"Pale September" by Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple's first album, "Tidal," was an overwhelming success in 1996.  I'm talking about MTV's constant replay of her videos, that strange Gap ad, etc.  I only stumbled upon her CD a decade ago, and was astounded and awestruck by the complexity of lyrics; she was a girl of mere nineteen when "Tidal" came out.  How did a singer-songwriter with a penchant for analogies and dark optimism become a pop hit?!

Fiona Apple has never been the bubbly poster child of pop music or pop culture; rather, she is an introspective singer-songwriter of the indie variety.  Thank goodness.  Oftentimes, I read her lyrics like poetry.  Reading her song lyrics as poetry, her words take on a deeper meaning for me--they are so tearfully beautiful.  I have been a Fiona Apple fan since that day, a decade ago, when I decided to see what the hype was about a young woman who had been through too much, too soon.  I was not displeased.


Here are the lyrics from her song, "Pale September"...

Pale September, I wore the time like a dress that year

The autumn days swung soft around me, like cotton on my skin

But as the embers of the summer lost their breath and disappeared

My heart went cold and only hollow rhythms resounded from within

But then he rose, brilliant as the moon in full

And sank in the burrows of my keep

And all my armour falling down, in a pile at my feet

And my winter giving way to warm, as I'm singing him to sleep

He goes along just as a water lily

Gentle on the surface of his thoughts his body floats

Unweighed down by passion or intensity

Yet unaware of the depth upon which he coasts

And he finds a home in me

For what misfortune sows, he knows my touch will reap

And all my armour falling down, in a pile at my feet

And my winter giving way to warm, as I'm singing him to sleep

All my armour falling down, in a pile at my feet

And my winter giving way to warm, as I'm singing him to sleep

All my armour falling down, in a pile at my feet

And my winter giving way to warm, as I'm singing him to sleep

Lyrics found here.
Happy September!