Written by Sarah Cracknell & Mark Waterfield
Produced by Sarah Cracknell… Read Full Bio ↴Written by Sarah Cracknell & Mark Waterfield
Produced by Sarah Cracknell, Mark Waterfield & Cameron Jenkins

Released January 2008 on Boxette

Notes "This song was written with my good buddy, Mark Waterfield; we met when I was at college in 1988. We both wrote melodies to the song but decided to use them all, so it became a song of many parts. The original demo was pretty respectable after Cameron Jenkins sprinkled some fairy dust on it. However we went on to record it in a proper studio with strings and bells and whistles, and here it is." - Sarah Cracknell, 2007.

Summer Song
Saint Etienne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And then you will
And then you won't

And then you do
And then you don't

Just when I wanted to
Seems like the Summer's through

Take a trip to the ocean
Look around, look around
Feel that emotion

Give me back the Summer time
I can't stand this rain
Give me back the Summer time
Let me start again
Let me start again

I don't know what I was thinking of
I said so many things I regret
You and me don't have to let it go
We've got so much left to do
So much to lose
I can't do without you

Give me back the Summer time
I can't stand this rain
Give me back the Summer time
Let me start again

Give me back the Summer time
Tell me what to do
Give me back the Summer time
Back to me and you
Back to me and you

Take me back...
Take me back to Summer time
It's time...

And then you will
And then you won't

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Saint Etienne's "Summer Song" describe the feelings of longing and regret that often come with the end of summer. The lines "And then you will, and then you won't, and then you do, and then you don't" capture the uncertainty and indecision that can accompany romantic relationships. The singer wishes to reclaim the carefree, joyful spirit of summer, but is unable to do so because it has already passed. The refrain "Give me back the Summer time" expresses the desire to relive the past and start over again.

The second verse of the song suggests that the singer has had a falling out with a romantic partner, and is now experiencing remorse for things said and done. The lines "You and me don't have to let it go, we've got so much left to do, so much to lose, I can't do without you" reveal the depth of their attachment to one another. Despite the pain and uncertainty of the present, the singer hopes for a reconciliation, and looks back nostalgically on the time they have already shared.

Overall, "Summer Song" is a wistful, melancholy reflection on the fleeting nature of time and the importance of holding onto the people and experiences that matter most.

Line by Line Meaning

And then you will
You may have the intention to do something

And then you won't
But you may also change your mind and decide not to follow through with it

And then you do
Sometimes you do end up doing what you planned

And then you don't
But sometimes you change your mind and don't follow through

Just when I wanted to
At the time when I most wanted to do something

Seems like the Summer's through
It appears that summer has already ended

Take a trip to the ocean
Go on a journey to the beach

Look around, look around
Observe your surroundings

Feel that emotion
Experience the emotions that come with being at the ocean

Give me back the Summer time
I want to have the enjoyable experience of summertime back

I can't stand this rain
I don't want to be experiencing rain instead of warmth and sunshine