Michel Legrand made his fame and fortune from writing for films, but he has done significant work in jazz on an occasional basis. In 1957, he arranged a set of dixieland and swing standards for a French orchestra (recorded on Philips), in 1958 he used three different all-star groups for the classic Legrand Jazz (with such sidemen as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, Ben Webster, Art Farmer and others), in 1968 he recorded a strictly jazz set with a trio and Legrand has written for albums led by Stan Getz (1971), Sarah Vaughan (1972), and on several occasions, Phil Woods. Several of his songs (such as "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life", "Watch What Happens" and "The Summer Knows") have been recorded many times by jazz musicians.
The Summer Knows
Michel Legrand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The song "The Summer Knows" by Michel Legrand is a poignant tribute to the season that brings with it warmth, light, and a sense of freedom. The song opens with the line "The summer smiles, the summer knows," suggesting that the season is aware of its own beauty and the impact it has on people. The following line, "And unashamed, she sheds her clothes," speaks to how summer strips away the trappings of civilization, allowing people to feel more connected to nature and each other.
The second verse continues this theme of summer's wisdom and insight, with the line "She sees the doubts within your eyes." The season provides a sense of clarity and perspective, allowing us to see ourselves and our troubles more clearly. Summer "twists the world 'round her summer finger," suggesting that it has a certain power over us, and "lets you see the wonder of her arms," highlighting the beauty and awe-inspiring nature of nature.
Line by Line Meaning
The summer smiles, the summer knows
The season of summer brings joy and enlightenment to people.
And unashamed, she sheds her clothes
Summer is bold and unapologetic, shedding its coverings to reveal its true nature.
The summer smooths the restless sky
Summer calms the turbulent atmosphere and brings peace to the world.
And lovingly she warms the sand on which you lie
Summer embraces us with its warmth and affection, comforting us as we rest on the sand.
The summer knows, the summer's wise
Summer has a deep understanding of life and nature, and its wisdom is profound.
She sees the doubts within your eyes
Summer can sense our doubts and uncertainty, and it tries to help us overcome them.
And so she takes her summer time
Summer takes the time it needs to help us appreciate the beauty of the world.
Tells the moon to wait and the sun to linger
Summer asks the celestial bodies to pause and savor the moment of perfection they have created.
Twists the world 'round her summer finger
Summer has the power to control the world, making it conform to its vision of a perfect season.
Lets you see the wonder of her arm?
Summer allows you to appreciate its beauty and the magnificence of its existence.
And if you've learned your lesson well
If you have been paying attention to its teachings, summer has little more to teach you.
There's little more for her to tell
Summer has imparted its wisdom to you, and there is little more for it to say.
One last caress, it's time to dress for fall
Summer gives us one final embrace before it ends, and reminds us to prepare for the next season.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michel Jean Legrand, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind