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Autumn Leaves

"Autumn Leaves" is a much-recorded popular song. Originally a 1945 French song "Les feuilles mortes" (literally "The Dead  Leaves") with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by poet Jacques Prevert, English lyrics were written in 1949 by the American songwriter Johnny Mercer. It has become a pop standard and a jazz standard in both languages, and as an instrumental. "Les feuilles mortes" was introduced by Yves Montand in 1946 for the film Les Portes de la Nuit.

The film Autumn Leaves (1956) starring Joan Crawford featured the song, which was sung by Nat King Cole over the title sequence. The French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg wrote "La chanson de Prevert" as a tribute to this song. The tribute added much color into the song.