Autumn's melancholy lute 
Calls so clear and calls so sweet, 
Through the forest brown and mute, 
Down the white-walled village street, 

"Follow now. Oh follow now ! 
Burns the leaf upon the bough ; 
Cross the mountains hoar and old, 
To the land of sunset gold." 

Autumn beckons as she goes, --
"Follow me, Oh follow me. 
Would you 'scape the winter snows 
And the happy valleys see!" 

Autumn's amber-coloured veil 
Floats aleng the evening breeze, 
Like a gilded galleon's sail 
Beckoning on to splendid seas!

Autumn's lute sounds low and clear --
Autumn's melancholy lute, 
"Follow here. Oh follow here!" 
Over woods and meadows mute. 

"Come away, Oh come away!
Sundown calls you home from day ; 
Night is near and earth grows cold; 
Follow through the sunset gold."