In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Summer in the city
Means cleavage, cleavage, cleavage
And I started miss you, baby, sometimes
I've been staying up drinking
In the late night establishments
Telling strangers personal things
Summer in the city
I'm so lonely, lonely, lonely
So I went to a protest
Just to rub up against strangers
And I did feel like coming
But I also felt like crying
And it doesn't seem so worth it right now
And the castrated ones stand in the corner smoking
They want to feel the bulges in their pants start to rise
At the sight of a beautiful woman
They feel nothing
But anger
Her skin makes them sick in the night
Nauseous, nauseous, nauseous
Summer in the city
I'm so lonely, lonely, lonely
I've been hallucinating you, babe
At the backs of other women
And I tap 'em on the shoulder
And they turn around smiling but
There's no recognition in their eyes
Oh, summer in the city!
Means cleavage, cleavage, cleavage
Don't get me wrong, dear
In general I'm doing quite fine
It's just when it's summer in the city
And you are so long gone from the city I start to miss you, baby, sometimes
When it's summer in the city
And you are so long gone from the city
I start to miss you, baby, sometimes
Oh, I start to miss you, baby, sometimes
Means cleavage, cleavage, cleavage
And I started miss you, baby, sometimes
I've been staying up drinking
In the late night establishments
Telling strangers personal things
Summer in the city
I'm so lonely, lonely, lonely
So I went to a protest
Just to rub up against strangers
And I did feel like coming
But I also felt like crying
And it doesn't seem so worth it right now
And the castrated ones stand in the corner smoking
They want to feel the bulges in their pants start to rise
At the sight of a beautiful woman
They feel nothing
But anger
Her skin makes them sick in the night
Nauseous, nauseous, nauseous
Summer in the city
I'm so lonely, lonely, lonely
I've been hallucinating you, babe
At the backs of other women
And I tap 'em on the shoulder
And they turn around smiling but
There's no recognition in their eyes
Oh, summer in the city!
Means cleavage, cleavage, cleavage
Don't get me wrong, dear
In general I'm doing quite fine
It's just when it's summer in the city
And you are so long gone from the city I start to miss you, baby, sometimes
When it's summer in the city
And you are so long gone from the city
I start to miss you, baby, sometimes
Oh, I start to miss you, baby, sometimes
Lyrics submitted by lemonjuice
Summer in the City Lyrics as written by Regina Spektor
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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just because she says backs of other women doesnt mean it has to be a man's perspective...it could be a lesbian! and cleavage could just mean separation. separation from her love. summer means cleavage.
The reason I think it's a man's perspective is not because women are the object of attention, it's because of the lecherous tone of the song in general. Rubbing up against strangers is something mostly only men find a suitable cure for loneliness. As for the alternate meaning of cleavage, that's an awesome point I hadn't thought of.
I do love the point about cleavage meaning separation from one's love. But I have to agree with Illinoisjoe because the tone really does give off a male's mind. I think that the lyrics are from a male perspective because of how men are usually shown to be focusing more on sex than women.
yea i see what you mean, it probably is from a man's mind but just a thought! and thanks, im pretty sure that is what she means by cleavage, summer means separation, not breasts, and why would female's cleavage make him miss her? only separation could do that.