Girls in Their Summer Clothes Lyrics
Well the street lights shine
Down on Blessing Avenue
Lovers, they walk by
Holding hands two by two
A breeze crosses the porch
Bicycle spokes spin 'round
Jacket's on, I'm out the door
Tonight I'm going to burn this town down
[Chorus]
And the girls in their summer clothes
In the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes
Pass me by
[Verse 2]
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 going to 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
[Verse 3]
Frankie's Diner's
Over on the edge of town
Neon sign spinning 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 haven't got much sense, but I still got my feet
[Chorus]
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
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
About
The opening lines rework the introductory sentences of Irwin Shaw’s “The Girls In Their Summer Dresses” (1939): “Fifth Avenue was shining in the sun when they left the Brevoort. (…) Michael held Frances’ arm tightly as they walked toward Washington Square in the sunlight.” Shaw’s story reads like a take on one of Springsteen’s time-honored subjects – vacillations of romance in a marriage – even if the setting is more upscale, as his couple take their Courvoisiers in “a bar on Eighth Street.” The title comes from Michael expounding some of his leanings that Frances is not particularly happy to hear about:
When I think of New York City, I think of all the girls on parade in the city. (…) I like to sit near the women in the theatres, the famous beauties who’ve taken six hours to get ready and look it. And the young girls at the football games, with the red cheeks, and when the warm weather comes, the girls in their summer dresses.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 5.Gypsy Biker
- 6.Girls in Their Summer Clothes
- 8.Magic
- 9.Last to Die
- 10.Long Walk Home
- 11.Devil’s Arcade
- 12.Terry’s Song
