The Chimera is a reference to mythology/folklore, but there’s a reason Billy chose this creature; it is a split personality, a split nationality/allegiance. This relates to the dichotomy of modern life; we have to navigate history and tradition but also live in the present. Agreeing with one of the above comments, “Summertime’s the only child” reminds us that the present is the only thing real and true and important. Our history and our future is not as important as our present. The Chimera in folklore is a hybrid offspring of monsters, but in modern times, chimeric animals are rare and usually infertile. Billy may be incorporating some self loathing here but I doubt it is meant to be taken so literally. Billy (or his narrator) is the metaphorical chimera in the song; summer (the present) is his only child, so let’s live it up and “make this right (fall in love and just enjoy it all).
The Chimera is a reference to mythology/folklore, but there’s a reason Billy chose this creature; it is a split personality, a split nationality/allegiance. This relates to the dichotomy of modern life; we have to navigate history and tradition but also live in the present. Agreeing with one of the above comments, “Summertime’s the only child” reminds us that the present is the only thing real and true and important. Our history and our future is not as important as our present. The Chimera in folklore is a hybrid offspring of monsters, but in modern times, chimeric animals are rare and usually infertile. Billy may be incorporating some self loathing here but I doubt it is meant to be taken so literally. Billy (or his narrator) is the metaphorical chimera in the song; summer (the present) is his only child, so let’s live it up and “make this right (fall in love and just enjoy it all).