SUMMERsong
Decemberists Lyrics
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I taste the summer on your peppery skin
Been saved the warmer the waves
I felt a slip into a watery grave
My girl, linen and curls
Lips parting like a flag all unfurled
She's grand, the bend of her hand
And summer arrives with a length of lights
And summer blows away
And quietly gets swallowed by a wave
It gets swallowed by a wave
Waylay, the din of the day
Boats bobbing in the blue of the bay
In deep far beneath
All the dead sailors slowly slipping to sleep
My girl, linen and curls
Lips parting like a flag all unfurled
She's grand, the bend of her hand
Digging deep into the sweep of the sand
And summer arrives with a length of lights
And summer blows away
And quietly gets swallowed by a wave
It gets swallowed by a wave
It gets swallowed by a wave
It gets swallowed by a wave
The Decemberists' "Summersong" tells the story of a summer romance by the sea. The opening lyrics of "Ramblin', where to begin" set the nostalgic tone for the song, as if the singer is looking back on a past summer romance. The lyrics "I taste the summer on your peppery skin, been saved the warmer the waves" describe the physical sensations of summer, with the salty ocean air and the warmth of the sun.
However, the nostalgia is tempered by darker imagery in the following lines: "I felt a slip into a watery grave, waylay the din of the day, all the dead sailors slowly slipping to sleep." The chorus "And summer arrives with a length of lights, and summer blows away, and quietly gets swallowed by a wave" emphasizes the fleeting nature of the season and the impermanence of even the most idyllic summers.
The singer's focus returns to his love interest in the second verse, with the same vivid imagery of "linen and curls" as well as "the bend of her hand digging deep into the sweep of the sand." While the song is tinged with bittersweet longing, it ultimately celebrates the experience of a summer romance.
Line by Line Meaning
Ramblin', where to begin
Confused about where to start
I taste the summer on your peppery skin
Savoring the summer through physical touch
Been saved the warmer the waves
Finding solace in the warmer ocean waves
I felt a slip into a watery grave
Experiencing a close call with drowning
My girl, linen and curls
Describing a woman with flowing hair and light clothing
Lips parting like a flag all unfurled
Her mouth opening wide like a flag unfurling in the wind
She's grand, the bend of her hand
Her hand movements are majestic
Digging deep into the sweep of the sand
Burying fingers in the sand
And summer arrives with a length of lights
The start of summer is filled with bright lights
And summer blows away
Summer goes by quickly
And quietly gets swallowed by a wave
The end of summer is like being swallowed by the ocean waves
Waylay, the din of the day
The hustle and bustle of daily life are overwhelming
Boats bobbing in the blue of the bay
The peaceful sight of boats on blue water
In deep far beneath
Beneath the surface of the ocean
All the dead sailors slowly slipping to sleep
A metaphor describing drowned sailors resting peacefully
It gets swallowed by a wave
Repetition of the metaphor for the end of summer
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: COLIN MELOY
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