It Was the Summer
Neil Hilborn Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It was the summer after human wind.
It was the summer I learned to bike on a broken ankle, my cane strapped inside my messenger bag like some geriatric hipster doofus.
It was also the summer I failed to kiss pretty much every one, and. believe me, I was trying.
It was the summer I finally left the woman I hated.
No, too much, I didn't hate her.
When you feel nothing for someone long enough, it starts to seem like hate.
Anyway, it was the summer I started taking the elevator, which led to the fall I kept taking the elevator even though my leg was a leg again.
Then, it was the autumn that I didn't get on any planes.
It was the autumn of snow before the leaves could fall.
Then, it was the winter that was winter all year.





It was the winter of records, lows then highs then lows, lows again.

Overall Meaning

In this song, Neil Hilborn paints a picture of different seasons in his life, starting from the summer after a human wind. The line "human wind" is not a common phrase, but it can be interpreted as a symbol of change, possibly referring to a traumatic event that impacted his life. The next line describes how despite having a broken ankle, he tried to learn to bike and carried his cane inside his messenger bag. This juxtaposition of physical disability and youthful desire sums up his strong willpower and the resilience he had to navigate his life through adversity.


The line "It was also the summer I failed to kiss pretty much every one, and believe me, I was trying" stands out as a metaphor for unrequited love. The singer is trying to connect with people but is unable to do so. Failure is a recurrent theme in the song, and it is not just about love. He is failing at multiple levels. For instance, he failed to leave a woman that he didn't hate, he failed to overcome his fear of taking an elevator even when he didn't need it, and he failed to fly anywhere in autumn. It is as if failures have become a metaphor for a way of life, a cycle that he can't break through. He describes the winter as "winter all year," which reflects his inner state of loneliness, depression, and isolation.


In conclusion, the song "It Was the Summer" by Neil Hilborn is a poignant portrayal of life's ups and downs. Despite the challenges in his life, the singer refuses to give up and carries on. He is brave and tenacious. He shares his experiences with honesty and vulnerability, allowing listeners to connect with his story. The song resonates with many people who have gone through similar struggles, making it relatable


Line by Line Meaning

It was the summer after human wind.
It was the summer that followed a chaotic time.


It was the summer I learned to bike on a broken ankle, my cane strapped inside my messenger bag like some geriatric hipster doofus.
It was the summer when I learned to bike even with an injured ankle and a cane in my bag.


It was also the summer I failed to kiss pretty much every one, and. believe me, I was trying.
It was the summer when I tried to kiss almost everyone but failed.


It was the summer I finally left the woman I hated.
It was the summer that I finally parted ways with the woman that I felt nothing for.


No, too much, I didn't hate her.
I did not hate her, it was just that I had no feelings for her anymore.


When you feel nothing for someone long enough, it starts to seem like hate.
When you're emotionally detached from someone for a long period, it can start to resemble hatred.


Anyway, it was the summer I started taking the elevator, which led to the fall I kept taking the elevator even though my leg was a leg again.
Anyway, during that summer, I started using the elevator regularly, which caused me to continue using it even after my leg was completely healthy.


Then, it was the autumn that I didn't get on any planes.
Then, the season changed to autumn, and I didn't travel by plane at all.


It was the autumn of snow before the leaves could fall.
It was a snowy autumn with leaves still on the trees.


Then, it was the winter that was winter all year.
Then came a winter that felt like it lasted throughout the whole year.


It was the winter of records, lows then highs then lows, lows again.
It was a winter season that had many ups and downs with extreme temperature records, followed by dropping back down again.




Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found