Crescent Noon

Album: Close To You (1970)
Play Video
  • Green September

    Burned to October brown

    Bare November

    Led to December's frozen ground

    The seasons stumbled round

    Our drifting lives are bound

    To a falling crescent noon



    Feather clouds cry

    A vale of tears to earth

    Morning breaks and

    No one sees the quiet mountain birth

    Dressed in a brand new day

    The sun is on its way

    To a falling crescent noon



    Somewhere in

    A fairytale forest lies one

    Answer that is waiting to be heard





    You and I were

    Born like the breaking day

    All our seasons

    All our green Septembers

    Burn away

    Slowly we'll fade into

    A sea of midnight blue

    And a falling crescent noon
    Writer/s: JOHN BETTIS, RICHARD LYNN CARPENTER
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

  • Sparky from Brisbane AustraliaKenneth you are right on the money. That is exactly what this song is about, and all of Karen's vocal control and range are on display, with this beautiful, haunting instrumentation to complement her. Read into the lyrics what you will. This song is a masterclass in vocal technique, from one of the best vocalists of our time.
  • Bag13p from Chicagothis is kind of the "cycle of life stuff" is clearly conveyed. But, more importantly it's Karen's self-awareness of her [small] place in larger scheme [moon, planets, etc.]. Now, so really, what is the noon is this scheme; noon in larger scheme of things is the height of sun and the mid-day and the time after which life begins to end. simple enough [again] but till you feel it..it's not got the emotion. and anyway, who will care..yes, reflection of your life and those among you will be what she is sharing. it's very good and worthwhile thing she brings, to us, here from there.. not trying to be difficult to write but it's my attempt to explain this to myself after 30 years of knowing of this song.
  • Nige from EnglandWhy “noon”? Surely a crescent “moon” makes more sense?
  • Kenneth Dimaio from MeThis song is much deeper then the explanation. It is about a love lost to TIME! The seasons represent the times of the relationship, thus the "Green September" thru to other parts of the relationship, till it is gone for good. " you and I were born like the breaking day, all our seasons, All our green Septembers burn away, slowly we'll fade into a sea of midnight blue and a falling crescent noon"
    Thus there is no more hope, it is all fading into the abyss of time. Very deep and expressionative.
    KD 3/29/22. KD&TS TLF
  • Pudden Tane from UsIt’s NOON. You’re mistaken, Charlie.
  • Mary from Pueblo, CoJust curious-how does the person above, describing the song's meaning, know this? It seems to have a more "far reaching" meaning, at least, to me. Especially, since at the time it was written, there was little known about SAD (seasonal affective disorder). What is meant by the language in the song is still not explained, such as in the lyrics " somewhere in a fairytale forest lies an answer that is waiting to be heard" or what is meant by the title "Crescent Noon." The song, to me, has a broader meaning and refers to the span of a lifetime, ("you and I were born at the break of day" and "all our seasons...burn away"), although looking at life through a dark lens.
  • David from Barnsley, United KingdomThe key of B flat minor heightens the melancholy and gloomy feeling - I often find that the key a song is recorded in can make a noticeable and subtle difference to the listener.
  • Siansonea from Denver, CoIt's Crescent Noon. It's a great song, very haunting. Love the orchestration.
  • Charles from Charlotte, NcI thought it was titled "Crescent Moon"? Am I mistaken?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Tommy James

Tommy JamesSongwriter Interviews

"Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Draggin' The Line"... the hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."