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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  • +3
    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
  • +2
    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
  • +2
    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
  • +1
    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
  • +1
    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
  • +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
    I kinda disagree with jamiexxxx...I guess it could be a fantasy but the way I hear and read is that all this did happen. The "again" gives it away Although I know it isn't real I just can't help but feel Her hungry arms AGAIN
    kissfreak93on December 30, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    As you've all figured out, this song is about a relationship between a farmhand and the woman he works for. He's probably 18 or so, and I don't think she's THAT much older than him- even if she was 25 or 30, that wouldn't be very creepy. Her husband could have died within months of this story taking place, and she misses him so much that she gets confused and doesn't know how to feel. It's almost as if she NEEDS someone there for her. "Hands of leather" describes her willpower, not her actual hands. Since she's "hellbent to make it on her own", she has to work very hard and she refuses to give up. As they 'turn to velvet', well...you get the picture. "There has never been a summer Where I have ever learned so much" I don't think that they were necessarily soulmates or even in love with one another, but it was more of his first experience in a real relationship, which he knows he'll never forget. "And I have rarely held another When I haven't seen her face And every time I pass a wheat field And watch it dancing with the wind Although I know it isn't real I just can't help but feel Her hungry arms again" He still has feelings for her, or at least wants back that innocence he had with her that summer. The chorus describes a passion that people would DIE for. I agree with sapphireskies....its amazing. Does anyone else think this would make an awesome music video? The whole thing in sepia-brown, an old farmhouse in the middle of kansas somewhere, i very plain woman in a simple dress, and a teenage boy. I think it'd be amazing.
    lauraloulouon August 07, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I completely agree with most. This is a tale of a summer of unbridled passion and the hopes and dreams of feeling that once again. It's almost devastatingly poetic as it makes everyone long for what these two had... even if the age disturbs some. Disregard the age difference and think of the description. Wow. Wow. Though, I feel the boy is younger (18 or so) I do feel the woman isn't old. Perhaps 30's. But the loss she feels from her husbands untimely demise drives her into loneliness and turmoil. Likewise, the boy is looking for something he's never had: a lover. Both help themselves through their hardship with intense passion and kindness. I find this to be one of the most epic and compassionate stories about love. It honestly reminds me of my experience directly out of High School. Though she wasn't old (my age). I loved her so and to this day miss her. "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 dancing with the wind Although I know it isn't real I just can't help but feel Her hungry arms again"
    Trez1313on January 27, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    hmm... im kind of annoyed at everyone's comments under this song. why does the widow have to be even thirty. My name is Hannah Joy and i was married at 18 and then widowed at the age of 20 (about a month after my 20th birthday.. so many of my friends were still 19) ... and so i guess i am currently a "lonely widow woman" dating a "teenager" (my boyfriend is 19... granted he will turn 20 in less than a week)... i would hope you dont consider me a rapist or perve... he is a full year younger than me... but it really isnt that dramatic. and i started dating again almost a year after my first husband died. this widow could be anywhere between 18 (depending on the state you live in) and 25... i have always pictured her that way... in some states she could even be as young as 17... i am in national a widows under 25 club and there are THOUSANDS of us... you folks are (frankly) judgemental... ive always pictured a 20-25 year old woman and a 19 or so year old boy... (he sounds like a college student "so far from home") ... ive always pictured her as a vietnam widow of a young soldier... or something like that... USE YOUR IMAGINATIONS! DONT THING THE WORST. . . i bet you are the same kind of ppl that would have said "i bet shes pregnant!" when i got married at 18 (i wasnt btw. ... just in love...)
    hannahjoy57on September 23, 2011   Link

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