Following the release of Country Strong, Meester took her music in a different direction away from pop and began collaborating with the band Check in the Dark on a more singer-songwriter style of music. The previously anticipated pop album was never released and in 2012 she embarked on a five-date tour with Check in the Dark that featured the new music live for the first time. In June 2012 Meester confirmed all songs had been recorded with Check in the Dark as a demo.
In September 2014 Meester announced the release of her debut album, Heartstrings, through her own record label, Hotly Wanting. The title track was available with pre-order; the album was released on October 28 2014. The music video for the title track was also released, one day later. All nine songs were written by Meester and produced by Jeff Trott. Heartstrings received generally positive reviews and peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart upon release. From January to March 2015 she toured with Jeff Trott and the recording band members in support of the album, visiting nine cities in two weeks, including a residency at The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles.
Summer Girl
Leighton Meester Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My bumper sticker reads
Drink 'till he's cute
That's what I'm gonna do
Ain't got no serious thing
Don't wear no diamond ring
I gotta new tattoo
In my mind
The sun shines
All the time
I'm just a summer girl
I wear my flip flops
And when I let my hair down
That's when the party starts
And who needs a boyfriend
I got my girlfriends
And when we get together
The summer never ends
Yeah whoa
Tank tops and cut off jeans
Bikinis and belly rings
We'll make that scene when the
Dj plays dancing queen
Fella's lay your money down
We'll let you buy a round
Don't push your luck don't get
More than your hopes up
In my world
Day or night
Rain or shine
I'm just a summer girl
I wear my flip flops
And when I let my hair down
That's when the party starts
And who needs a boyfriend
I got my girlfriends
And when we get together
The summer never ends
Everybody needs a little bit of sunshine
Everybody needs time to unwind
Everybody's gotta have a good time
I'm just a summer girl
Everybody get up off your feet
Everybody gotta shake your body
Everybody gotta right to be free
I'm just a summer girl
Whoa
Whoa
I'm just a summer girl
I wear my flip flops
And when I let my hair down
The party never stops
And who needs a boyfriend
I got my girlfriends
And when we get together
The summer never ends
Yeah I'm just a summer girl
Whoa
Whoa
Everybody needs a little bit of sunshine
Everybody needs time to unwind
Everybody's gotta have a good time
I'm just a summer girl
Everybody get up off your feet
Everybody gotta shake your body
Everybody gotta right to be free
I'm just a summer girl
The lyrics of "Summer Girl" by Leighton Meester celebrate the carefree spirit of summer and its inherent joyfulness. The singer describes herself as a "summer girl," someone who loves to wear flip flops, drive an army jeep, and party with her girlfriends. She doesn't need a serious relationship or a diamond ring to be happy; she just wants to have fun with her friends and enjoy the sunshine. The summer represents a world of endless possibility and pure, unbridled joy. The song's opening lines, "I drive an army jeep / My bumper sticker reads / Drink 'til he's cute / That's what I'm gonna do," perfectly capture the playful, irreverent tone of the song.
Leighton Meester's vocals have a laid-back quality that perfectly matches the song's breezy, summery vibe. The chorus, with its repetition of the lines "I'm just a summer girl / Whoa, whoa," emphasizes the singer's carefree attitude and her love for the season. The lyrics are filled with vivid images, from "tank tops and cut off jeans" to "bikinis and belly rings" to "dancing queen." The singer invites the listener to let go of their worries and join her in the sun-drenched world of summer.
Line by Line Meaning
I drive an army jeep
I am adventurous and daring, just like my choice of transportation, and I am always ready for the next adventure that comes my way.
My bumper sticker reads Drink 'till he's cute
I believe in enjoying life and having fun, even if it means lowering your standards and finding someone attractive only after a few drinks.
That's what I'm gonna do
I am determined to have a good time, no matter what it takes.
Ain't got no serious thing
I am not tied down by any serious commitments or responsibilities, allowing me to fully enjoy my carefree summer lifestyle.
Don't wear no diamond ring
I do not place much value on material possessions and would rather spend my time and money on experiences with my friends.
I gotta new tattoo
I enjoy expressing myself through body art and am not afraid to make bold choices.
I think you'll like the view
I am confident in my own skin and believe others will find me attractive and interesting as well.
In my mind The sun shines All the time
I have a positive outlook on life and try to make the most of every moment, even if it means creating my own sunshine during cloudy days.
I'm just a summer girl
I am carefree and full of energy during the warmer months, embracing all the joys that summer has to offer.
I wear my flip flops
I prefer comfort over style and am always ready for a day at the beach or a casual hangout with friends.
And when I let my hair down That's when the party starts
I am ready to let loose and have fun, and my friends know that I am a dependable source of energy and excitement.
And who needs a boyfriend I got my girlfriends And when we get together The summer never ends
I have a strong support system of female friends who are always there for me, and we have so much fun together that summer seems to last forever.
Tank tops and cut off jeans Bikinis and belly rings We'll make that scene when the Dj plays dancing queen
I enjoy dressing up in summery outfits and soaking up the sun with my friends, especially when we can dance to our favorite songs.
Fella's lay your money down We'll let you buy a round Don't push your luck don't get More than your hopes up
We are friendly and open to meeting new people, but we won't tolerate disrespectful or entitled behavior.
In my world Day or night Rain or shine
My upbeat and carefree outlook on life stays with me no matter what time of day or what weather conditions I encounter.
The party never stops
I am always ready for the next adventure and never want the fun to end.
Everybody needs a little bit of sunshine Everybody needs time to unwind Everybody's gotta have a good time
I believe that everyone deserves to have some fun and enjoy the simple pleasures in life, especially during the summer months.
Everybody get up off your feet Everybody gotta shake your body Everybody gotta right to be free
I believe in living life to the fullest and dancing like nobody's watching, spreading joy and positive energy wherever I go.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES THOMAS SLATER, MARCEL FRANCOIS CHAGNON, JESSICA ANDREWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind