Summer in the City
Quincy Jones Lyrics
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Running up the stairs, 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
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
The lyrics of Quincy Jones's song Summer in the City capture the electric and exhilarating atmosphere of New York City during the summer. The first two lines of the verse describe the physical exertion of running up the stairs to reach a rooftop destination, which adds to the excitement of the lyrics. The pre-chorus of the song illustrates the contrast between the day and night time vibe of the city. While it may be hot during the day, the evening scene comes alive with the possibility of finding someone to dance with for the rest of the night. The line "Despite the heat it'll be alright" emphasizes the carefree, spontaneous nature of summer in the city.
The chorus contains an interesting contrast between the two types of summer days depicted. "And babe, don't you know it's a pity, that the days can't be like the nights" represents the realization that during the day, the city is bustling, but at night, the city becomes enchanting. "In the summer, in the city" is a reminder of the overall setting of the song, while the tone and vibe of the city change as the day turns into night.
Overall, Summer in the City is an ode to the summertime in New York City; the lyrics hint at the wild energy and liveliness that summer nights bring to the city.
Line by Line Meaning
Till I'm wheezing like a bus stop
I'll run upstairs so fast that I'll be out of breath, like the people waiting for the buses.
Running up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
I'm racing up the stairs to the rooftop to meet you.
But at night it's a different world
The city takes on a different atmosphere at night.
Go out and find a girl
Take advantage of the lively city and find a girl to dance with.
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Let's dance together all night long.
Despite the heat it'll be alright
We'll be okay dancing in the summer heat.
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
It's unfortunate that the days can't be as exciting as the nights.
That the days can't be like the nights
It's a pity that the days can't be as fun and lively as the nights in the summer city.
In the summer, in the city
All of this fun and dancing is happening in the summer, in the city.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Steve Boone, John Benson Sebastian, Mark Douglas Sebastian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@1970sBestMusic
Jazz Funk Later called smooth jazz in the 1980s..
1970s:::Jazz funk,, Funk,,Soul by vocal groups,, Soul music by solo acts,,southern rock,,arena rock, ,soft rock,,pop..
country,,gospel went mainstream.crossed over and received more television and radio exposure.
Motown greats(Stevie Marvin and Smokey) had classic albums..
Philly soul,,Memphis sound Γ 2 with Stax and Al Green/Willie Mitchell.
Detroit saw more vocal groups have hits and success.
Once overlooked blues saw a resurgence and mainstream radio play.
.
FM radio and album sales changed the industry.
All time Greats recorded classics during the 1970s (not dismissing or diminishing 1960s music they created).
As the OP stated,the shift in 1970s music was swift,different and groundbreaking in all genres.
I point to Soul, Funk,R&B,Jazz, Jazz Funk and even Gospel (led by The Edwin Hawkins and The Edwin Hawkins Singers w/"Old Happy Day").
A beautiful time for music, music creators and music lovers!!
1970s best musical decade ever!
@rwyatt26
Although this song was sampled in a dozen hip hop classics, nothing beats the original. Respect to the masters!!!
@najee151
nemoran Yeah but it still doesnβt take away from the fact that this cover is a masterpiece... after all every artist is influenced by somebody
@sink7
bullshit compare to that
@KingCASONIII
john sebastian should get a least an honorable mention
@andreshernandez1180
I agree, the best version is the original by The lovinβ spoonful, Joe Cockerβs is great too, 2nd best.
@ifindoubtlove
Could we all agree on Lovin Spoonful being first? Who covers it best and even better than the orginal is all up to your personal taste. For my taste this version is one of the best ones. Does anyone know a blues version of this?
@paranormalmanor260
Orchestration in the 70s was so damned gorgeous.
@liljons6753
Cause it had to live most times
@Schlipperschlopper
Playback systems too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gSpiHk7bGI
@colenewaltersmusicandother9330
My favorite decade of music still to this day