20 cozy songs that’ll get you in the fall mood

We promise you it’s not just the name of the song that evokes all things fall. The sound, tone, and lyrics will transport you into autumn, no matter how hot it is outside. If you want to see leaves falling in your mind, turn on “Sweater Weather.”

If you use a cozy garment for the title of a song, you’d better make sure it’s cozy. “Cardigan” by Taylor Swift is just that. And if you need an entire album (or two) from T-Swift for your fall feels, play Evermore and Folklore. 

Phoebe Bridgers gives off the vibe that she exists within fall perpetually, so naturally, her music feels that way, too. “Motion Sickness” is a cozy little tune that’ll make you want to drive through fall foliage while sipping an apple cider. 

“Dreams” doesn’t sound like fall just because it’s associated with that one meme. Long before people were using this as the soundtrack to them wearing pumpkins on their heads, Fleetwood Mac was being played in the fall, and rightfully so. 

Everything Hozier writes and records has just a tinge of a fall feeling. It’s his ever-so-slight moodiness. “Someone New” is a great song for an autumnal track that’s a little bouncy. 

The entire Stick Season album has elite fall vibes, but if you want to listen to something of his before taking the plunge into the entire album, start with the title track. And make sure it’s actually fall when you listen to get the full effect. 

“Season of the Witch” is groovy and folksy and will make you want to turn on Practical Magic and pick out your Halloween costume. If you’re partial to Lana Del Rey’s version, that one will do the trick, too. 

There’s a real chance that “Supermassive Black Hole” is only reminiscent of fall because of its inclusion on the Twilight soundtrack. But the reason doesn’t matter. What does matter is that it’s an excellent, upbeat track to add to your fall playlist. 

If you only want to listen to a snippet of “You’re Dead,” watch What We Do in the Shadows (either the movie or television series) to hear the best part of it and have some visual aids to get you in the fall mood. 

Almost any song with some guitar strumming to start is bound to sound at least a little autumnal. And “Skinny Love” doesn’t deviate from that. The song goes on to keep the fall vibes that you want and need. It’s a classic. 

“September” is a banger any time, but it’ll fully get you into the fall mood right off the bat when it mentions the “21st night of September,” which happens to be one of the days that fall often begins. It’s been on repeat in the fall for decades for a reason. 

It’s that guitar. That guitar makes “Mrs. Robinson” just feel like fall. It’s simultaneously upbeat and cozy, which is a rare and wonderful combination when it comes to fall tunes. 

Lana Del Rey is another artist with a lot of decidedly autumnal work. “Norman F^cking Rockwell,” as well as the album of the same name, is perfect for ushering you from late summer into early fall. It sounds like mornings are getting cooler, and leaves are getting crunchy. 

“Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones could be the soundtrack of every fall rom-com ever made. The lyrics wouldn’t necessarily fit with every particular point, but the tone would be perfect. Between Jones’ voice and the piano, this song has no flaws. 

“Rivers and Roads” is a great example of content dictating form. The sound is decidedly longing and contemplative, as are the lyrics, and those are two emotions that stir up in many of us during the fall. 

Could Zach Bryan and The Lumineers record a song that didn’t sound autumnal? No, they couldn’t have. They were the exact right artists to collaborate for a cozy track to add to a fall playlist. 

“Harvest Moon” by Neil Young is the perfect song to play when you’re on your way to a pumpkin patch in the fall. If you’re not going to be doing that this fall, light a candle and play the song at home. It won’t be quite the same, but it’ll evoke the same feelings. 

Yes, Lana Del Rey has been mentioned a lot here, but it’s because everything she records is fall-coded, including “Hallucinogenics.” And she’s just a featured artist. But the song has definite fall vibes. 

“Ocean Eyes” is autumnal because it’s a ballad, and Billie Eilish has a haunting quality to her voice. When you’re ready for something fully spooky, move on to When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

Billy Joel’s “Vienna” is another song that’ll really get you thinking when you listen to it. But isn’t that what fall is for? It’s a time to be reflective, and we need cozy tunes to help get us into that mindset.