Summer of '69
Nixon Lyrics


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I got my first real six-string
Bought it at a five-and-dime
I played it 'til my fingers bled
It was the summer of sixty-nine

Me and some guys from school
Had a band and we tried real hard
Jimmy quit, Jody got married
Should've known we'd never get far

Oh, when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
Oh, if I had the choice
Yeah, I'd always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life

Ain't no use in complainin'
When you got a job to do
Spent my evenings down at the drive-in
And that's where I met you

Standin' on your mama's porch
You told me you could wait forever
Oh, and when you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life

Oh, yeah
Back in the summer of sixty-nine

Man, we were killin' time, we were young and restless
Needed to unwind
I guess nothing could last forever, forever, no

And now the times are changin'
Look at everything that's come and gone
Sometimes when I play that old six-string
Think about you, wondrin' what went wrong

Standin' on your mama's porch
You told me it could wait forever
Oh, the way you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life

Back in the summer of sixty-nine




Oh, yeah
Back in the summer of sixty-nine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bryan Adams' song "Summer of '69" reminisce about a nostalgic summer in 1969, representing a time of both youth and innocence for the singer. The first verse begins with the singer recalling his first guitar, emphasizing its importance by mentioning how he bought it himself and played it so passionately that his fingers would bleed. This highlights the dedication and love he had for music during that time. The reference to the "summer of sixty-nine" sets the scene for the rest of the song, as the singer reflects on a specific period in his life.


The second verse introduces the theme of friendships and aspirations. The singer mentions his bandmates from school, indicating that they shared a common dream of making it in the music industry. However, the reality of life starts to set in as one member quits (Jimmy) and another gets married (Jody), suggesting that their dreams may be difficult to achieve. Despite this setback, the chorus demonstrates the singer's fondness for that summer, describing it as the "best days of my life" and expressing a desire to relive those moments.


The third verse shifts the focus to a romantic connection the singer made during that summer. He recalls spending his evenings at the drive-in, where he met someone special. Standing on her mother's porch, she tells him that she is willing to wait forever. This encounter represents a pivotal moment for the singer, as he realizes that the opportunity for love and a lasting connection is right in front of him. The line "I knew that it was now or never" encapsulates the urgency and the choice he had to make.


Line by Line Meaning

I got my first real six-string
I purchased my very first quality guitar


Bought it at a five-and-dime
I acquired it at a low-cost retail store


I played it 'til my fingers bled
I dedicated extensive time and effort into practicing and playing the guitar


It was the summer of sixty-nine
This took place during the summer of 1969


Me and some guys from school
A few of my male classmates and I


Had a band and we tried real hard
We formed a musical group and gave our best effort


Jimmy quit, Jody got married
Jimmy left the band, and Jody got married


Should've known we'd never get far
We should have realized that our success would be limited


Oh, when I look back now
Reflecting on that time in hindsight


That summer seemed to last forever
It felt like that particular summer was exceptionally long


Oh, if I had the choice
If I could decide


Yeah, I'd always wanna be there
I would always desire to be in that specific period


Those were the best days of my life
That time was the most enjoyable and memorable period


Ain't no use in complainin'
There is no point in complaining


When you got a job to do
When you have responsibilities to fulfill


Spent my evenings down at the drive-in
I passed my evenings at a drive-in movie theater


And that's where I met you
That's where our paths crossed and we encountered each other


Standin' on your mama's porch
Being present on your mother's porch


You told me you could wait forever
You expressed that you were willing to wait indefinitely


Oh, and when you held my hand
When you clasped my hand with yours


I knew that it was now or never
I realized that the moment for action had arrived


Oh, yeah
An expression of agreement or affirmation


Back in the summer of sixty-nine
Looking back to the summer of 1969


Man, we were killin' time, we were young and restless
We were passing time and feeling full of energy and impatience


Needed to unwind
We required relaxation and release


I guess nothing could last forever, forever, no
I suppose that nothing has eternal permanence


And now the times are changin'
The present era is undergoing transformations


Look at everything that's come and gone
Observing all that has passed


Sometimes when I play that old six-string
Occasionally, when I play that vintage guitar


Think about you, wondrin' what went wrong
I contemplate on you, wondering about the reasons for our downfall


Oh, the way you held my hand
The manner in which you grasped my hand


I knew that it was now or never
I was aware that the time for action had arrived


Those were the best days of my life
That period constituted the most enjoyable days of my existence


Back in the summer of sixty-nine
Referencing the summer of 1969 once again


Oh, yeah
An expression of agreement or affirmation


Back in the summer of sixty-nine
Referring to the summer of 1969 repetitively




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bryan Adams, James Douglas Vallance

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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