September Song

A seasonal note

The first of September always feels like an auspicious day, not just because it is my younger daughter’s birthday — this year, her 12th. It is a moment of change when we mark the passage of time. 

(It is also the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland and the acknowledged start of World War II, but let’s not talk about that now.)

The sticklers will note that we are more than a few weeks away from the autumnal equinox and the official end of summer, but for all intents and purposes, that season has already rapidly receded. Most kids are back in school or will be soon, and our collective mindset has mostly shifted to fall. 

Our local farmers’ market today was exceptionally bustling. The crowds seemed all too aware of the fleeting window for succulent stone fruit, tantalizing tomatoes, creamy avocados, juicy melons, and all the other summer delectables. I overheard a lot of anxious people wondering how many weeks we might expect to see such lovely fare. Not many. 

September is always a time when my mind goes back to days, more than half a lifetime ago, when I was returning to school. Attending college in New England, I recall how we arrived on campus for a scant few weeks of greenery before the onset of the magnificent foliage, usually by the end of this month.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, recent days have been sunny and warm. A quick search of tourism websites will tell you that September is a great time to visit our jewel by the Bay. But I can already tell the hours of sunlight are shortening. Earth continues its orbit, and the circle of life heads toward winter. 

I am reminded of an old tune recorded by artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Nat King Cole to Willie Nelson. “September Song” originated in the 1938 musical Knickerbocker Holiday — music composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. Further research reveals that the plot about a tyrannical Dutch colonial governor Peter Stuyvesant (in what would soon become New York) was meant to be an allegory to attack President Roosevelt and the New Deal. I guess politics is often in the air. 

The show may be dated, but the song has endured — a beautiful and touching tribute to the passing of the seasons as a metaphor for life. Of all the stunning performances one can highlight, I particularly love a version by the incomparable Sarah Vaughan from 70 years ago. 

I close my eyes and listen as the sun sets on a beautiful day. The words, notes, and magical voice give me a moment to pause and reflect.

Oh, it's a long, long while
From May to December
But the days grow short
When you reach September

And the autumn weather
Turns the leaves to flame
One hasn't got time
For the waiting game

I miss summer, but I am ready for the charms of autumn.