Dutton, born in Philadelphia, began playing guitar at age 8. He wrote his first song by the time he was in the 9th grade and began playing harmonica in a wire rack. Dutton credits Bob Dylan and John Hammond Jr., as well as then-contemporary "old school" hip-hop sounds of Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and Philadelphia's own Schooly D as influences.
Dutton, still in high school at Germantown Friends School, began playing solo on the streets of Philadelphia. After a year of college, he relocated to Boston, working as a fundraiser for Peace Action and playing wherever and whenever he could. One of his few indoor gigs at this time was a Boston bar called The Tam O'Shanter, where he met drummer Jeffrey "The Houseman" Clemens in January 1993. Dutton and Clemens began working as a duo, they were joined a few months later by bassist Jim "Jimi Jazz" Prescott and became the house band on Mondays at The Plough and Stars in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The name G. Love doesn't really have that much of a story to it. The 'G' stands for Good as said in many radio interviews. He said in an interview that the 'Love' was just there because it sounded right.
G. Love featured Jack Johnson on his 1999 LP Philadelphonic playing an early version of Jack Johnson's "Rodeo Clowns" when Jack was an unknown artist. Jack later featured the song on his 2003 LP On and On.
Known nowadays for his excellent live shows, he is often seen touring with Jack Johnson, who signed G. Love to his record label Brushfire Records. He has made appearances on the records of artists such as Slightly Stoopid and Donavon Frankenreiter.
Rhyme For Summertime
G. Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Summer with sunrays
While sunshine blazed
My eyes were kind of glazed
To put some cream in my coffee
I'm making a call
Cooling by the fence of the street
With the sex stalls
Cool cats and fat girls
I'm that kid lounging in my own world
Dig daydreaming firl
I think she's a dancer
I'd like to catch the ho-show
But my visit was cancelled
I was hungry my takeout had been fixing
Ordered fried rice eggroll wonton and big chicken
Then I went to meet the mac lil'
Cool elixing drinking tipping wine from the bottle
Models fly girls with sauce
Buns who are lost
More garbage that's tossed
From the doors and windows
Roof tops and building
25 cents a show
All the freaks know
A rhyme for the summertime
Straight up
Ragmop blue
Digging the scene from
The streetside view
So when I'm cooling on the block
Looking for some action I can't rest
Till I find satisfaction
The lyrics of G. Love & Special Sauce's song "Rhyme for the Summertime" describe a lazy summer day and the experiences of the singer as he wanders through the streets. The first verse talks about August, the third month of summer, and the hazy feeling one can get from being out in the hot sun. The singer describes himself as being in his own world, lounging by the side of the street and watching the world go by. He takes note of the people passing by, from "freaks and geeks" to "cool cats and fat girls."
The second verse tells the story of the singer's hunger and his search for something to eat. He orders takeout and then goes to meet someone named "Mac Lil'," who is presumably a friend. They drink from a bottle of wine and watch models and fly girls passing by. The chorus repeats the title of the song and describes the singer's enjoyment of the scene from his vantage point on the street.
In general, the song captures the feeling of being young and carefree in the summertime. It celebrates the small pleasures of life, such as lounging outside, eating good food, and hanging out with friends. The lyrics also suggest a certain sense of detachment from the world, as the singer watches everything from a distance without ever really engaging.
Line by Line Meaning
August the third month
The time of the year in which summer is in its full swing
Summer with sunrays
The sunny and hot weather typical of summer days
While sunshine blazed
During the time of day in which the sun is the highest and the hottest
My eyes were kind of glazed
I was tired and feeling lazy from the heat
To put some cream in my coffee
To take a break and relax by making some coffee with cream
I'm making a call
I'm using my phone to make a call
Cooling by the fence of the street
Taking a break and relaxing by leaning against a fence
With the sex stalls
In an area with a lot of sex workers
So many freaks geeks rats
There are many different types of people around, both good and bad
Cool cats and fat girls
There are people of all shapes and sizes enjoying summer
I'm that kid lounging in my own world
I'm the kind of person who enjoys summer in my own way, without worrying too much about what others are doing
Dig daydreaming firl
There is a pretty woman nearby who seems to be lost in thought
I think she's a dancer
She looks like she might be a professional dancer
I'd like to catch the ho-show
I would be interested in watching her perform
But my visit was cancelled
Something got in the way of my plans to watch her perform
I was hungry my takeout had been fixing
I was hungry and had ordered some takeout to satisfy my appetite
Ordered fried rice eggroll wonton and big chicken
I had ordered a variety of Asian food items to enjoy
Then I went to meet the mac lil'
I went to meet some friends at a nearby location
Cool elixing drinking tipping wine from the bottle
We were drinking wine and having a good time
Models fly girls with sauce
There were attractive women around, some of whom seemed confident and in control
Buns who are lost
Some women were around who seemed lost or confused
More garbage that's tossed
There was a lot of trash and waste around, as is often the case in urban environments
From the doors and windows
The trash and waste was coming out of many different buildings
Roof tops and building
Even the rooftops of the buildings were covered in trash and waste
25 cents a show
Some performers in the area were only charging a quarter for their shows
All the freaks know
The more unconventional members of the community are aware of these cheap shows and go to watch them
A rhyme for the summertime
A song or a poem that captures the essence of summer
Straight up
Without any frills or gimmicks
Ragmop blue
A color that is associated with summer and outdoor activities
Digging the scene from
Enjoying the atmosphere and surroundings of the area
The streetside view
The view of the street and the city from a pedestrian's point of view
So when I'm cooling on the block
When I take a break and relax in this part of town
Looking for some action I can't rest
I'm always on the lookout for something interesting to do or see
Till I find satisfaction
Until I'm able to find something that fulfills my desire for adventure and excitement
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GARRETT DUTTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind