Autumn is my favorite time of year. It’s a season that asks you to slow down and notice the small things: rain-soaked sidewalks, the way the sunlight softens, the scent of damp earth and woodsmoke.
The colder months always bring back memories and ghosts—the kind that hit you in waves of nostalgia, sometimes bittersweet, sometimes melancholy. For me, autumn is a time of introspection and intentionality, when the world seems to move a bit slower and every moment feels worth remembering.
These are the songs I find myself coming back to every autumn, songs that carry the warmth, melancholia and wistfulness of the season—soundtracks to the quiet, fleeting beauty that makes this time of year feel like home.
“Twenty Long Years” by Lord Huron
This song is about chasing ghosts and the toll of time. There’s a sense of reflection and regret, of looking back on choices and lost years, and yet it carries an enveloping warmth. This track sounds like stories of past lives told around a campfire.
“The Stable Song” by Gregory Alan Isakov
This song feels like stepping into your loneliness. Isakov’s soft vocals and the hymn-like melodies carry a sense of longing for the past, of finding solace in what once was.
“For Emma” by Bon Iver
This song is about navigating loss and reflection, the fragile moments of love and regret that linger long after they’ve passed. The imagery in this song is palpable, bringing forth cool air and visions of winding roads.
“Crystal” by Stevie Nicks
No autumn playlist would be complete without a Stevie song. This one feels haunting and beautiful. There’s something ethereal in the way Nicks sings about love and clarity, about seeing yourself reflected in someone else.
“Sadness As a Gift” by Adrianne Lenker
This song treats melancholy as something to embrace rather than escape. It’s a reminder that grief and longing aren’t just obstacles—they’re part of the way we understand ourselves, making it a perfect companion for the introspective nature of autumn.
“These Days” by Nico
The song moves slowly through regret and self-understanding, tracing the path of who we were and who we’ve become. It’s autumn in pure form: wistful and reflective.
“Ivy” by Taylor Swift
“Ivy” is about the tension between desire and consequence, the pull of something destructive but vital. Its imagery evokes the chilly spirit of fall.
“Gale Song” by The Lumineers
This track is about wrestling with an unattainable love. It explores the relationship between loss and moving on. The stripped-down instrumentals and raw vocals are perfect for the slow season.
“Dandelion Wine” by Gregory Alan Isakov
“Dandelion Wine” is a reflection on memory and fleeting joy. It’s a song about savoring small, luminous moments before they fade, much like the last warm days of autumn.
“I Want You to Love Me” by Fiona Apple
This song lays bare the ache of desire and the courage it takes to expose your heart. Apple’s voice carries both tenderness and intensity, turning longing into something urgent and alive. It feels like the raw, unguarded moments of autumn—when the quiet of the season invites both reflection and emotional reckoning.
