Come September - Anaïs Mitchell

Autumn’s ashes, summer’s embers

On the sidewalk come September

And suddenly I can’t remember

Any lessons learned

Now that I’m a migrant picker

Trouble-minded tin-can kicker

I wish my skin was thicker

The air has turned

I can live alone I said

I can make my lonesome bed

I don’t need a hole in my head

I don’t need a lover

But he took me by surprise

I fell down and saw him rise

Till he was larger in my eyes

Than any other

How suddenly the summer died

I couldn’t bring it back to life

I couldn’t sing it back to life

But I tried

Came to him in summer clothing

Came to him because I chose him

Came to find his fingers frozen

And he would not reach for me Came to him for his sweet song

Came to him for right or wrong

Came to find his heart belonged

To one who came before me How suddenly the sweetness died

I couldn’t bring it back to life

I couldn’t sing it back to life

But I tried

Autumn’s ashes, summer’s embers

On the sidewalk come September

Suddenly I can’t remember

Any lessons learned

Now that I’m a migrant picker

Trouble-minded tin-can kicker

I wish my skin was thicker

The air has turned