That Summer

Garth Brooks

I went to work for her that summer
A teenage kid so far from home
She was a lonely widow woman
Hell bent to make it on her own
We were a thousand miles from nowhere
Wheat fields as far as I could see
Both needing something from each other
Not knowing yet what that might be
'Til she came to me one evening
Hot cup of coffee and a smile
In a dress that I was certain
She hadn't worn in quite a while
There was a difference in her laughter
There was a softness in her eyes
And on the air there was a hunger
Even a boy could recognize

She had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightning from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Raging in her lover's eyes
She had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burning bright
Rushing headlong in the wind
Out where only dreams have been
Burning both ends of the night

That summer wind was all around me
Nothing between us but the night
When I told her that I'd never
She softly whispered "That's alright"
And then I watched her hands of leather
Turn to velvet in a touch
There's never been another summer
When I have ever learned so much

We had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightnin' from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Ragin' in each others eyes
We had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burnin' bright
Rushin' headlong in the wind
Out where only dreams have been
Burnin' both ends of the night

I often think about that summer
The sweat, the moonlight and the lace
And I have rarely held another
When I haven't seen her face
And every time I pass a wheat field
And watch it dancin' with the wind
Although I know it isn't real
I just can't help but feel
Her hungry arms again

She had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightnin' from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Ragin' in her lover's eyes
She had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burnin' bright
Rushin' headlong in the wind
Out where only dreams have been
Burnin' both ends of the night

Rushin' headlong in the wind
Out where only dreams have been
Burnin' both ends of the night


Lyrics submitted by kevin

That Summer Lyrics as written by Sandy Mahl Patrick Alger

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

That Summer song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment
    zacster, I'm affraid your comment is a little naive. Comet248, I agree with most of what you said, but the fact is that she really was quite a bit older than him. He was a "teenage kid," and she was a "lonely widow woman." It takes a while to get over the loss of a spouse, so if she was truly lonely she had to be fairly old. Add to that the fact that she had "hands of leather" and wore "a dress" that "she hadn't worn in quite a while," and you end up facing the fact that the song is about a boy losing his virginity to a woman who was older and more experienced than he was. Still an incredible song.
    Amanda05on December 07, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Don't be stupid. He's saying that the feeling of them being together AGAIN is just a dream.
    tngbnhdon September 13, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    It's about an older woman and a young farmhand. Whatever happened that summer was a hot, sexual thing that he can't forget. Regardless if you think it's wrong or not, it's something he obviously can't forget and remembers. Nothing wrong with a hot cougar if you ask me. I remember when I was 21 I met a 40 year old who actually owned a farm in Kentucky(I live in Illinois) and we hungout a few times. She always wanted me to visit her on the farm, but with college and all I never made it down. I always think of her when I hear this song. God, what a time that was!
    bearfan34on April 17, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    That Summer is an amazing song. It chokes me up every time I hear it. Is incredibly sensitive and well written. Remember the "Summer of 42"? Another coming of age story though the age difference is quite less. And the loss is very recent. Who took advantage of who? I think these situations are difficult to determine any responsibility when emotions are so raw as with a loss, or a loved one long lost, if it even matters. Did either party get used? Don't think so. Did either party get hurt? Again, no. Did each party get something they hadn't expected? Yes. The old woman wasn't using the boy. In fact, she was probably scared of being rejected because of her age. The boy, a teenager, almost an adult, wasn't expecting anything sexual. If it had been me, i'd probably be scared shitless.
    Kratzon October 31, 2018   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Umm...whoa. What the F is this song about? haha
    JulieMarleneon January 13, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    only garth brooks could take such a sensitive subject and make this amazing song about it! i mean, come on... who could write a BETTER description of SEX? lol. "We had a need to feel the thunder To chase the lightning from the sky To watch a storm with all its wonder Written in each other's eyes She had to ride the heat of passion Like a comet burning bright Rushin' headlong in the wind Now where only dreams have been Burnin' both ends of the night" whoa. i mean... as a writer... i'm highly impressed. and how many of us haven't craved that kind of intense, unbridled passion?
    sapphireskieson May 02, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I'm with sapphireskies on this.. I love this song its my favorit song by Garth Brooks.. I mean its the reason I named my horse Comet.. "She had to ride the heat of passion Like a COMET burning bright Rushin' headlong in the wind.." this song is the story of a boy that goes to work for a widow women who only is craving attention for her loss.. the boy is looking for what he has never had.. she really probably isn't that much older then him..and truly does it matter? Nah not really.. its a wonderful song.. truely one of the best.. :.)
    Comet248on June 24, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Hmmm.They could be the same age.It doesn't really say how old the widow is.Just joking.I agree with lila m.Thats totally true.I also agree with sapphireskies.Well kinda.Not completely.I think the leather hands thing is gross!She sounds old enough to be his great grandmother.A little too great.For some strange reason wich is unknown to me,I still love this song.
    Binky3050on June 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    The widow was 'hell bent to make it on her own', her hands of leather is just making a point of all the hard work she has had to do with being on her own and all she has gone through, All she needs is the touch of a lover again to turn her back into a woman who is soft and gentle. And she doesn't have to be old, because it doesn't take long after losing someone (in whatever way) to feel lonely and need the touch of someone even if only for a night.
    newgirlon June 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    TRU DAT.I've heared of such things happening before.It's not so astonishing.The age difference is a number between 1 and 90.They could possible have been close to the same age.Don't judge a book by it's cover or a song by it's lyrics.Ummm...or a songwriter by his or her songs.lol.
    sillygirl15on July 14, 2005   Link

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