Marshall McClung
A number of songs dealing with romance have been written about the month of September.
February is supposed to be the month of romance since we celebrate Valentine’s Day then. It seems for some reason that a number of disappointed lovers were left hoping for a change in September.
The song “Come September” by Bobby Darin – recorded in April 1961 – is about the heartbreak of a love gone wrong. Billy Vaughn recorded a lively instrumental version of the song that same year.
“See You in September” by the Tempos in 1959 is about a young man’s sweetheart who is gone for the summer. He is missing her and hopes she doesn’t get involved in a summer romance. He feels that when she returns in September for school, everything will be okay.
Then there is “September in the Rain” in 1937 by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, about a man sitting and watching it rain while reminiscing about a romance that happened in September.
September is for sure a month of change. It comes in as summer and ends as autumn. September comes from the Latin word ‘Septen,” which means seven, as September was the seventh month of the year on the old Roman calendar.
A number of other changes occur in September. Days become shorter, with darkness falling a little earlier each day. Mornings and nights become a little cooler and are welcomed.
Leaves begin to show some early color. Migrating birds seem to become restless as they know that their time to take flight is approaching.
I recall that when I was a young boy, I heard elderly folks talking about autumn being a lonesome time of year. I didn’t understand it then, but have come to realize what they were talking about now. Most of them had outlived all of their immediate family members, as is the case with me.
Like the birds, they knew that the time for their departure was nearing.
Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, mcclungs@email.com.