60s Folk Songs That Are Perfect Soundtrack to the Changing Seasons

Nothing celebrates the passing of time quite like the perfect song, and these ‘60s folk songs serve as the perfect soundtrack to the changing seasons. Autumn might have technically started on the equinox in September, but there’s a tangible shift in weather, mood, and feelings after we pass Halloween and move into the final two months of the year and the holiday season.

Things feel cozier, more reflective, and even a bit somber as the natural world becomes more muted and the nights get longer. Whether you can’t wait for winter or are mourning the warmth of yesterday, these songs help translate those feelings into music.

“Urge For Going” by Joni Mitchell

“Urge For Going” almost made it onto Joni Mitchell’s seminal album Blue, but she opted to leave it out. She received commercial success from a cover by George Hamilton IV and later put the track on her 1996 Hits compilation. While it might not be one of her more distinctive cuts, Mitchell perfectly encapsulates the melancholy feeling of transitioning from vibrant summer and early fall into winter. 

I awoke today and found the frost perched on the town. It hovered in a frozen sky, then it gobbled summer down. When the sun turns traitor cold, and all the trees are shivering in a naked row, I get the urge for going, but I never seem to go.

“Seasons Come, Seasons Go” by Bobbie Gentry

The penultimate A-side track of Bobbie Gentry’s 1969 release, Touch ‘Em with Love, technically covers all the seasonal bases, not just fall. Nevertheless, the descriptive imagery of nature in colder weather in this ‘60s folk song is the perfect soundtrack for the transition of the seasons from summer to winter. And who doesn’t love a classic folk-country key change (or two, or three)?

See the grain laid scattered in a trail that leads to nowhere. The rustling leaves beneath my feet swirl in a colorful kaleidoscope. A thousand spans of outstretched wings circle briefly, hovering, and they swiftly fly away, leaving me to stay and face December snow. The seasons come; the seasons go.

“Leaves That Are Green” by Simon & Garfunkel

Paul Simon is certainly a master of capturing wistful nostalgia in his writing, and his 1965 track “Leaves That Are Green” is no exception. In hindsight, the first verse’s melancholy seems almost naive to older listeners. I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song; I’m twenty-two now, but I won’t be for long. Oh, to be mourning the passing of time at a green 21, right? Nevertheless, the ’60s folk song makes for a perfect accompaniment to the changing leaves from green to red to brown.

I threw a pebble in a brook and watched the ripples run away. They never made a sound. The leaves that are green turn to brown. They wither with the wind; they crumble in your hand.

“California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & the Papas

Arguably the most iconic song from The Mamas & the Papas’ catalogue, we often equate “California Dreamin’” with sunny imagery of the southern half of the West Coast. However, listen closely to the words in the song’s refrain, and it’s clear that this ‘60s folk pop song is actually talking about a much colder, bleaker place than sunny Los Angeles. (Although, the dreamy notions of being in L.A. are certainly appropriate in chilly temps.)

All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray. I’ve been for a walk on a winter’s day. I’d be safe and warm if I was in L.A. California dreamin’ on such a winter’s day!

“Time of the Season” by The Zombies

In this writer’s humble opinion, The Zombies’ “Time of the Season” is one of those rare songs that seem to fit in any time of year. The muddy, verdant green of spring? Perfect. The balmy heat of midsummer? Ideal. The transition into cozier, colder, and darker times? “Time of the Season” hits just right. After all, is there ever really a time that isn’t good for loving?

What’s your name? Who’s your daddy? Is he rich like me? Has he taken any time to show you what you need to live? Tell it to me slowly, tell you what, I really want to know. It’s the time of the season for loving.

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