The words to the original version of this classic “Les feuilles mortes” (the dead leaves) were written by the wonderful French poet Jacques Prévert. This is only a partial version of his poem, in fact only the refrain, but the complete version, performed by Juliette Greco can be found on Youtube and the complete text can be found on the web.
Joseph Kosma composed the melody forever associated with all versions of this song.
The English lyrics “Autumn Leaves,” was written by Johnny Mercer in 1947.
Autumn Leaves
Jo Stafford
The falling leaves drift by the window 
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall
Autumn Leaves
Bill Evans
Las hojas muertas
Andrea Bocelli and Christina Aguilera
Esta canción se nos parece, 
me amaste tú y yo te amé,
la vida así, la compartimos
me amaste tú y yo te amé
Mas la vida al fin nos separa
sin más rumor con suavidad,
y la mar borrará de la arena
los pasos que dió nuestro amor
Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s’aiment
(la vida al fin…)
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit 
(nos separará…)
Et la mer efface sur le sable
(yo también te amé…)
Les pas des amants désunis
(con suavidad)
Mas la vida al fin nos separá
sin más rumor con suavidad,
y la mar borrará de la arena
los pasos que dió nuestro amor.
This song seems like us 
I who was loved by you, and I who loved you
that love we shared
I who was loved by you, and I who loved you
but in the end life separated us
without a sound and with sweetness
and the sea will erase on the sand
the footprints taken by our love.
Spanish translation Dia Tsung
Patricia Barber
Bill Evans
Yves Montand
Les feuilles mortes
C’est une chanson qui nous ressemble
Toi, tu m’aimais et je t’aimais
Et nous vivions tous deux ensemble
Toi qui m’aimais, moi qui t’aimais
Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s’aiment
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable
Les pas des amants désunis.
This is a song that seems like us
You, you were loving me, and I was loving you
And we were living, both of us together
You who were loving me, and I who was loving you
But life separates those who love each other
Completely sweetly, without making any sound
And the sea erases on the sand
The footprints of lovers no longer together.
French translation Bev Noia
Autumn Leaves
Oscar Peterson
Autumn Leaves
Nat King Cole
Autumn Leaves
Stéphane Grappelli
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