Their best known songs include "Summer In The City", "Do You Believe In Magic?", "Darling Be Home Soon", and "Daydream". The band reunited in 1991 and continue to perform without Sebastian, who has declined to participate, and Yanovsky, who died in 2002.
The band's name was inspired by lyrics from Mississippi John Hurt's "Coffee Blues" and drew influence from contemporary folk and psychedelic music while also inspiring later rock bands.
A more complete history of this seminal New York band can be found on their official site: lovinspoonful.com
Summer in the City
The Lovin' Spoonful Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer in the City" portrays the joys and sorrows of summertime in the urban city. The song's opening line, "Hot town, summer in the city," sets the scene for a hot and sticky environment. The singer comments on the dirt and grime that stick to his skin as he navigates the city streets. Despite the unpleasant heat, the nighttime presents a different world, and the singer explores the lively nightlife, looking for a girl to dance with. The song contrasts the daytime and nighttime experiences in the city, implying that the nighttime atmosphere is more conducive to fun and excitement, while the daytime is oppressive and a hindrance to enjoyment.
The song portrays the bustling and vibrant city ambiance, attracting people into its energy. Despite the discomfort and busyness that the city brings, people still long to explore and experience all its offerings fully. The song reminds us to embrace the chaos of city living and find pleasure in the long and hot summer days and nights.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot town, summer in the city
The temperature is high and it's summertime in the urban area
Back of my neck gettin' dirty and gritty
Due to the hot and humid climate, the back of the person's neck is getting dirty and sweaty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
The person is feeling low and it's unfortunate
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
There aren't enough trees or buildings to provide shade in the city
All around, people lookin' half dead
The heat is taking a toll on the people, making them look exhausted and lethargic
Walkin' on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
The pavement is so heated up that it feels as hot as a match head
But at night, it's a different world
The nighttime has a different environment than the daytime
Go out and find a girl
Find a girl to spend time with
Come on, come on, and dance all night
Dancing throughout the night is encouraged
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
Even though the temperature is high, things will be fine
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
It's a shame that the days can't be as good as the nights
The days can't be like the nights
It's not possible to have the same level of enjoyment during the daytime as it is at nighttime
Cool town, evening in the city
The temperature has cooled down, and it's nighttime in the city
Dressed so fine and lookin' so pretty
People are dressed nicely and appear attractive
Cool cat lookin' for a kitty
A cool person searching for a romantic partner
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Will search thoroughly for the right person
'Til I'm wheezing like a bus stop
Will continue searching until out of breath
Runnin' upstairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
Will run up to the rooftop to meet the person being searched for
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Steve Boone, John Benson Sebastian, Mark Douglas Sebastian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rorick Sellers
on 4 Eyes
4 Eyes: After "Mister up in middle classes" is the line: LET YOUR BABY CHOOSE HIS GLASSES ... [for some reason, this line in all caps is omitted ON EVERY WEBSITE that has the lyrics to this song. Weird.]