“September” by Earth, Wind & Fire is a timeless party anthem released in 1978. The song, co-written by Maurice White and Allee Willis, features a catchy melody and the iconic “ba-dee-ya” refrain.
The lyrics reminisce about a joyful night in September, celebrating love and happiness under the stars. Despite its seemingly arbitrary date, the song has become a cultural phenomenon, turning September 21st into an unofficial holiday. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and joy, making it a staple at celebrations worldwide.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
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“September” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
Do you remember
The twenty-first night of September?
Love was changin’ the minds of pretenders
While chasin’ the clouds away
Our hearts were ringin’
In the key that our souls were singin’
As we danced in the night, remember
How the stars stole the night away, oh yeah
The first verse sets a nostalgic and romantic tone, asking if the listener remembers the twenty-first night of September. It describes a moment when love was changing people’s perspectives (“Love was changin’ the minds of pretenders”) and bringing happiness (“While chasin’ the clouds away”). The verse emphasizes the harmony and joy of that night, with hearts and souls singing in unison, and the stars making the night magical (“As we danced in the night, remember / How the stars stole the night away, oh yeah”).
[Chorus]
Hey, hey, hey
Ba-dee-ya
Say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya
Dancin’ in September
Ba-dee-ya
Never was a cloudy day
The chorus is upbeat and celebratory, with the repetitive phrase “Ba-dee-ya” creating a sense of rhythm and joy. The chorus asks if the listener remembers dancing in September, emphasizing that it was a time without any sadness or cloudy days (“Never was a cloudy day”). The “Ba-dee-ya” phrase, though nonsensical, is integral to the song’s groove and feel-good atmosphere.
[Post-Chorus]
Ba-du, ba-du, ba-du, ba-du
Ba-du, ba-du, ba-du, ba-du
Ba-du, ba-du, ba-du-da
Ba-du, yeah
The post-chorus is more of a musical interlude, with repetitive vocalizations (“Ba-du, ba-du, ba-du, ba-du”) that add to the song’s rhythmic energy.
[Verse 2]
My thoughts are with you
Holdin’ hands with your heart to see you
Only blue talk and love, remember
How we knew love was here to stay
Now December
Found a love we shared in September
Only blue talk and love, remember
True love we share today
The second verse is heartfelt and focuses on the enduring nature of love. It mentions holding hands and sharing love, with “blue talk” possibly referring to intimate or emotional conversations (“Only blue talk and love, remember”). The verse transitions to December, noting that the love shared in September has endured (“Now December / Found a love we shared in September”). This suggests a progression from the initial romantic moment in September to a deeper, lasting connection by December.
[Chorus]
Hey, hey, hey (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Ba-dee-ya
Say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya (Oh)
Dancin’ in September
Ba-dee-ya (Hey)
Never was a cloudy day
And we’ll say ba-dee-ya (Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya)
Say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya (Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya)
Dancin’ in September
Ba-dee-ya (Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya)
Golden dreams were shiny days (Dee-ya)
The chorus repeats, maintaining its celebratory and nostalgic tone.
[Bridge]
The bells was ringin’, oh-oh
Our souls were singin’
Do you remember never a cloudy day? Yow
The bridge evokes a sense of joy and celebration, possibly hinting at a wedding or a significant life event (“The bells was ringin’, oh-oh / Our souls were singin'”). It reinforces the idea that the memories of September are happy and cloudless (“Do you remember never a cloudy day?”).
[Outro]
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
The outro continues the repetitive “Ba-dee-ya” refrain, reinforcing the song’s upbeat and memorable melody.
Deeper Meaning Behind “September”
“September” by Earth, Wind & Fire is a song that has become synonymous with joy and celebration, but beneath its upbeat surface, it carries a few layers of meaning. The song’s theme revolves around memories of past happiness and the power of love to bring people together. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and communal celebration, with lines like “Do you remember / The 21st night of September?” and “Love was changing the minds of pretenders / While chasing the clouds away” suggesting a moment when love and joy were at their peak.
One of the most intriguing aspects of “September” is its use of seemingly nonsensical lyrics, particularly the repeated refrain of “ba-dee-ya.” This phrase, which was initially intended as a placeholder, became an integral part of the song’s identity. Songwriter Allee Willis recounts that Maurice White, the lead vocalist, insisted on keeping it because it fit the song’s groove perfectly, teaching her the lesson that sometimes the lyrics shouldn’t get in the way of the music’s emotional impact.
The choice of the 21st of September as the song’s focal point is often misunderstood as having a deeper significance. However, both Allee Willis and Maurice White have clarified that the date was chosen purely for its melodic appeal. They experimented with various dates, and the 21st simply sounded the best when sung. Despite the lack of symbolic meaning, the song has become a cultural phenomenon, transforming September 21st into an unofficial celebration day.
Some fans have interpreted the song as having themes related to becoming a parent or celebrating milestones, but these interpretations are not supported by the songwriters’ intentions. Instead, “September” remains a timeless anthem that captures the essence of living in the moment and cherishing past joys. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to evoke a universal sense of happiness and community.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.