Friday, October 10, 2008

It's October

Today is the anniversary of Oscar Brown, Jr.'s birth. This Chicago legend (who we lost in 2005) offered such important contributions which will only, perhaps, be fully appreciated in the decades to come. (Not unlike many an important artist, historically.)

I've been commemorating the occasion by listening to his recordings more closely while delving deeply into some lesser known parts of his body of work. Among these gems is a poignant piece, entitled, "It's October." I offer my transcription of lyric alone here:



Season changes scene
And leafy shades of green
Go golden red and brown
Then wither, flutter down
To clutter up the lawn
Another Summer's gone
Old Winter's comin' on
It's October
It's October

A bracing Autumn breeze
Makes dancers of the trees
And nipping at my nose
It pokes about my clothes
For openings and rips
Inside of which it slips
It's frosty fingertips
It's October
It's October

October's I have known
The colors they have shown
In beautiful displays
On Indian Summer days
The booting of a ball
The harvest moons and all
Fragrance of the Fall
It's October
It's October

The seasons of our lives
That later on arrives
They seem so sad to some
But, nonetheless, must come
If only we'll arrange
When life turns cool and strange
To gloriously change
It's October
It's October



And, along a similar line, this spot on reflection of his latter years: