There’s something hauntingly introspective about “September When It Comes,” a duet that beautifully intertwines the seasoned voices of Rosanne Cash and her father, Johnny Cash. This song is a reflective journey through the lens of time and memory, marked by the poignant realization of life’s fleeting nature. As the guitar strings gently weave through the melody, the lyrics speak of facing the autumn of one’s life with a brave and open heart.
Rosanne Cash pens this piece with a clarity that captures the essence of change and the inevitable passage of time. The song’s narrative is deeply personal yet universally relatable, echoing the sentiments of anyone who has contemplated their own aging and the legacy they hope to leave behind. Johnny Cash’s contribution, recorded not long before his passing, adds a layer of profound authenticity and emotional depth, making the song a poignant farewell of sorts and a reflective meditation on mortality.
What makes “September When It Comes” special is not just its lyrical honesty or the stellar combination of voices. It’s the way it makes you feel—a blend of nostalgia, acceptance, and a quiet resolve to face whatever lies ahead. It’s a song that resonates more deeply as one grows older, each listen a reminder of life’s impermanent beauty.
For anyone who’s ever looked back over the years, wondering about the roads taken and those left untraveled, this song serves as a gentle acknowledgment that life, with all its complexities, is a series of such reflections, especially poignant as the seasons change.
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Lyrics
There’s a cross above the baby’s bed,
A Savior in her dreams.
But she was not delivered then,
And the baby became me.
There’s a light inside the darkened room,
A footstep on the stair.
A door that I forever close,
To leave those memories there.
So when the shadows link them,
Into an evening sun.
Well first there’s summer, then I’ll let you in.
September when it comes.
I plan to crawl outside these walls,
Close my eyes and see.
And fall into the heart and arms,
Of those who wait for me.
I cannot move a mountain now
I can no longer run.
I cannot be who I was then
In a way, I never was.
I watch the clouds go sailing
I watch the clock and sun.
Oh, I watch myself, depending on,
September when it comes.
So when the shadows link them,
And burn away the clouds.
They will fly me, like an angel,
To a place where I can rest.
When this begins, I’ll let you know,
September when it comes.