| "September Song" | |
|---|---|
| Single byWalter Huston[1] | |
| B-side | The Scars[2] |
| Published | September 24, 1938 (1938-09-24) by Crawford Music Corp., New York[3] |
| Released | December 1938 (1938-12)[1] |
| Recorded | November 14, 1938 (1938-11-14)[2] |
| Studio | Columbia Records, 1776 Broadway, New York |
| Genre | Popular music,musical theatre[1] |
| Length | 2:51 |
| Label | Brunswick 8272[2] |
| Composer | Kurt Weill[2] |
| Lyricist | Maxwell Anderson[2] |
"September Song" is an American standardpopular song composed byKurt Weill with lyrics byMaxwell Anderson. It was introduced byWalter Huston in the 1938Broadway musical productionKnickerbocker Holiday.[1] The song has been recorded by numerous singers and instrumentalists.
The song originated from Walter Huston's request that he should have one solo song inKnickerbocker Holiday if he were to play the role of the aged governor of New Netherland,Peter Stuyvesant. Anderson and Weill wrote the song in a couple of hours for Huston's gruff voice and limited vocal range.[4]
Knickerbocker Holiday was roughly based onWashington Irving'sKnickerbocker's History of New York set in New Amsterdam in 1647. It is a politicalallegory criticizing the policies of theNew Deal through the portrayal of a semi–fascist government of New Amsterdam, with a corrupt governor and councilmen. It also involves a love triangle with a young woman forced to marry the governor Peter Stuyvesant while loving another.[5] The musical closed in April 1939 after a six-month run.[1]
In "September Song", a man now recognizes the "plentiful waste of time" of earlier days, and in the "long, long while from May to December", having reached September, he is looking forward to spending the precious days of autumn with his loved one.[6]
"September Song" was used asdiegetic music in the 1950 filmSeptember Affair.[10] The song is used in the 1987Woody Allen filmRadio Days; Allen has stated that the song may be the best American popular song ever written.[11]
Milton Berle sang "September Song" when he hosted an infamously bad 1979 episode ofSaturday Night Live; producerLorne Michaels claimed that Berle loaded the audience with friends and family, who gave him astanding ovation.[12]
In "Previews", the Season 1/Episode 14 of the TV seriesSmash, the character of producer Eileen Rand sings a version of "September Song".Anjelica Huston, who played Eileen Rand, is the granddaughter of Walter Huston, who introduced the song in the original production ofKnickerbocker Holiday.[13]
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