Summer in No-Mans-Land
David & The Citizens Lyrics


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in the summer I was waiting for the daughter of a drunk and a waitress
to recover, to get better
till the last day of the summer had blown over
the birds were singing a last goodbye
the only thing that could be heard
except for the sobbing and dropping of tears
a loss of someone who'd really been gone for years
sky was bluer than ever before
our minds were bluer than ever before
attacks of free sharks in the harbor
far from all this misery is misery
here they sit in the pouring sun all day long just wasting time
all day long just waiting for a stranger's eye and a stranger's smile
in the trembling air for the laughter and eyes rolling round in your head
till the day you drop dead on your side on the living room floor as I took the bus loaded with stuff
and oceans of sweat pouring down on my back oceans of sweat pouring down on my back
in the summer I was waiting for the daughter of a drunk and a waitress




to recover, to get better
till the last day of the summer had blown over

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Summer in No-Mans-Land" by David & The Citizens convey a melancholic narrative of waiting and longing for someone who is trapped in a cycle of addiction and despair. The singer, in the summertime, finds themselves patiently waiting for the daughter of a troubled couple – a drunk and a waitress – to heal and improve her circumstances. However, this waiting extends until the very end of the summer, indicating the depth and endurance of their hope.


As the season draws to a close, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of the somber atmosphere. The birds' farewell song is juxtaposed with the sobbing and shedding of tears, representing the profound grief felt over the loss of someone who had been absent for years, both physically and emotionally. The contrast between the deep blue color of the sky and the "blueness" of the characters' minds suggests a state of sadness and introspection that pervades their existence.


The mention of "attacks of free sharks in the harbor" introduces a metaphorical element, describing the feeling of being surrounded by constant danger and misery. This suggests that even in a supposedly peaceful and idyllic setting like the harbor, there is an underlying sense of chaos and pain. The lyrics emphasize the contrast between this misery and a distance, perhaps symbolic, that exists from it - implying that true freedom and release from suffering seem unattainable.


The imagery then shifts to a group of people aimlessly passing the time under the scorching sun. They are depicted as waiting desperately for acknowledgment and connection from strangers, yearning for laughter and rolling eyes to break through their monotonous existence. However, the sense of dissatisfaction and longing persists, as the lyrics depict the singer collapsing on the living room floor, presumably exhausted from carrying the weight of their desires and hopes.


In conclusion, "Summer in No-Mans-Land" tells a poignant story of waiting and hoping against the odds, with vivid imagery depicting the emotional struggles of its characters. The song captures the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of despair and longing for someone who may never truly recover. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a sense of both resignation and endurance, as the singer's waiting extends until the end of the summer, brimming with a mix of melancholy and yearning.


Line by Line Meaning

in the summer I was waiting for the daughter of a drunk and a waitress
During the summertime, I was anticipating the arrival of a girl who was the child of an alcoholic father and a waitress mother


to recover, to get better
Hoping for her to recover from whatever troubles or difficulties she was facing and to improve her situation


till the last day of the summer had blown over
Until the final day of summer had passed and come to an end


the birds were singing a last goodbye
The birds were singing their farewell as summer ended


the only thing that could be heard
The only audible sound


except for the sobbing and dropping of tears
Apart from the sounds of crying and tears falling


a loss of someone who'd really been gone for years
Grieving over the absence of someone who had actually been physically absent for a long time


sky was bluer than ever before
The sky appeared even more vibrant and intense in its blue color than ever before


our minds were bluer than ever before
Our thoughts and emotions felt even more melancholic and troubled than ever before


attacks of free sharks in the harbor
Occurrences of sudden and unexpected dangers or threats in the harbor area


far from all this misery is misery
Even if one is far away from this specific misery, there is still an existence of misery in general


here they sit in the pouring sun all day long just wasting time
They remain seated in the scorching sun, spending the entire day idly and unproductively


all day long just waiting for a stranger's eye and a stranger's smile
Throughout the day, their sole focus is on waiting for the attention and approval of unfamiliar individuals


in the trembling air for the laughter and eyes rolling round in your head
Amidst the volatile atmosphere, eagerly anticipating moments of laughter and the dizziness caused by the excited anticipation of new possibilities


till the day you drop dead on your side on the living room floor as I took the bus loaded with stuff
Until the day arrives when exhaustion overcomes you, causing you to collapse on your side on the living room floor, coinciding with my departure on a bus, carrying a myriad of belongings


and oceans of sweat pouring down on my back oceans of sweat pouring down on my back
Heavy perspiration drenching my back, resembling vast oceans of sweat


in the summer I was waiting for the daughter of a drunk and a waitress
During the summertime, I was anticipating the arrival of a girl who was the child of an alcoholic father and a waitress mother


to recover, to get better
Hoping for her to recover from whatever troubles or difficulties she was facing and to improve her situation


till the last day of the summer had blown over
Until the final day of summer had passed and come to an end




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALEXANDER MADSEN, CONNY FRIDH, DAVID FRIDLUND, MAGNUS BJERKERT, MIKAEL CARLSSON

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