Fall Playlist

by Ilana Talamo

The streets of New York appear perpetually covered by a thin layer of rain, and you strategically walk just far enough away from the edge of the sidewalk to avoid being splashed by a taxi. The rain continues to fall, gently enough that you question the need for your umbrella. The sky is neither blue nor gray, and children pause mid-walk to splash in puddles. It is another fall day, and you are listening to your new favorite rainy fall day playlist. 01. “cowboy like me” —Taylor Swi Taylor Swi ’s “cowboy like me” tells the story of the unlikely relationship between two con artists who were not loo king for love, only money. “You’re a cowboy like me / Perched in the dark / Telling all the rich folks anything they wanna hear / Like it could be love / I could be the way forward / Only if they pay for it.” 02. “Pale Blue Eyes” — e Velvet Underground e song “Pale Blue Eyes” is said to have been written in honor of Reed’s rst love, Shelley Albin, who was married to another man at the time. Her eyes make him feel happy, mad, but mainly, her eyes make him feel a sad sense of longing. “Linger on your pale blue eyes / Linger on your pale blue eyes.” 03. “Drew Barrymore” —SZA “Drew Barrymore” is based on Vine’s idea of a perfect girl: funny, cute, and sweet. It is an honest love song that highlights insecurities within a relationship and asks the ever-present question, am I enough? “I’m sorry I’m not more attractive / I’m sorry I’m not more ladylike / I’m sorry I don’t shave my legs at night.” 04. “Velvet Ring” —Big ief Big ief’s song “Velvet Ring” is a beautiful tale of love and loss, sweetness and sorrow. A man loves a woman “like he loved no one” else, but she is in love with someone else. “Ben, he loved her like he loved no one / e way she laughed and held a smoking gun.” 05. “Songbird” —Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac’s album Rumors was created a er breakups and divorces involving all ve band members. Despite the pain behind the album, “Songbird” is an incredibly personal song about self-sacri ce and true love. “And the songbirds are singing, / Like they know the score / And I love you, I love you, I love you / Like never before.”

06. “From the Dining Table” —Harry Styles Harry Styles’ “From the Dining Table” is the perfect post-breakup song. It expresses a strong sense of longing for one whom you used to speak with all the time but never see anymore. “Even my phone misses your call, by the way.” 07. “Waiting Room” —Phoebe Bridgers Phoebe Bridgers wrote her song “Waiting Room” at sixteen years old. e song evokes feelings of pining and a fear of being le behind. “And when broken bodies are washed ashore / Who am I to ask for more, more, more”

08. “Cecilia” —Simon and Garfunkel Simon and Garfunkel’s “Cecilia” is about a man who was recently broken up with by his girlfriend, and he is begging her to come back to him. “Celia, you’re breaking my heart / You’re shaking my con dence daily / Oh, Cecilia, I’m down on my knees / I’m begging you please to come home.” 09. “Bubble Gum” —Clairo Clairo’s song “Bubble Gum” explores the feeling of regret following a missed romantic opportunity. Her mentioning of bubble gum is a reference towards the superstition that swallowing gum will cause bad luck. Is her swallowing of the bubble gum the reason for her failed romantic endeavors? “Sorry I didn’t kiss you / But it’s obvious I wanted to / Bubble gum down my throat and it’s a curse.”

10. “Mykonos” —Fleet Foxes “Mykonos” was recorded by the American folk band Fleet Foxes in 2007 and released in 2009. While the meaning of this song is unclear, the lyrics and melody evoke a sense of loss and longing. “And you will go to Mykonos / With a vision of a gentle coast / And a sun to maybe dissipate / Shadows of the mess you made.”

Art by Christiana Im