This standard classic is from the 1971 American "coming-of-age" motion-picture, "Summer of '42", a dramatization based on the memoirs of screenwriter Herman Raucher, which tells the story of the author as a boy in his early teens on his 1942 summer vacation on Nantucket Island, off the coast of New England, who embarked on a one-sided romance with a woman whose husband had gone off to fight in World War II.
The film's soundtrack consists almost entirely of compositions by Legrand, many of which are variants of "The Summer Knows", the movie's main theme.
THE SUMMER KNOWS
Laura Fygi Lyrics
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And unashamed, she sheds her clothes
The summer smooths the restless sky
And lovingly she warms the sand on which you lie
The summer knows, the summer's wise
She sees the doubts within your eyes
And so she takes her summer time
Twists the world 'round her summer finger
Lets you see the wonder of her arm?
And if you've learned your lesson well
There's little more for her to tell
One last caress, it's time to dress for fall
The summer knows, the summer's wise
She sees the doubts within your eyes
And so she takes her summer time
Tells the moon to wait and the sun to linger
Twists the world 'round her summer finger
Lets you see the wonder of her arms?
And if you've learned your lesson well
There's little more for her to tell
One last caress, it's time to dress for fall
In Laura Fygi's song "The Summer Knows," the summer is personified as a wise and all-knowing being that sheds her clothes unashamedly and smooths the restless sky. She is described as loving and warm, gently caressing the sand on which you lie. The summer knows that doubt can sometimes cloud our minds, and therefore takes her time to show us the wonder of her world. She orders the moon to wait a little longer and the sun to linger, as she twists the world around her summer finger. If we have learned the lesson that the summer has taught us, there is little more for her to say or do. It is time to dress for fall and say goodbye to the warmth and beauty of the summer.
Line by Line Meaning
The summer smiles, the summer knows
The summer season brings joy and awareness through its presence.
And unashamed, she sheds her clothes
Summer is confident and doesn't hide anything, shedding its natural beauty.
The summer smooths the restless sky
Summer brings a calming effect to nature, even to the skies.
And lovingly she warms the sand on which you lie
Summer provides warmth and comfort to whoever enjoys its presence on the sandy beach.
The summer knows, the summer's wise
Summer possesses wisdom and understanding of the human condition.
She sees the doubts within your eyes
Summer can perceive a person's uncertainties or fears behind their eyes.
And so she takes her summer time
Summer takes its time to make one appreciate its wonders.
Tells the moon to wait and the sun to linger
Summer has the power to make the day longer and the night shorter.
Twists the world 'round her summer finger
Summer has control and influence on the world's affairs.
Lets you see the wonder of her arm?
Summer exposes the beauty and magnificence of its existence, making one appreciate it more.
And if you've learned your lesson well
If one has taken the time to appreciate and learn from summer, one has gained knowledge and insight.
There's little more for her to tell
Once one has already grasped the concepts of summer, there's not much else it can teach.
One last caress, it's time to dress for fall
Summer has one last farewell gesture to prepare for autumn, its final season.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHEL JEAN LEGRAND, ALAN BERGMAN, MARILYN BERGMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind