The weather is turning, the days are getting shorter. The bright greens of Brat summer are fading into the very demure browns and oranges of fall. It’s almost time to throw on a scarf, order a pumpkin spice latte and restart Gilmore Girls. To get you in the autumnal mood, we’ve picked out some songs for the season. 

The Neighbourhood – Sweater Weather

“So let me hold both your hands in the holes of my sweater,” sings The Neighbourhood frontman Jesse Rutherford on this seasonal smash. Released in December 2012, Sweater Weather was the lead single from the California band’s debut album I Love You. Although it did well on release, in later years it has experienced a resurgence on TikTok as the weather begins to change, and has been called a bisexual anthem due to its lyrical intimacy and key choice of clothing. The first song the band ever wrote, it’s been certified platinum around the world, including three times in the UK and eleven times in the US. 

Carole King – Where You Lead I Will Follow

The aerial shot of Stars Hollow, the orange and reds of the falling leaves; the opening scenes of the Gilmore Girls intro are an instant and evocative call to fall. As Carole King sings, “If you’re out on the road, feeling lonely, and so cold,” you’re instantly taken to a place of coffee refills and lightning dialogue. There is no other TV show as intrinsically autumnal, and this theme song is just as iconic. Recorded in 1970 for Carole’s second album Tapestry, it was later covered by Barbara Streisand. The version used in Gilmore Girls is a duet performed with her daughter Louise Goffin, a perfect match for the heartwarming series which guest-starred Carole as music store owner Sophie Bloom. 

James Arthur – Car’s Outside

Taken from James Arthur’s third album You, Car’s Outside was never picked as a single, but has grown in popularity since its 2019 release with fans finding the song on TikTok. Its deeply romantic imagery and atmospheric delivery has prompted over 140 million videos from wedding days to electric reunions. A fast global hit, the song’s lyrics tell the story of staying home with a loved one or taking them on your travels. The perfect autumnal accompaniment whether you’re closing the curtains for a cosy movie night or planning a final escape to the sun. 

Dido – Thank You

It might be best known as the chorus in Eminem’s global hit Stan, but Thank You was a huge song in the 90s. The third single from Dido’s massive debut album No Angel, it originally appeared over the end credits of the 1998 hit romcom Sliding Doors. From the opening lines Dido paints the picture of an autumn morning; grey skies, rain, cold tea, but it’s the presence of her loved one that keeps her warm. A top ten hit in the UK and US, Dido wrote the song’s lyrics while in the bathtub, the perfect setting to wash away the dark early evenings. 

Harry Styles – Falling

This dreamy heartbreak ballad might sound like it was agonisingly written on the darkest of autumn nights, but was in fact penned in sunny California after a morning shower. Harry worked on the track with nu-folk singer turned songwriter Kid Harpoon. The pair were on their way out when Kid Harpoon began playing the piano line while Harry was getting ready. The song was finished in twenty minutes. A sombre and hushed rumination on infidelity and loss, it’s as evocative as the falling leaves. Released as the third single from Harry’s second album Fine Line in 2020, it has been certified platinum around the world, including twice in the UK and three times in the US. 

John Mayer – Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

It’s the time of year when the trees look like they’ve caught fire, and what better companion to a long road trip through the hues of autumn than this slow burn of a song by John Mayer. Taken from his third album, 2006’s Continuum, although it was never released as a single, over time it has gathered a reputation as one of his best songs. From the dark and despondent sentiment to the slick and smooth blues guitar lines, it’s as lush as the changing colours of the leaves.