Her career peaked in the late 1960s with a string of pop music hits. Her best-known hit, These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - which popularized and made her synonymous with Go-Go boots - was written by Lee Hazlewood. These Boots... has been covered by many artists such as Geri Halliwell, Megadeth, Jessica Simpson, Lil' Kim, Little Birdy, Billy Ray Cyrus, Crispin Hellion Glover and KMFDM.
Nancy also co-starred in a number of films, including Roger Corman's The Wild Angels with Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern, and Speedway with Elvis Presley, made guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, and starred in a number of television specials, most notable among them the 1967 Emmy Award-winning special "Movin' with Nancy", in which she appeared with her father and his Rat Pack pals Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.. In the 1970s, she slowed down her musical activity and ceased acting in order to concentrate on being a wife and mother. She returned to the studio in 1981 to record a country album with Mel Tillis called, Mel & Nancy.
At the age of 54, she posed for Playboy in their May 1995 issue, released a new CD, One More Time, and made guest appearances on TV shows to promote the new material.
Most Recently, the song Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (originally recorded by Cher) was used on the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's hit Kill Bill.
On July 28, 2006, for the film Another Gay Movie (2006), she released the song "Another Gay Sunshine Day" from the Another Gay Movie Soundtrack.
Summer Wine
Nancy Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My summer wine is really made from all these things
I walked in town on silver spurs that jingled to
A song that I had only sang to just a few
She saw my silver spurs and said let's pass some time
And I will give to you summer wine
Oh, oh summer wine
Strawberries, cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time
And I will give to you summer wine
Oh, oh summer wine
My eyes grew heavy and my lips they could not speak
I tried to get up but I couldn't find my feet
She reassured me with an unfamiliar line
And then she gave to me more summer wine
Oh, oh summer wine
Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time
And I will give to you summer wine
Mmm-mm summer wine
When I woke up the sun was shining in my eyes
My silver spurs were gone, my head felt twice its size
She took my silver spurs, a dollar and a dime
And left me cravin' for more summer wine
Oh, oh summer wine
Strawberries, cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time
And I will give to you my summer wine
The song "Summer Wine" by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood is a romantic duet that paints a picture of two lovers enjoying each other's company and the pleasures of life. The repeated refrain of "Strawberries, cherries and an angel's kiss in spring, my summer wine is really made from all these things" emphasizes the blending of sensory experiences into one intoxicating moment. The singer recalls walking into town with jingling spurs on, singing a song to himself that he had only sung to a few people before. He meets a woman who is attracted to him and suggests they spend some time together, sharing a bottle of summer wine. As they enjoy their wine, the singer becomes intoxicated and unable to stand, but the woman reassures him and gives him more wine. When he wakes up the next morning, he realizes the woman has taken his silver spurs, but he is still yearning for more summer wine and the pleasures of life.
The song can be interpreted as a celebration of youth, love, and the fleeting nature of pleasure. The repeated references to the sensory experience of strawberries, cherries, and kisses in spring highlight the fleeting nature of these pleasures. The use of "summer wine" as a metaphor for pleasure suggests that life is like a bottle of wine - meant to be savored and enjoyed, but ultimately finished. The exchange of the singer's silver spurs for a dollar and a dime suggests that the pleasures of life can be fleeting and fickle, even when we give our all.
Line by Line Meaning
Strawberries, cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My drink has the sweetness of strawberries, the tartness of cherries, and the delicate grace of an angel's kiss in spring.
My summer wine is really made from all these things
All these ingredients come together to make my perfect drink.
I walked in town on silver spurs that jingled to
I strutted into town with my silver spurs making a pleasing sound.
A song that I had only sang to just a few
I sang a song that I had only shared with a select few people.
She saw my silver spurs and said let's pass some time
She noticed my silver spurs and suggested we spend some time together.
And I will give to you summer wine
And I'll share my special drink with you.
My eyes grew heavy and my lips they could not speak
I became very tired and unable to speak.
I tried to get up but I couldn't find my feet
I attempted to stand up, but was too unsteady to find my footing.
She reassured me with an unfamiliar line
She comforted me with an unfamiliar phrase.
And then she gave to me more summer wine
And then she offered me more of her special drink.
When I woke up the sun was shining in my eyes
When I regained consciousness, the sun was bright in my face.
My silver spurs were gone, my head felt twice its size
My prized silver spurs were missing, and my head was pounding with discomfort.
She took my silver spurs, a dollar and a dime
She took my silver spurs, along with a dollar and ten cents.
And left me cravin' for more summer wine
Leaving me wanting more of her delicious drink.
Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time
Remove your spurs and spend some time with me.
And I will give to you my summer wine
And I'll share my special drink with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lee Hazlewood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind