Summer days, summer nights are gone
Summer days and the summer nights are gone
I know a place where there's still somethin' going on

I got a house on a hill, I got hogs all out on in the mud
I got a house on a hill, I got hogs out lying in the mud
I Got a long haired woman, she got royal Indian blood

Everybody get ready, lift up your glasses and sing
Everybody get ready to lift up your glasses and sing
Well, I'm standin' on the table, I'm proposing a toast to the king

Well I'm drivin' in the flats in a Cadillac car
The girls all say, "You're a worn out star"
My pockets are loaded and I'm spending every dime
How can you say you love someone else when you know it's me all the time?

Well, the fog's so thick you can't spy the land
The fog is so thick that you can't even spy the land
What good are you anyway, if you can't stand up to some old businessman?

Wedding bells ringin', the choir is beginning to sing
Yes, the wedding bells are ringing and the choir is beginning to sing
What looks good in the day, at night is another thing

She's looking into my eyes, she's holding my hand
She's looking into my eyes, she's holding my hand
She says, "You can't repeat the past," I say, "You can't?
What do you mean, you can't, of course you can!"

Where do you come from? Where do you go?
Sorry that's nothin' you would need to know
Well, my back has been to the wall for so long, it seems like it's stuck
Why don't you break my heart one more time just for good luck

I got eight carburetors, boys I'm using 'em all
Well, I got eight carburetors and boys, I'm using 'em all
I'm short on gas, my motor's starting to stall

My dogs are barking, there must be someone around
My dogs are barking, there must be someone around
I got my hammer ringin', pretty baby, but the nails ain't goin' down

You got something to say, speak or hold your peace
Well, you got something to say, speak now or hold your peace
If it's information you want you can go get it from the police

Politician got on his jogging shoes
He must be running for office, got no time to lose
He been suckin' the blood out of the genius of generosity
You been rolling your eyes, you been teasing me

Standing by God's river, my soul is beginnin' to shake
Standing by God's river, my soul is beginnin' to shake
I'm countin' on you love, to give me a break

Well, I'm leaving in the morning as soon as the dark clouds lift
Yes, I'm leaving in the morning just as soon as the dark clouds lift
Gonna break in the roof, set fire to the place as a parting gift

Summer days, summer nights are gone
Summer days, summer nights are gone
I know a place where there's still somethin' going on


Lyrics submitted by afbailey

Summer Days Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Summer Days song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    "You can't repeat the past." I say, "You can't? What do you mean, you can't? Of course you can."

    There is a very similar quote in (the book) "The Great Gatsby"

    HockeyJoeon February 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Got my hammer ringin', pretty baby, but the nails ain't goin down"

    I think this means (and I could be wrong)

    either

    1) Working hard but seeming to accomplish little or nothing OR 2) Trying to get a message accross but It's not sinking in

    I personally think there is a certain "theme" to Bob's music especially is live set lists. A message he is trying to get across. I think the message is of a Biblical nature.

    markrobion January 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    actually just heard this for the first time. As always I think that when Bob sings about "me" or "I" he refers to himself and here as well. I just see the song as a sort of "f**k you, I dont care" thing. He has lived his life and payed his dues. and he is very cocky in this one.

    like the verse "the girls all say "You're a wornout star", Think he is refering to him getting old but he simply replies that he has a lot of Money which he just spends around and saying that he knows that the Girls do love him.

    the part about the wedding he is saying that weddings might look good at the day, but in the night you will see the true form. he has done that Before and he failed.

    "Got my hammer ringin', pretty baby, but the nails ain't goin down",. I agree with markrobi here that he have a message that just wont get across and I Think he refers to a lot of his songs. they have something he wants to say but people just dont get it

    the last part (Yes, I'm leaving in the morning just as soon as the dark clouds lift Gonna break the roof in - set fire to the place as a parting gift) I love. it makes me think about Bobs view on his own life. It feels that he is saying that he will eventually leave this Earth (as soon as the dark Clouds lift) and when he do it will be with a big bang... whatever that means

    QuickJ27on March 01, 2014   Link

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