[Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
We’d like to introduce autumn nursery rhymes, songs, and traditional children’s songs that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
When you think of autumn, what comes to mind?
Pine cones, acorns, autumn leaves, moon-viewing… The more you think about it, the more images pop up, don’t they?
In this article, we’ve gathered wonderful classics that make autumn scenery unfold right before your eyes.
From gentle, soothing pieces unique to autumn that sink into the heart, to hand-play songs and traditional children’s tunes you can play and sing along with—these are all famous songs that let you experience autumn in many ways.
Be sure to listen together, sing along, and immerse yourselves in “autumn.”
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[Autumn Children's Songs] Autumn songs, school songs, and nursery rhymes. A collection of classic songs you’ll want to sing in autumn (61–70)
Good evening, Mr. Moon.
This piece features a gentle melody that even infants can grow fond of, along with distinctive lyrics that would work well for recitals or dramatic play.
The piano part is easy to perform yet beautiful, making it enjoyable not only in nurseries and kindergartens but also for parents and children to sing together.
The song describes a small child gazing at the moon, thinking and chatting away, and the exchanges with the friendly cloud are especially heartwarming.
With this cleansing, soul-soothing song, adults can return to a childlike state and enjoy a moment of calm and comfort.
bright red maple leavessaku-shi sakkyoku: Fujimoto Chika
“Bright Red Maple Leaves” evokes the image of crimson-tinted maple leaves fluttering down.
The lyrics include a cute depiction that likens a maple leaf to a baby’s hand.
When the leaves are falling, try expressing the fluttering motion by ringing bells or other instruments, or play by gently tossing up pieces of construction paper cut into maple-leaf shapes.
In the second verse, ginkgo leaves appear, and it sings about comparing a baby’s bottom to a ginkgo leaf.
Enjoy singing while appreciating both autumn colors—maple and ginkgo.
Moon (Out it came, out it came—the moon!)
“Moon” is perfect for the Harvest Moon night, when we enjoy gazing at a big, perfectly round moon.
Though the melody is gentle, it paints a lively scene of the round moon peeking out from the night’s dark clouds.
The song goes on to portray a realistic Harvest Moon, with the moon repeatedly hiding in and emerging from the clouds.
Even though we see the moon all the time, there’s something about the big Harvest Moon that gets us more excited than usual.
Try not to get too carried away, and let this song help you etch the moon’s beauty into your memory once again.
scarecrowSakushi: Mukasa San / Sakkyoku: Fushou
A scarecrow stands in the rice paddies and fields, protecting precious crops from birds and animals.
This song features such a scarecrow as its main character.
The lyrics playfully tease the scarecrow, who watches over the crops without moving, no matter the weather or what happens.
Many scarecrows are simply clothes and a hat on a wooden pole, but over time, various creative designs have appeared, and some look as if a real person is standing there.
As you sing this song, it might be fun to go look around your neighborhood and see what kinds of scarecrows you can find!
In autumn, the evening is best.Sakushi: Seishonagon / Sakkyoku: M. Sato
Autumn Dusk is an excerpt focusing on the autumn section from Sei Shonagon’s famous essay The Pillow Book.
In sharp contrast to the Heian period’s original atmosphere, it has been arranged as a bright, pop-style mixed chorus piece.
The lyrics sing the autumn passage of The Pillow Book with slight adaptations.
Based on the evening twilight that Sei Shonagon considered the most beautiful scene of autumn, the song portrays the season’s rich sensibilities: crows returning to the mountains in the setting sun, wild geese flying in orderly flocks, and the sounds of insects and wind after night falls.
It expresses the sentiment of finding elegance in all these autumnal scenes.
cricketSakushi: Sekine Eiichi / Sakkyoku: Akutagawa Yasushi
A children’s song themed around crickets, “Ko-orogi,” features the lovely chirping they share on autumn nights.
It sings about crickets cutely chirping in various places.
Big brother cricket, little brother cricket—seems the whole family is chirping together.
In autumn, many insects besides crickets also play beautiful songs.
Is that a cricket? Which insect is this one? Let’s enjoy autumn evenings while wondering about such things.
With this song, you’ll be perfect at spotting cricket chirps!
Sky of my hometownsakushi: oowada takeki / sakkyoku: sukorutorando min’yō
This is the Japanese rendition of the Scottish folk song “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye.” The original lyrics were written by Scottish poet Robert Burns, known for “Auld Lang Syne,” and the Japanese lyrics were adapted by Kenki Owada.
The song was introduced in Japanese in 1888 in “Meiji Shoka, Volume 1.” From the very beginning, you can picture an expanse of rye fields spreading out before you.
In the song, one gazes up at the autumn sky at dusk and lets their thoughts drift to their hometown.
