French poet Jacques Prevert wrote the lyrics to "Les Feuilles Mortes” (The Dead Leaves) in 1945 for the film "Les Portes da la Nuit". It was set to music by Joseph Kosma. Five years later, American lyricist Johnny Mercer adapted the French lyrics to English as "Autumn Leaves", and soon after, the English version was recorded by Edith Piaf, Jo Stafford, Bing Crosby, Artie Shaw, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, and Louis Armstrong, among others. It has also become a jazz standard, with signature versions by Miles Davis, Stephane Grapelli, Wynton Marselis, and Stan Getz. Its minor key chord progression has a haunting quality that reflects the lyrics about sadness and loss at summer's end.

Music by Joseph Kosma, (English) lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Copyright © 1945, ENOCH ET CIE.  Copyrights Renewed 
This Arrangement © Copyright 2008 by MORLEY MUSIC O.B.O. ENOCH ET CIE
All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Used by Permission.