September — Earth, Wind & Fire

A soulful celebration of love and nostalgia, with infectious rhythms and an uplifting melody that captures the essence of joy and unforgettable moments.

General description

A vibrant and timeless disco-funk anthem celebrating joy, love, and nostalgia. Released in 1978, it features a catchy groove, energetic brass instrumentation, and Maurice White's soulful vocals. The song's iconic "21st night of September" lyric and infectious melody make it a favorite for parties and celebrations worldwide.

Technical details

Vocal spans:
— male voice: A4 — D5 (falsetto, 6 semitones)
— male voice: F♯3 — A4 (high range, 15 semitones)

Intro:
Upbeat instrumental intro featuring rhythmic guitar and horns.

Verse:
Each line is built on the F♯ minor chord (F♯3 - A3 - C♯4). First 3 lines end on a scooped C♯4. Line 4 ends on an A3.

Chorus:
Memorable "Ba-dee-ya" hook — C♯-D-C♯.

Lyrics

Do you remember
The 21st 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

Hey, hey, hey
Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya, dancin' in September
Ba-dee-ya, never was a cloudy day

Ba-du-da, ba-du-da, ba-du-da, ba-du
Ba-du-da, ba-du, ba-du-da, ba-du
Ba-du-da, ba-du, ba-du-da

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 the love that we shared in September
Only blue talk and love, remember
The true love we share today

Hey, hey, hey
Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya, dancin' in September
Ba-dee-ya, never was a cloudy day

There was a
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), dancin' in September
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), golden dreams were shiny days

The bell was ringin', oh, oh
Our souls were singin'
Do you remember never a cloudy day? Yow

There was a
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), dancin' in September
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), never was a cloudy day

And we'll say
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), dancin' in September
Ba-dee-ya (dee ya, dee-ya), golden dreams were shiny days
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!