Snow In Summer
B.K.O. Lyrics

The song Snow in Summer by B.K.O. paints a stark picture of a hot summer day in the city. The first few lines "Oh what a heat/We're going hungry with our mouths all full/We gotta eat" suggest a sense of discomfort and dissatisfaction despite having basic needs met. The second line, in particular, is interesting in that it can be interpreted in different ways. One interpretation is that they are physically full but perhaps still feel empty in other ways. Alternatively, it can be read as a commentary on societal inequalities where some people have access to food but not enough of it, leading to hunger.

The next few lines "Line all the options up like dominoes/And it's hard work just to cling to something beautiful/The dirty street is close enough to push the ac in/And when we sleep/They'll climb in the window like a mannequin" continue to build on this atmosphere of discomfort and precariousness. The imagery of lining up options like dominoes suggests a sense of hopelessness and resignation, as if there is no good choice to be made. "Something beautiful" in this context can be interpreted as something that gives them a sense of joy or hope, but even that is hard to hold onto. The line about the dirty street being close enough to push the AC in suggests a sense of claustrophobia and being trapped in an unpleasant environment. Finally, the mention of someone climbing in the window like a mannequin suggests a sense of intrusion and violation, as if someone is always watching and threatening their safety.

The next verse "And all the dust will come and cling right to my sticky skin/And I'll go out knowing it wasn't my delirium" highlights the physical discomfort of being in a hot and dirty environment. The sense of resignation is further emphasized by the phrase "knowing it wasn't my delirium," which suggests that they are aware of the harsh reality they are in and not just imagining it. The lines "Still in summer/Swimming in sheets that are an ugly grey/It's not your color/It's still enough to wick the sweat away" continue to paint a picture of physical discomfort. The sheets are an ugly grey, suggesting a lack of beauty or pleasure in the environment. However, the fact that they can still wick sweat away suggests a kind of practicality and resilience in the face of difficulty.

The final lines "Spent the evening counting factories and bicycle lanes/Come back to me/Come back to the pretty bed we made" suggest a sense of longing for something better. Counting factories and bicycle lanes suggests a kind of urban sprawl and lack of natural beauty in the environment. However, the plea to "come back to me" and the mention of a "pretty bed" suggests that there is something beautiful and intimate to hold onto in the midst of all this difficulty.

Overall, Snow in Summer is a powerful exploration of the challenges of urban living and the resilience required to survive in such an environment.