It isn’t in any hymnal I know of, but it could be. My worship musician and colleague, Liz Baugh, played it every year this month as a prelude or postlude. Jerry Orbach sang it in 1960 in the musical comedy “The Fantasticks.” I sing it to myself whenever I “try to remember” – and never forget – whatever is most important and meaningful to my heart as summer starts to lose its green and fall begins its coloring contest!
Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow
Try to remember and if you remember
Then follow, follow
Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow
Try to remember the kind of September
When love was an ember about to billow
Try to remember and if you remember
Then follow, follow
Deep in December, it’s nice to remember
Without a hurt, the heart is hollow
Deep in December, it’s nice to remember
The fire of September that made us mellow
Deep in December, our hearts should remember
And follow, follow, follow
The first verse speaks of a tender and “callow” fellow. Callow is defined as “inexperienced or immature.” This week, I’ll be singing it with the memory care residents at The Waters of Eden Prairie, where I’m chaplain, and with assisted and independent living residents. I can testify that these folks are anything but callow, inexperienced or immature.
It’s amazing to see and hear music awaken minds and memories as they try to remember experiences with their very mature friends. Like trees turning bright colors in a forest when summer turns to autumn, bright smiles spread across the room.
Some who are able will have been on the resident bus tour to the University of Minnesota Arboretum to see the fall colors. Some will “try to remember” the yellow maples and red oaks in their yards. Others will have family members taking them on drives to the old homestead or through the old neighborhood. But all who sing will smile brightly!
This is the season when my family takes more frequent drives to the cabin for leaf-looking and leaf-raking. Honestly, we agree that the most vivid, vibrant colors – the ones that catch our eye or prompt an “oooh” or “aaah” – are along the county road in the last mile before our up-north driveway. I’m convinced others agree, evidenced by the fact that the annual Walker-Hackensack-Akeley-Longville Corvette Club Fall Color Drive comes right up our road.
I’ve heard it said, “In autumn God paints the trees, but in Minnesota, GOD uses a BIGGER BRUSH!
Editor’s note: Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) contributor Pastor Rod Anderson also serves on the EPLN Board of Directors. He was the senior pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie.
Interested in contributing a faith-based column to EPLN? Email editor@eplocalnews.org.
