Ralph McTell is probably best known for the song Streets of London which has been covered by over a hundred artists around the world. From Clare to Here has proved almost as popular, during a long and continuing recording and performing career.
McTell's guitar style has been influenced by many of the USA's country blues 'Piedmont- style' guitar players of the early 20th century, including Blind Blake and Blind Willie McTell, from whom he took his name.
Summer Girls
Ralph McTell Lyrics
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Promenade above the beach until my face turns brown
With my hands in my pockets and a casual stroll from the town beach to the dock
The girls they walk in two's and three's, their pretty cotton frocks teased by the breeze.
And I will find a long-limbed summer girl for me.
I will assume the accent of some Yankee sailor boy
Stranded between merchant ships with some time to enjoy.
And petticoats and sandy kisses, breasts smooth as stones washed by the sea
And I will find a long-limbed summer girl for me.
And her name will be Pam or Ruth, so I'll be Chuck or Wayne,
And we will know and love each other, then I will explain
Why I haven't found a ship and that I live in town
Before we share that cigarette, in waves of love, we'll drown down by the sea,
My long-limbed salt-teared summer girl and me.
She won't cry for my leaving, she will cry because I stay
She will cry for my deceiving that we can meet every day
This love affair it grew so strong because we'd have to part,
And now we will do anyway and she will take my heart and I'll be free
To find another summer girl who'll give it back to me.
The lyrics of Ralph McTell's song, "Summer Girls," suggest a nostalgic longing for a simpler time when summer was a time for leisurely strolls, ice cream cones, and flirtatious romances. The singer of the song plans to spend his summer promenading along the beach, looking for a "long-limbed summer girl" to spend his time with. He adopts the persona of a Yankee sailor, and imagines himself sharing sandy kisses with a girl named Pam or Ruth. However, he is also aware that these romances are often fleeting and impermanent, and that he may soon have to say goodbye to his summer love. The lyrics are infused with a sense of wistfulness for a bygone era when time seemed to slow down in the summer months.
The singer's desire for a carefree summer romance is expressed through the use of vivid imagery and sensory detail. The girls he sees on the beach are described as wearing "pretty cotton frocks teased by the breeze," and he imagines their "breasts smooth as stones washed by the sea." He also plans to eat tupp'ney ice-cream cones and stroll along the beach with his hands in his pockets. However, the lyrics also hint at a deeper sense of loneliness and disconnection. The singer adopts a false identity in order to connect with the summer girls, and there is a suggestion that his love affairs are fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying.
Overall, Ralph McTell's "Summer Girls" is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of summer romances and the desire for connection in a rapidly changing world.
Line by Line Meaning
This summer will be different I will move across the town
I am excited for a new season where I plan to move to a new part of town.
Promenade above the beach until my face turns brown
I will walk along the beach and bask in the sun's rays until my skin gets tanned.
With my hands in my pockets and a casual stroll from the town beach to the dock
I’ll enjoy myself with some leisurely strolls along the scenic route from the town beach to the dock.
The girls they walk in two's and three's, their pretty cotton frocks teased by the breeze.
As I walk along the beach, I see many pretty girls walking in groups, looking very glamorous with their cotton dresses fluttering in the gentle sea breeze.
And I will find a long-limbed summer girl for me.
I'm hopeful that I'll meet a girl with a svelte figure who enjoys summer activities just like me.
I will assume the accent of some Yankee sailor boy Stranded between merchant ships with some time to enjoy.
I will pretend to be a young sailor from the North, stranded between ships and with some time to spare to play.
A week or two down by the bay with tupp'ney ice-cream cones And petticoats and sandy kisses, breasts smooth as stones washed by the sea
I'm hoping to spend a week or two by the bay, eating ice creams worth two pennies, watching girls covered in sand, and kissing them while caressing their smooth bodies that feel like sea stones.
And her name will be Pam or Ruth, so I'll be Chuck or Wayne
I'll come up with an alternate name like Chuck or Wayne for myself, while anticipating a girl named Pam or Ruth.
And we will know and love each other, then I will explain
Soon enough, we'll get to know each other well and fall deeply in love. That's when I'll share more about myself.
Why I haven't found a ship and that I live in town
I’ll tell her that I don't own a ship and live in this town alone without any family.
Before we share that cigarette, in waves of love, we'll drown down by the sea, My long-limbed salt-teared summer girl and me.
As we sit by the sea and smoke cigarettes together, we'll share our deepest emotions and get lost in the waves of love, feeling the salty sea air fill our eyes.
She won't cry for my leaving, she will cry because I stay
She will not cry when I leave since that was always clear, but now she will cry seeing me stay here for too long.
She will cry for my deceiving that we can meet every day
She'll cry because she feels I've deceived her by making promises of meeting each day to share our love when it is impossible.
This love affair it grew so strong because we'd have to part
Our love grew stronger because we knew that we would soon be separated from each other.
And now we will do anyway and she will take my heart and I'll be free
Though we must part ways, I'll give my heart to her, and it's time to move on to my next summer love.
To find another summer girl who'll give it back to me.
I'll meet someone new next season, and we'll exchange our love again, just like the previous summer.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: RALPH MCTELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sgoworld
We love a great songwriter. Ralph is one of the greats.
Luke St Everything
Ralph has written the sound track to my life. All the joy and sadness tied up in his magical songs and I know I'm not alone. There are no words that can really say 'Thank you' for all the albums and performances I've seen. My life has been so much better for the gift he gave me.
kevin carey quinn
Weaving a story of words, colour and music. He can take your life in his hands and transmit it directly heart to heart.
John Kinn
Beautiful song and performance. Made my 65 year old self shed a tear..
Billy Emerson
Absolutely adore this beautiful song :)
Love Irish Girl from the same album as well
Gerry Brownridge
Superb! Looking forward to seeing Ralph in Leeds in November ...he is one of the best!
Martyn Jones
Nice 👍
Gaynor Crawford
Divine darling
Chris Underhill
What is wrong with people...a thumbs down.... obviously very musically challenged