Summer Babe
Pavement Lyrics


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Ice, baby
I saw your girlfriend and she was
Eating her fingers like they're just another meal
But she waits there in the levee washes
Mixin' cocktails with a plastic-tipped cigar

My eyes stick to all the shiny robes
She wear on the protein delta strip
In an abandoned house, but I will wait there
I'll be waitin' forever

I'm waitin', waitin', waitin', waitin'
Waitin', waitin', waitin', waitin', go

Minerals, ice deposit daily
Drop off the first shiny robe
I've got a lotta things I want to sell, but
Not here, babe
You took 'em all

Every time I sit around, I find I'm shot
Every time I sit around, I find I'm shot
Every time I turn around, my friend
Every time I sit around, my friend
Every time, every time, every time, every time
Every time, every time, every time

You're my
Summer babe
Summer babe




Summer babe
Summer babe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Summer Babe" by Pavement are open to interpretation, but one common interpretation is that the singer is observing his girlfriend's friend who is visibly nervous or anxious (eating her fingers) and mixing cocktails with a plastic-tipped cigar. The singer describes the elegant outfits this person wears, but notes that they are in an abandoned house. Despite this, the singer will wait there forever for this person. The following lines reference ice deposits and mineral daily drops, suggesting that the person he is waiting for is worth the wait.


The repetition of the phrase "every time" at the end of the song seems to suggest that the singer is constantly dealing with feelings of being "shot" or hopeless, but his "summer babe" brings some light and joy into his life. The song overall has a vague and dreamy quality that leaves its interpretation up to the listener's imagination.


Line by Line Meaning

Ice baby
I see you, and I am frozen with awe


I saw your girlfriend and she was Eating her fingers, like they're just another meal But she waits there, in the levee wash Mixin' cocktails with a plastic tipped cigar
Your girlfriend seems unphased by the world's harshness and seems to enjoy her own company regardless of location or attire


My eyes stick, to all the shiny robes She wear on the protein delta strip In abandoned house but I will wait there I'll be waitin' forever
I cannot help but stare at the flashy clothing she wears while she goes on with a lifestyle I cannot understand, but I will never give up hope that we can be together someday


I'm waitin' Waitin' Waitin' Waitin' Waitin' Waitin' Waitin' Waitin', go
I am waiting with eager anticipation for our love to finally be realized in this world, and I am ready to pursue it now


Minerals, ice deposits daily, drop off The first shiny robe I've got a lot of things I want sell, but Not here, babe Took 'em
I have accumulated many resources, but I am not interested in selling them here. Instead, I will take what I need and leave behind my possessions


Every time, I sit around, I find I'm shot Every time, I sit around, I find I'm shot Every time, I turn around, I find Every time, I sit around, I find
Every time I become too comfortable with the life I have, I find myself feeling empty and unfulfilled, leading me to search for something more


Every time Every time Time Every time Every time Every time You're my
Every moment of my life, I am consumed by thoughts of you and how much I desire to be with you in this world


Summer babe Summer babe Summer babe Summer babe
In my heart, you are the embodiment of summertime and all the beauty and joy it brings




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Scott Kannberg, Stephen Joseph Malkmus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@sobaze

Nice Pavement mix for the uninitiated:

1) Grounded
2) In the Mouth a Desert
3) Spit on a Stranger
4) Range Life
5) Killing Moon (Bunnymen cover)
6) Summer Babe
7) AT&T
8) Gold Soundz
9) Major Leagues
10) Secret Knowledge of the Backroads
11) Pueblo
12) Texas Never Whispers
13) Frontwards
14) Cut Your Hair
15) Zurich is Stained
16) Elevate Me Later
17) Here

Nice little trip around their catalog, pretty much every album, and a couple EPs represented. Nice flow. I burned this mix onto a CD in 2003. Moved it to my phone later. It has never gone stale. Give it a whirly bird. If you don't know the band well I promise you'll be obsessed by the time you finish the mix. All time greats! Pavement on and on to the breaking of the fucking sun!



