Our last day of summer, 1979
We gotta live up one time before it's over
We will make history tonight

Out at the drive-in
All of our closest friends will be sneaking in
You'll be spending your whole night
Trying everything you can to get that girl to notice you

We are the champions playing loud on the radio station
Everyone sing along with these anthems of our generation
Cruising down Pacific Coast Highway
Put the top down, crawl into the back seat
Let's create anthems of our own tonight

Down at the roller rink
All the cool kids crowding around the air hockey table
Hey, my best friend likes you
I hear you shout at me as you go skating by

We are the champions playing loud on the radio station
Everyone sing along with these anthems of our generation
Cruisin down Pacific Coast Highway
Put the top down, crawl into the back seat
Let's create anthems of our own tonight

Sneak out of the window, darling
Let's live like outlaws, honey
We'll never look back

Climb out on this rooftop
And stare at the city lights below us
This world belongs to us tonight
The kids will keep raging on and they ain't ever gonna stop

We are the champions playing loud on the radio station
Everyone sing along with these anthems of our generation
Cruisin down Pacific Coast Highway
put the top down, crawl into the back seat
Let's create anthems of our own tonight


Lyrics submitted by ADimeADexter

Summer '79 Lyrics as written by Kris Roe

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Summer '79 song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    i like the line "lets create anthems of our own tonight"

    xxDARKIRISxxon May 10, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ok seriously how old was kris in the summer of '79 cause if my maths right then that would make him about 2

    lookin4sandimason July 07, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    obviously about growing up...just sorta a feel good song....

    h2onitroon March 13, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    obviously about growing up......just sorta a feel good song....

    h2onitroon March 13, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    He was born in '79, actually. While I really like this song, the false nostalgia of growing up at a time when he wasn't even capable of concious thought kinda throws it off. T&C's interpretation could be right, though. Maybe it's just a song about how he wishes he were around back then.

    Chronobrainon April 19, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Cool song from a cool band! Is the feeling of hanging out with your best friend, watching the person you like, showing off so that person get to notice you. "We are the champions playing loud on the radio station, everyone sing along this anthems of our generation... let's creates anthems of our own tonight." That line means he wish to be an artist-- which by the way he is-- and create songs people sing along and adore. Well, I do both of the previous ones ;)

    punker girlon September 19, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this is more about him being born rather than him being in the summer of 79'. Probably his parents were young when they had him, i have no clue, but I seriously don't think that "making anthems of our own tonight" have anything to do with "singing"

    wilting-tearson December 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this is more about him being born rather than him being in the summer of 79'. Probably his parents were young when they had him, i have no clue, but I seriously don't think that "making anthems of our own tonight" have anything to do with "singing"

    wilting-tearson December 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Heh heh. Good point. Never thought of that one.

    Chronobrainon January 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I also think he wishes he grew up in '79

    Or, he just thought it sounded cool in the title.

    You never know with Kris, lol. That's one of the reasons why I love him

    sx edgeon February 12, 2005   Link

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