The Song Of Purple Summer
Duncan Sheik & Steven Sater Lyrics


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And all shall fade
the flowers of spring
the world and all the sorrows
at the heart of everything

but still it stays
the butterfly sings
and opens purple summer
with a flutter of its wings

the earth will wave with corn
the grey-fly choir will mourn
and mares will neigh
with stallions that they mate
foals they've borne

and all shall know the wonder
of purple summer...

And yet, I wait
the swallow brings
a song to hard to follow
that no one else can sing

the fences sway
the porches swing
the sky begins to thunder
crickets wander, murmuring

the earth will wave with corn
the grey-fly choir will mourn
and mares will neigh
with stallions that they mate
foals they've borne

and all shall know the wonder
I will sing the song of purple summer

and all shall know the wonder
I will sing the song of purple summer





all shall know the wonder
of purple summer...

Overall Meaning

The Song of Purple Summer, a hauntingly beautiful song from the musical Spring Awakening, written by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, is a complex and emotional piece that speaks of loss, love, and the cyclical nature of life. The first stanza speaks of the ephemeral nature of life and its joys and sorrows. The flowers of spring, so beautiful and full of life, will eventually fade away along with everything else that is at the heart of human existence. Yet, even as all these things will disappear, the butterfly sings, announcing the arrival of purple summer with its fluttering wings, bringing with it new life and hope.


The next stanza speaks of waiting for something that is hard to follow, waiting for something that no one else can sing. The music swells into a beautiful and intense climax, with the fences swaying, the porches swinging, and the sky thundering. Crickets wander and murmur in the background as the beauty and horror of nature collides. The earth will wave with corn, and the grey-fly choir will mourn the fading of the purple summer. Mares will neigh with stallions that they mate and foals they've borne, and we, the listeners, are left to ponder the wonder and mystery of this cycle, and the beauty and the pain of life.


Line by Line Meaning

And all shall fade
Everything must come to an end


the flowers of spring
The beauty of nature will wither away


the world and all the sorrows
The world and all its sorrowful aspects will disappear


at the heart of everything
At the core of all that exists


but still it stays
Even though everything fades away, something remains


the butterfly sings
Nature continues to thrive and express itself


and opens purple summer
Nature reveals its beauty and majesty in the form of summer


with a flutter of its wings
Through small and often overlooked actions


the earth will wave with corn
The land will be abundant with growth


the grey-fly choir will mourn
The insects will lament the coming changes


and mares will neigh
Even the animals will express their excitement for the season


with stallions that they mate
In anticipation of new life being born


foals they've borne
The new generation of animals will come into being


and all shall know the wonder
Everyone will experience the magnificence


of purple summer...
Of the season of growth and life


And yet, I wait
The artist is anticipating something, despite all the changes


the swallow brings
As the birds return, a new chapter begins


a song too hard to follow
Something new and complex is being introduced


that no one else can sing
Something unique to the singer and their experience


the fences sway
The surroundings are changing


the porches swing
The spaces where people gather and socialize are affected


the sky begins to thunder
The weather begins to shift


crickets wander, murmuring
The sounds of nature play a role in the new season


I will sing the song of purple summer
The artist is actively choosing to celebrate and engage with the season




Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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