Suddenly Last Summer
Motels (The) Lyrics
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It happened forever, for a short time
A place for a moment, an end to dream
Forever I loved you, forever it seemed
[Chorus: x2]
One summer never ends, one summer never began
It keeps me standing still, it takes all my will
Sometimes I never leave, but sometimes I would
Sometimes I stay too long, sometimes I would
Sometimes it frightens me, sometimes it would
Sometimes I'm all alone and wish that I could
And then suddenly last summer
[Chorus]
And then suddenly last summer
Until suddenly last summer
And then suddenly last summer
Until suddenly last summer
The Motels’ Suddenly Last Summer is a hauntingly beautiful song about the fleeting nature of love and memories. Lead vocalist Martha Davis sings about a love that lasted for a short time but felt like forever. The song opens with the line, “It happened one summer, it happened one time,” which sets the tone for a brief yet memorable moment in time. The lyrics paint a picture of a place where dreams come to an end, but the love remains forever.
The chorus repeats the phrase, “One summer never ends, one summer never began.” This line captures the idea of the love that never started and never ended, existing in a sort of limbo. The singer is unable to move on, standing still and struggling with the memories that continue to haunt her. The repetition and intensity of the chorus reflect the obsessive nature of the singer’s love.
The second verse adds another layer of complexity to the story. The singer admits to sometimes wanting to leave, sometimes staying too long, and sometimes being frightened by the memories. She feels both connected and isolated from the love she once had. The final line, “And then suddenly last summer,” brings the story full circle, reminding the listener that memories have the power to transport us back to the past.
Overall, Suddenly Last Summer is a powerful exploration of the ways in which love and memories can shape and define us. The lyrics capture the dichotomy of feeling both trapped and liberated by our past experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
It happened one summer, it happened one time
We had a special moment in time during a summer season that left a lasting impression
It happened forever, for a short time
The feelings we had were intense and everlasting, but the moment was brief
A place for a moment, an end to dream
The setting was perfect for that one moment in time, but it marked the end of a dream-like experience
Forever I loved you, forever it seemed
I fell in love with you in that moment and it felt like it would last forever
One summer never ends, one summer never began
That one summer seems to have lasted forever and never truly began because it was over too quickly
It keeps me standing still, it takes all my will
The memory of that summer keeps me frozen in time, and it takes all my strength to move forward
And then suddenly last summer
The memory of that one summer comes back suddenly and strongly
Sometimes I never leave, but sometimes I would
Sometimes I feel like I'm still in that moment, but other times, I try to move on
Sometimes I stay too long, sometimes I would
Sometimes I hold onto the past for too long, but other times, I try to let go
Sometimes it frightens me, sometimes it would
The intensity of the memory can be scary at times, but it also brings comfort
Sometimes I'm all alone and wish that I could
When I'm feeling lonely, I wish I could go back to that time and relive the moment
Until suddenly last summer
I continue to live my life, but that one summer will always be a part of me
And then suddenly last summer
The memory of that summer can come back at any unexpected moment
Until suddenly last summer
That one summer continues to have a hold on me, even though it's in the past
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