it in one take. It’s not polished or professional, but, as Natalie Goldberg says, “it’s closer to the raw experience,” or as Tom Long observes, “it’s not just the sound of music, it’s the sound of music being made.” So, here are both versions.

Original version, recorded in 1995:

Re-recorded version, from 2005:

Here are the lyrics, in case you’re interested. They differ a bit from version to version. These are the 2005 lyrics because I can’t entirely figure out what words I was singing in 1995.

Ooh, faded blue eyes lookin’ nervous
They say it’s gonna take a whisper to drag her away
But she seeks to fill the void with a purpose
Yeah, it’s gonna take a truck to drag her away

Your skin and breath they, they smell of Autumn
As you, as you walk the hills with anyone
The little flags you fly show why you come
That you’re reachin’ for anyone

And Autumn wore a veil of blood-red hair
It was a shade that made all the others stare
And Autumn walks the hills with anyone
Autumn steals your senses, she’s comin’ home (Autumn’s comin’ home)

I spend more time in life thinkin’ of music between you and me
And I cross the world with my soul so I can use it gratefully
And I walk for hours on windy days with my dreams
Blues flowing through my head with angelic greens

Oh, and Autumn wore a veil of blood-red hair
It was a shade that made all of the others stare
And Autumn walks the hills with anyone
Autumn steals your senses, she’s comin’ home (Autumn’s comin’ home)