Lovin' Spoonful - Summer In The City
“Summer in the City” is a song by the Lovin’ Spoonful that captures the intense, restless atmosphere of a hot day in an urban environment. Written by John Sebastian, Mark Sebastian, and Steve Boone, the song was released in 1966 on the album Hums of the Lovin’ Spoonful and became one of the group’s biggest hits. Unlike the band’s lighter folk-rock songs, it used a heavier and more dramatic sound, combining pounding drums, distorted guitar, keyboards, and recorded city noises to create the feeling of traffic, heat, and crowded streets. Its lyrics contrast the uncomfortable daytime conditions with the excitement and energy of the city at night, making the song both a portrait of urban summer life and a reflection of the changing musical style of the mid-1960s.
Lovin' Spoonful Summer In The City Lyrics
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck gettin' dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people lookin' half dead
Walkin' on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night, it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on, and dance all night
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
The days can't be like the nights
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city
Cool town, evening in the city
Dressed so fine and lookin' so pretty
Cool cat lookin' for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
'Til I'm wheezing like a bus stop
Runnin' upstairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
But at night, it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on, and dance all night
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
The days can't be like the nights
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck gettin' dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people lookin' half dead
Walkin' on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night, it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on, and dance all night
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
The days can't be like the nights
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city