Clifford T. Ward typified the early 70s bedsitter singer-songwriter with a series of albums that were at best delightful and at worst mawkish. Ward left grammar school before A-levels to work as a clerk, but by 1962 was fronting local beat group Cliff Ward and the Cruisers. The group changed their name to Martin Raynor and the Secrets and made their recording debut for EMI Records in 1965, before recording several more tracks as the Secrets for CBS Records.
In 1967 Ward enrolled at Worcester teacher training college to study English and divinity, after which he taught at Bromsgrove high school. His debut album appeared on disc jockey John Peel's brave-but-doomed Dandelion Records label in 1972. His second album and his first release for Charisma Records, Home Thoughts, proved to be his finest work and gave him wider recognition. Ward constructed each song as a complete story sometimes with great success.
The beautiful "Gaye" became a UK Top 10 hit but surprisingly the stronger "Home Thoughts From Abroad" and the infectious and lyrically excellent "Wherewithal" failed to chart. Mantle Pieces and Escalator contained a similar recipe of more harmless tales like the minor hit "Scullery" with affecting lyrics like; "You're my picture by Picasso, you'd brighten up any gallery'.
Ward's refusal to tour and promote his songs did not help endear the singer to his record company, however, and he switched to the Phonogram Records label for 1975"s No More Rock 'N' Roll. In later years although still recording the occasional album and still reluctant to perform live, Ward received kudos as a songwriter with his material being recorded by artists such as Cliff Richard, Art Garfunkel and Justin Hayward.
He was struck down with multiple sclerosis in 1987 and his health rapidly deteriorated. He managed to record 1991's vinyl-only album Laugh It Off, and friends and colleagues pieced together two more albums of new songs, out-takes and demos to give the ailing Ward some financial assistance. He finally succumbed to pneumonia December 18th 2001.
Summer Solstice
Clifford T. Ward Lyrics
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Midway between the two
The sun appears to stop
And rest upon the blue.
June you're a lady all too soon
Won't you confide in me
Come and collide with me
I'll always side with you
Oh let me tide with you.
I've waited so long just to see your face
And just like a lady you're all airs and graces.
INSTRUMENTAL
I've waited so long just to see your smile
And just like a lady you're all charm and guile.
June you're a lady all too soon
Won't you confide in me
Come and collide with me
June you're a lady impatient though
I'll always side with you
I'll never tire of you.
It's all coincidence
Sheer coincidence
The sun decides to carry on
With June in all her splendour, gone
While I'm still here, back on my own again.
The song "Summer Solstice" by Clifford T. Ward is a romantic ode to the month of June, which is commonly associated with the summer solstice when the sun appears to stop and rest upon the blue sky. The lyrics use personification to address June as a lady, who is all too soon passing by, but with whom the singer wants to spend time before she is gone. The first verse talks about the equinoxes and how the summer solstice falls midway between them. The singer seems to be captivated by the beauty of this natural phenomenon and wants to spend time with June before she disappears.
The chorus of the song talks directly to June, calling her a lady and asking her to confide in the singer. He describes himself as impatient, but willing to always side with her and never tire of her. The instrumental break following the first and second verse is an opportunity for the listener to soak in the beauty of the music and reflect on the words that have been sung. The final verse brings the song full circle by describing the coincidence of the sun carrying on despite June being gone. The singer is left alone once again, still waiting for June to return.
Overall, the lyrics paint a nostalgic picture of summer love and the fleeting nature of time. The singer is trying to capture a moment with June before it's gone, knowing that even the sun won't wait for her return. The song is a delicate balance of melancholy and hopefulness, capturing the romantic essence of the summer solstice.
Line by Line Meaning
Talking of equinoxes
Mentioning the times of the year when the length of the day and night are equal.
Midway between the two
At the point exactly in the middle between two things.
The sun appears to stop
The movement of the sun through the sky appears to pause.
And rest upon the blue.
And the sun seems to lay still in the sky, hovering above the blue horizon.
June you're a lady all too soon
June, you are a time of the year that passes by quickly, like a lady who has aged too fast.
Won't you confide in me
Share your secrets with me.
Come and collide with me
Join me and experience the fullness of life.
June you're a lady impatient though
June, you are quick to pass and leave, almost as if impatient to move on to the next season.
I'll always side with you
I will always be on your team, June.
Oh let me tide with you.
Allow me to move with you through the ebb and flow of life's changes.
I've waited so long just to see your face
I have longed for the season of June to arrive so that I can experience its beauty once again.
And just like a lady you're all airs and graces.
Like a fine lady, June has a refined and elegant air to her.
I've waited so long just to see your smile
I have been longing for the happiness and warmth that June brings to brighten up my days.
And just like a lady you're all charm and guile.
June possesses a charming and cunning nature, much like that of a lady.
I'll never tire of you.
I will never become bored or weary of the season of June.
It's all coincidence
Everything seems to happen by chance or luck.
Sheer coincidence
It is purely by chance that things happen the way they do.
The sun decides to carry on
The sun continues on its path without regard for anything else.
With June in all her splendour, gone
June has passed in all of its glory and beauty.
While I'm still here, back on my own again.
I am left here, alone, after the season of June has passed and gone.
Contributed by Christian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Patrick Jordan
Thank you so much for posting and for helping to keep Clifford's music alive.
Rod Allott
The best ever singer song writer and greatly missed