@rifqiandmarychain

Ice baby
I saw your girlfriend and she was
Eating her fingers, like they just another meal
But she waits there, in the levee wash
Mixin' cocktails with a plastic tipped cigar

My eyes stick, to all the shiny robes
She wear on the protein delta strip
In abandoned house but I will wait there
I'll be waitin' forever

I'm waitin'
Waitin'
Waitin'
Waitin'
Waitin'
Waitin'
Waitin'
Waitin', go

Minerals, ice deposits daily, drop off
The first shiny robe
I've got a lot of things I want sell, but
Not here, babe
Took 'em

Every time, I sit around, I find I'm shot
Every time, I sit around, I find I'm shot
Every time, I turn around, I find
Every time, I sit around, I find

Every time
Every time
Time
Every time
Every time
Every time
You're my

Summer babe
Summer babe
Summer babe
Summer babe



@matteo7059

Sorry guys, I just wanted to read the lyrics.

And she's eating her fingers
Like they're just another meal
And she waits there in the levee wash
Mixing cocktails with a plastic-tipped cigar
My eyes stick to all those shiny robes
You wear on the protein delta strip
In an abandoned houseboat
I'll wait there, I'll be waiting forever
Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting
Minerals, ice deposits
Daily drop off the first shiny robe
I've got a lot of things
I want to sell but not here babe, you took it all
Every time I sit around I find that I'm shocked
Every time I sit around I find that I'm shocked
Every time I sit around I find
Every time I sit around I find
Every time, every time, every time, every time
You're my summer babe
Summer babe



@andrewbarrett1537

Great guitar and drum work, but I'm still waiting for the melody to kick in.
Maybe there isn't one?
This pairs well with anything by Violent Femmes, and you all can have it.
I'm sorry.
I love indie and alternative rock and I heard such great things about Pavement for years in various music mags,
but this all leaves me seriously underwhelmed (the singing / tune; NOT the instrumental backing which is indeed good).
Happily, some other bands (in my opinion) totally live up to their praise.

It saddens me that I tune into some legendary band for practically the first time
and find that I can sing better than the singer (*at this period in his career; I hope he has improved since then),
when I'm so used to legendary bands with singers who are awesome with great musicality,
who could kick my ass around the block.
And- I'm not a singer.

Will check out, however, all the rest of their songs before I write more, but this is a bad first impression.
If you guys like it- great!



@newdamage5945

You’ve always been the critic’s darling

And a hit at all the fancy parties

But for me, man you don’t do nothing

I see through your charade

I hate you Chardonnay

You’re the grape that launched a thousand strippers

The soccer mom’s favorite sipper

I can’ think of anything sicker

Get the fuck out of my backstage

I hate you Chardonnay

I hate you Chardonnay

I hate you Chardonnay

I hate you Chardonnay

I see through your charade

I hate you Chardonnay



All comments from YouTube:

@djpangburn7505

Godspeed, Gary Young! Your drumming on this track melted my teenage brain back in 1998 when I got into Pavement! No one drummed like you or had this record sound.

@babylonhasfallen1329

Pavement is like a secret lover. Nobody I know knows about them. I try to turn them on to the band but they don’t get it.
You know what I’m talking about.
One of the best bands ever. Sometimes reminds me of a mix between Guided By Voices and Velvet Underground but at the same time completely Pavement.

@theramplocal

Spot on w the gbv and velvet sounds, still 1 of my favorite bands ever. Silver jews and SM and the jicks def are perfectly malkmus 😀

@SpectrumRob

@Jon Evans recently stumbled on Silver Jews. Heard Send in the Clouds. Thought this sounds like early Pavement.
I was right!!!

@greensthecolour

Perfect combo to describe them! Kind of a little Jonathan Richman but nobody knows who he is either.

@scotmark

@Jamie Lehmicke You can call me nobody, but I'm a modern lover. 😼

@franciscojosemari4707

@Jamie Lehmicke Some of us, old folks do know....."Ice Cream Man" one of the best unknown songs ever

6 More Replies...

@BusquedaBlues

This song is 90's indie rock perfection, love the noisy guitars.

@matthewseiler4819

Why are they noisy ?

@JRM112

@Matthew Seiler Fuzz and feedback, mostly. Wonderful things if you are an electric guitarist with a certain inclination...

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