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 the 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 song Rhyme for the Summertime by G. Love is a nostalgic blast of memories from the musician's lazy summers spent in Philly's city streets. It talks about August being the third and hottest month of summer when the sun is blazing, but the songwriter is lounging in his world. He describes the street outside his house, calling it a haven for freaks, geeks, rats, cool cats, and fat girls. G. Love highlights his daydreaming girl, whom he thinks is a dancer, but he missed her show. He mentions his hunger, but he orders takeout with fried rice, egg roll, wonton, and big chicken. Later, he meets with Mac Lil', drinks cool elixirs, and sips wine from the bottle. The entire street is littered with garbage, but the freaks still come together to enjoy a rhyme for the summertime.
The song's lyrics express G. Love's love for summertime, urban life, and the street scene. It personifies the lazy, freewheeling summer days, when the glamour of the city streets left him mesmerized. He incorporates imagery of the subcultures and personae that fill Philly's poorest neighborhoods with their unique sounds and vibes. The city is alive with life, from the stalls on the streets to the rooftops of the various buildings. G. Love's voice is evocative, reflecting a deep connection to roots rap and blues while keeping a modern sensibility.
Line by Line Meaning
August the third month
The month of August is the third month of summer.
Summer with sunrays
Summer is associated with sunshine.
While sunshine blazed
While enjoying the summer sun.
My eyes were kind of glazed
My eyes were hazy.
To put some cream in my coffee
To add cream to my coffee.
I'm making a call
I'm making a phone call.
Cooling by the fence of the street
Cooling off by the street fence.
With the sex stalls
Next to the sex shops.
So many freaks geeks rats
So many strange and interesting people.
Cool cats and fat girls
Cool people and overweight women.
I'm that kid lounging in my own world
I am that person relaxing in my own world.
Dig daydreaming firl
I noticed a daydreaming girl.
I think she's a dancer
I suspect she is a dancer.
I'd like to catch the ho-show
I would love to see her perform.
But my visit was cancelled
But my plans were canceled.
I was hungry my takeout had been fixing
I was hungry and waiting for my takeout order.
Ordered fried rice eggroll wonton and big chicken
I ordered Chinese food.
Then I went to meet the Mac Lil'
Then I went to meet my friend named Mac Lil'.
Cool elixing drinking tipping wine from the bottle
Drinking wine and hanging out.
Models fly girls with sauce
Beautiful women with style.
Buns who are lost
Homeless people begging for money.
More garbage that's tossed
More trash thrown on the street.
From the doors and windows
Thrown from the buildings.
Roof tops and building
Thrown from the roofs and buildings.
25 cents a show
The cost of admission to the show.
All the freaks know
All the interesting people know about it.
A rhyme for the summertime
A song for the summer.
Straight up
Absolutely.
Ragmop blue
A color.
Digging the scene from
Enjoying the view from.
The streetside view
The view from the side of the street.
So when I'm cooling on the block
So when I am relaxing on the street corner.
Looking for some action I can't rest
Looking for something to do and feeling restless.
Till I find satisfaction
Until I am satisfied.
Contributed by Oliver W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.