I love songs about summer. They evoke fun, freedom, leisure, and chronicle long, sun-filled days. When I was a child “summer” meant the months of June, July, and August because that was when we were out of school. In the South it begins to get hot by the end of May and by June it is often scorching and muggy. (The heat may actually last into October depending on weather patterns.)
Even with the hot temperatures and humidity, summers always felt magical and different from the rest of the year—and still do!
Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.
— Henry James (1843-1916) American author
This year the summer solstice occurs on Sunday, June 20 at 10:32 PM CDT and marks the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Many songs have been written about summer. The following are my Top Ten favorite songs about summer.
One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter.
— Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher
10. “Summertime”
George Gershwin composed the music in 1934 for the opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward and co-credited to Ira Gershwin. There have been 25,000 recordings of the song including versions by Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, and Ella Fitzgerald. One of my favorites is by Shirley Horn. I love the sultry feeling of the music and the images of cotton and catfish are typically southern for me.
9. “The Endless Summer”
The Endless Summer is a 1966 documentary film that follows two surfers around the world. The title comes from the idea that if one had enough time and money, it would be possible to follow summer around the world . . . by going from the northern to southern hemisphere and back they could experience an endless summer. They begin in California and travel to the coasts of Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. I watched the movie several years ago and loved the beautiful photography and learning about the mystique of the surfing culture. The “Theme to the Endless Summer” was written by Gaston Georis and John Blakeley of The Sandals, an early surf-rock band formed in 1962. The music has become one of the best-known film themes of the surf movie genre. I love the laid-back, relaxed feel of the theme music.
8. “Long Hot Summer”
Keith Urban co-wrote this song (released in June 2011) with Richard Marx. This is another fun song about enjoying in the summer. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in October 2011. I admit that I truly like most of Keith Urban’s songs. If one is on the radio . . . I must stop and listen! This up-tempo, fun-loving song is no exception.
7. “A Summer Song”
The English duo Chad and Jeremy released this song in 1964. The song was written by Chad Stuart, Clive Metcalfe, and Keith Noble. I love the sixties vibe with the gentle folk-influenced arrangement. Plus, the vocal harmonies are wonderful!
6. “Looking for Summer”
This song is by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea. He released the song in 1991 as the third single from his eleventh studio album Auberge. This song is a perfect balance of being romantic, emotional, and nostalgic. His voice and guitar playing are unmatched.
5. “Summer Breeze”
The song was written and recorded by Seals and Crofts and released in 1972. In 2013, Rolling Stone ranked it as the 13th “Best Summer Songs of All Time.” I love the song for its great harmonies and memorable images. I can even smell the jasmine.
4. “In the Summertime”
The English rock group Mungo Jerry recorded this song in 1970. It was a huge hit and has become one of the best-selling singles of all time, having sold 30 million copies. Lead singer Ray Dorset wrote the song. He said it took him only ten minutes to write. When the song came out in the summer of 1970 and I heard it on the radio, I thought they were singing some sort of Sacred Harp or Fa-Sol-La on these lines. Who can’t smile when they hear this?
Sing along with us, dee dee dee dee dee Da da da da da, yeah we're hap-pap-py Da da da dee da doo dee da dee da dee da da
3. “Summertime, Summertime”
Sung by The Jamies, the song is often described as doo-wop because of the a cappella harmonies. They were an American singing group, led by siblings Tom and Serena Jameson. They released the song in 1958 and it reached number 26 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song was re-released in 1962 and became a hit again peaking at No. 38. It is such a fun song, it never gets old!
2. “Those Lazy-Hazy Crazy Days of Summer”
Nat King Cole recorded the song in 1963. It was originally a popular German song “Du spielst ‘ne tolle Rolle” and was recorded under that title in 1962 by Willy Hagara. I have always liked the song because those three beginning rhymes are catchy and clever. Knowing that the song is originally German makes the lines “those days of soda and pretzels and beer” make more sense. If you ever find me in a silly mood, enjoying summer . . . you may just hear me burst into singing this song!
1. “Summer in the City”
This song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966. It was recorded by The Lovin’ Spoonful and was written by John Sebastian (founding member of the group), Mark Sebastian, and Steve Boone. During the instrumental bridge the song features car horns and jackhammer sounds to represent the sounds of a noisy city. I have always loved these catchy rhymes in the opening verse:
Hot town, summer in the city Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty Been down, isn't it a pity Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
I also love the car horns and jackhammer sounds. Hearing this song when I was a child and those sounds along with the descriptions gave me a clear picture of what living in a big city must be like during the summer. This is another song that I am likely to belt out at any moment during the summer. It is such a fun song!
Favorite Songs about Summer – Honorable Mentions
Sly and the Family Stone: “Hot Fun in the Summertime”
Faith Hill: “Sunshine and Summertime”
Johnny Rivers: “Summer Rain”
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta: “Summer Nights”
Bryan Adams: “Summer of ‘69”
Don Henley: “The Boys of Summer”
Kid Rock: “All Summer Long”
Frank Sinatra: “Summer Wind”
Eddie Cochran: “Summertime Blues”
Kenny Chesney: “Summertime”
The Beach Boys: “All Summer Long”
Chicago: “Saturday in the Park”
And . . . an older song that deserves a mention
“In the Good Old Summertime”
The music is by George Evans with lyrics by Ren Shields. It was first published in 1902 and became one of the big hits of that era. It was recorded by various artists including John Philip Sousa’s band in 1903. The song appeared in many films, including the 1949 Judy Garland film named after the song, In the Good Old Summertime. It was also featured in an early Mickey Mouse cartoon from 1930, The Picnic. Several years ago, I directed and accompanied a community senior adult choir. We sang programs at retirement homes, nursing homes, and VA facilities every week. This was one of the songs we scheduled every summer. It evokes a simpler, sweeter time of enjoying your sweetheart — your “tootsie wootsie.”
In the good old summer time, In the good old summer time, Strolling thro' the shady lanes With your baby mine; You hold her hand and she holds yours, And that's a very good sign That she's your tootsie wootsie In the good old summer time.
And . . . an even older song about summer
Songs about summer have been around for a long time. “Sumer is icumen in” (a link to YouTube) is from the mid 13th century and is also known as “Summer Canon” or the “Cuckoo Song.” The line translates as “Summer has come in” or “Summer has arrived.” The lyrics are in Middle English. The first verse is translated as:
Summer has arrived,
Loudly sing, cuckoo!
The seed is growing
And the meadow is blooming,
And the wood is coming into leaf now,
Sing, cuckoo!
Happy Summer Solstice!
This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year’s threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future; the place of caught breath.
— Margaret Atwood (b. 1939) Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and teacher
What is your favorite summer song?
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