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Girls In Their Summer Clothes Lyrics
Well the street lights shine
Down on Blessing Avenue
Lovers they walk by
Holdin' hands two by two
A breeze crosses the porch
Bicycle spokes spin 'round
Jacket's on, I'm out the door
Tonight I'm gonna burn this town down
And the girls in their summer clothes
In the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes
Pass me by
Kid's rubber ball smacks
Off the gutter 'neath the lamp light
Big bank clock chimes
Off go the sleepy front porch lights
Downtown the store's alive
As the evening's underway
Things been a little tight
But I know they're gonna turn my way
And the girls in their summer clothes
In the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes
Pass me by
Frankie's Diner's
Over on the edge of town
Neon sign spinnin' round
Like a cross over the lost and found
Fluorescent lights
Flicker above Bob's Grill
Shaniqua brings a coffee and asks "fill?"
And says "penny for your thoughts now my poor Bill"
She went away
She cut me like a knife
Had a beautiful thing
Maybe you just saved my life
In just a glance
Down here on Magic Street
Love's a fool's dance
I ain't got no shoes but I still got my feet
And the girls in their summer clothes
In the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes
Pass me by
And the girls in their summer clothes
In the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes
Pass me by
La la la la, la la la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la la la
Song Info
Submitted by
delial On Sep 13, 2007
More Bruce Springsteen
I'm on Fire
Thunder Road
Dancing In The Dark
Born in the U.S.A.
Secret Garden
This song isn't about Bruce at all, in fact, it's about your typical down-on-his-luck American guy. In this song, Shaniqua actually calls the guy "Bill". Also, we know it's not Bruce because he makes reference about financial struggles "things are tight" and about his girl having left him ("She went away, she cut me like a knife") - and we know he's currently married.
The guy he is singing about is a blue collared anywhere-in-America guy, he's down on his luck, without too much money and depressed about a woman leaving him. In fact, Shaniqua showing him any kind of human courtesy "might have saved his life" ... meaning thoughts of suicide were creeping in (although he could just be exagerrating).
As for girls in their Summer clothes ... i'm not so sure he's implying that he's old and they are young. It doesn't say anything about the girls being young. Since this is about "Bill", for all we know, Bill could be 25, 35, 45 or 55. The key is probably that the girls in their Summer clothes imply that there are always other fish in the ocean.
Forgot to mention, that the key is that the girls are going to pass him by ... which implies any of the following: (A) They aren't going to be interested. (B) He's older and they are too young to be interested. (C) That he's not interested, he's just going to let them pass by. My guess? All three :)
Forgot to mention, that the key is that the girls are going to pass him by ... which implies any of the following: (A) They aren't going to be interested. (B) He's older and they are too young to be interested. (C) That he's not interested, he's just going to let them pass by. My guess? All three :)
It's about acceptance of time passing and growing older.
I think this song is about Bruce. And a lot of guys his age.
It is the feeling of knwoing the journey is over, and you have arrived at the place you're gone stay. Life was good,and you have good memories. But also their were hardtimes, but you managed to survive and recover.
Now, on those evenings were summer is ending, you put on your jacket when you go for a walk. Young people don't wear this, youth keeps them warm. And as you walk around, the joy of life from the young bring back the warm memories and feeling. And you enjoy it, but are no longer a part of it. So you go their were nothing has changed for years, and the need for change is not felt. You think about your problems, but have the expierience to trust you will manage them, so they don't bring you down. Soon you will walk back home, and leave the night to the young.
But always in a distance, when you hear the laughs, the cars and smell the autum sky, you wonder: Is the journey over, or will this proof to become a good memory too?
Uh, no it's not. I love this song, but it's more about the end of summer -- and exiting the summer of life. Life is going on around just as it always had, but it's almost like he's not there anymore, like he is living in the same world with a different attitude. He's wearing a jacket and talking about the cool of the evening light, and the girls (Bruce would call them women if they were older like him) are wearing their summer clothes as they pass him by. He seeks familiarity at the old diner, and he's just a lonely guy trying to convince himself he doesn't need love. Really, all he wants is to have the chance to do it all over again.
Great song.
dqcpsu, I like that. It also has a distinct "Our Town" vibe to me too. Like he's trying to take in and appreciate all the things that are so ordinary and aren't missed until they're (or you're) gone. Love the sound of this one.
This is a Bruce concert favorite.. he expects you to know the words (like Waiting on a Sunny Day) and sing the chorus. Only Bruce can write such an up beat tine for such a sad topic... his girl let him broken hearted.
Also, a correction in the lyrics it's "Hey beautiful thing, mayeb you can safe my life." He;s out and alone & hopes the next pretty face will save him from his broken heart.
Young girls. Bruce throws us a happy cookie.
dqcpsu, an amazing interpretation and I think you nailed it perfectly.
"Love's a fool's dance I ain't got no shoes but I still got my feet"
Additionally, it's got that big fat Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" orchestration that I just love.
Tonight I'm gonna burn this town down...so brilliant
To me the songs about trying to live without love.
But those damn girls wont stop reminding you about your past. And is trying to forget about it. He's on the road to recovery from his last relationship. And is trying to be optimistic as posssible.
Is he deppressed?? No not really But hes defenetly not totaly happy either.
I feel like theres a fine line between Optimistic and Pessmistic
and depresion and happiness. Theres a border where im at currently in my life.
Not suicidal But not Smileing
No tears of joy But no tears of sorrow.