There’s something about fall that makes certain songs hit differently. Maybe it’s the colder weather, the changing leaves, or the feeling of walking across campus with your headphones on while a million different thoughts run through your head. Songs that might feel ordinary in the middle of the summer suddenly become the perfect soundtrack for a chilly morning, rainy day, or even a snow day stuck in your dorm.
My multiple fall playlists range from indie songs that remind me of the 2020-2022 era to classic oldies and songs that feel like they belong in a movie. Some bring back memories of past autumns or 2020 DracoTok, while others simply give off those unmistakable fall vibes.
Whether you’re looking for something to listen to on your walk to class, during a late-night study session, or you just want to listen to some good music, here are some songs that embody the fall season.
- The Indie Fall Essentials
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Anna Schultz / Her Campus - “Sweater Weather” — The Neighbourhood
- “Bags” — Clairo
- “A Little Death” — The Neighborhood
- “Nervous” — The Neighbourhood
- “Let the Light In” — Lana Del Rey feat. Father John Misty
- “Sofia” — Clairo
- “Daddy Issues” — The Neighbourhood
- “The Night We Met” — Lord Huron
- “Blue Hair” — TV Girl
- “We’re Going to Be Friends” — The White Stripes
- “Reflections” — The Neighbourhood
- “Cigarette Daydreams” — Cage the Elephant
I always start my fall playlist with “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood. Is it my favorite song? No. But is it impossible to make a fall playlist without it? Absolutely.
Its moody melody creates a feeling of comfort that makes it feel like the unofficial fall anthem. Of course, Clairo’s “Bags” and “Sofia” offer a softer, dreamier sound, while The Neighbourhood’s “Daddy Issues” and “Reflections” lean into the moodier side. Together, these songs capture all the different feelings that make fall special.
- Songs That Take You Back: From 2020 Hits To DracoTok
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- “Mary on a Cross” — Ghost
- “Always Forever” — Cults
- “Alien Blues” — Vundabar
- “Runaway” — AURORA
- “Mr. Loverman” — Ricky Montgomery
- “Line Without a Hook” — Ricky Montgomery
- “Looking Out for You” — Joy Again
- “O Children” — Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
- “Dark Red” — Steve Lacy
- “Little Lion Man” — Mumford & Sons
- “Roslyn” — Bon Iver and St. Vincent
- “Are You With Me” – nilu
- “My Blood” — Ellie Goulding
If you were on Tiktok in 2020-2022 then you probably know or had a playlist with these songs. And you probably know exactly what I mean when I say some songs are permanently tied to a certain era of your life. More specifically, if you love Harry Potter or were around during Dracotok, then you most certainly can recognize most of these songs from that era.
I especially remember listening to “Runaway” by AURORA nonstop. It was my number one song on Spotify Wrapped in 2020, earning its permanent place on my fall playlist. Looking back, that whole era felt like living inside a movie. Even now, these songs bring back memories of scrolling in my bedroom with the lights dimmed and wishing I could be somewhere else.
- Taylor Swift’s Autumn Era
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Republic Records - “All Too Well”
- “Lavender Haze”
- “Fresh Out the Slammer”
- “invisible string”
- “marjorie”
- “willow”
- “cardigan”
- “Labyrinth”
- “Maroon”
- “gold rush”
- “mirrorball”
- “august
- “cowboy like me”
Taylor Swift deserves her own category because of how many of her songs feel like they were made for the fall season, and it’s not surprising that this list isn’t even close to all of her autumn songs. The storytelling, imagery, and bittersweet lyrics capture the feeling of watching the leaves change while reflecting on the past. Her albums Red, Folklore, and Evermore especially capture that fall atmosphere, from the wistfulness of “cardigan” to the storytelling of “All Too Well.” Whether you’re in a nostalgic, sad, romantic, or melancholic era, there’s a Taylor Swift song for practically every fall mood.
- Sufjan Stevens
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- “All of Me Wants All of You”
- “Vision of Gideon”
- “Mystery of Love”
- “Should Have Known Better”
Some artists make music that feels less like listening to a song and more like stepping into a different dimension, and Sufjan Stevens is one of them. His music is soft, delicate, emotional, and almost painfully nostalgic. You may recognize “Mystery of Love” and “Visions of Gideon,” both being featured in the bittersweet film Call Me by Your Name, starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer. If you’ve watched the movie, you probably understand why these songs feel so tied to memories and fleeting moments.
Even without the film, these songs have that dreamy, melancholy feeling of comfort that makes you want to slow down and reflect on your own thoughts. Despite the film’s summer setting, Sufjan Stevens’ songs evoke a distinct sense of fall nostalgia that everyone should listen to at least once in their lives.
- My Personal Fall Favorites
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- “I’d Rather Go Blind” — Etta James
- “Somethin’ Stupid” — Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra
- “Futile Devices” — Sufjan Stevens
- “Your Song” — Elton John
- “Eyes Without A Face” — Billy Idol
- “I’m Not in Love” — 10cc
- “Strange” — Celeste
- “Purple Rain” — Prince
- “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)” — John Lennon
- “I Love You So” — The Walters
- “James” — Maggie Rogers
Finally, I recommend my favorite songs I’ll always keep coming back to. I don’t want every song I listen to to sound the same, and I think that’s especially true when it comes to making my fall playlist. It’s easy to get caught up in making every song fit a certain aesthetic, but that takes away from making your playlist. A playlist should reflect what you actually love listening to.
At the end of the day, these are the songs that make fall feel like fall to me. Everyone has their own soundtrack for the season, and sometimes all it takes is one song to bring back an entire memory.
So grab your headphones, make a playlist, and take some inspiration from my song suggestions or find your own favorites that make this fall feel like your own.
Or, find your own favorites that make this fall feel like your own.
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