All three members of the band remain active recording musicians, each with their own careers. They are said to have reunited on a forthcoming album, "Angels and Fools", by Gilbert's new band, The Excellent Staircase (formally The Believers); on the track "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want", a cover of the song by The Smiths.
Indian Summer
The Dream Academy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When August and September just become memories of songs
To be put away with the summer clothes
And packed up in the attic for another year
We had decided to stay on for a few weeks more
Although the season was over now the days were still warm
And seemed reluctant to five up and hand over to winter for another year
Her parents had rented a house on the shore
'Though I stared at her all summer we never really talked
In the end, at the summer's end
I wish we could turn it around and start it again
She shared a house with her sister and mother
It belonged to a painter who rented out for the summer
Her father had already gone home
The days were quiet and we were both alone
Intensified by the lack of competition
We walked along the ocean and put off decisions
To keep us from saying goodbye
Indian, Indian summer
In the distance the city lights flickered in the bay
But any previous existence seemed a world away
In the end, at the summer's end
I wish we could turn around and start it again
Indian, Indian summer
Away from the magic could it ever be the same
I think I knew those days would never come again.
The Dream Academy's song "Indian Summer" takes the listener on a nostalgic journey through the fleeting moments of late summer, where the memories of August and September are but a distant memory. The song speaks of the longing to hold on to the warmth of the season, to continue to feel the sun's rays and to walk along the ocean's edge with a sense of contentment. The song captures the essence of those final days of summer, before the cold winds of autumn set in, and the days become shorter.
The singer's desire to hold onto the magic of the Indian summer is further amplified by the memories of a beautiful girl that he had observed throughout the season. Although they never talked until the end of summer, he shares his wish to turn back time and relive those moments when they could have been together. As they walked along the ocean, the silence between them was heightened by the realization that the end of summer meant they were to go their separate ways. The beauty of the Indian summer lingers, but it is a bittersweet memory that cannot be revived.
The Dream Academy's "Indian Summer" is a romantic and nostalgic song that perfectly captures the essence of the end of summer. It highlights the sense of loss that comes with the passing of the season and the longing to hold onto the warmth of its fleeting moments. The song is a beautiful reminder that time passes, and with it, the magic of summer fades away.
Line by Line Meaning
It was the time of year just after the summer's gone
The time period after summer has ended
When August and September just become memories of songs
The months of August and September become mere memories
To be put away with the summer clothes
Summer clothes are kept away
And packed up in the attic for another year
Summer clothes are stored in the attic for next year
We had decided to stay on for a few weeks more
The singer and a companion have decided to stay a little longer
Although the season was over now the days were still warm
Even though summer was over, the days were still warm
And seemed reluctant to give up and hand over to winter for another year
The warm days didn't want to end and give way to winter
Her parents had rented a house on the shore
The singer's love interest's parents rented a house by the shore
'Though I stared at her all summer we never really talked
The singer spent the entire summer admiring his love interest but never talked to her
In the end, at the summer's end
At the end of summer
I wish we could turn it around and start it again
The singer regrets not having done anything about his feelings for his love interest
She shared a house with her sister and mother
The singer's love interest stayed with her family in the rented house
It belonged to a painter who rented out for the summer
The house was owned by a painter who rented it out for the summer season
Her father had already gone home
The love interest's father had already left
The days were quiet and we were both alone
The days were peaceful without much activity and the singer and his love interest were alone
Intensified by the lack of competition
The lack of competition made the singer's feeling for his love interest more intense
We walked along the ocean and put off decisions
The singer and his love interest spent time near the ocean and ignored making any decisions
To keep us from saying goodbye
They avoided making final goodbyes to each other
In the distance the city lights flickered in the bay
They saw the lights of the city from the bay in the distance
But any previous existence seemed a world away
Everything else seemed far away compared to their current situation
Away from the magic could it ever be the same
They wonder if their experience will ever be the same outside of that summer time
I think I knew those days would never come again
The singer realizes he will never get those days back
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GILBERT GABRIEL, NICK LAIRD-CLOWES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Chordonblue
I worked at a boarding school through the 2000's and I lived next to the students next door. I introduced one of them to all three Dream Academy albums, which she really enjoyed. A few months later, she drops a CD off on my desk and says, 'I think you should listen to this guy, he's sounds a LOT like Dream Academy...' I said I would, but it was after her graduation and well over a year before I put Nick Drake's 'Five Leaves Left' into my CD player. I was STUNNED - this was recorded in 1969! Suddenly, I had to hear everything that guy did - and if you look him up online, you'll find that he was the true inspiration for the D.A., with 'Life in a Northern Town' being their elegy to him. He has inspired quite a few other melancholia artists - some I've listed below.
I never got a chance to thank her. But it showed how closed minded I'd gotten in my old age - I waited a year to even give it a chance. SHAMEFUL! Lesson learned. If she reads this: THANKS!
So I thought maybe Nick Drake had pretty much invented the style... Until I got the Drake box set and heard his MOTHER'S piano recordings. Unbelievable! 😮
Also recommended in this genre:
Parallel Lions - Holding Patterns / More electronic, but wonderful. I discovered them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI9W_VdV1l0
Beck - Morning Phase and Sea Change
The Believers (Gilbert Gabriel's solo project) - Angels and Fools
The Ocean Blue - My favorite being: Cerulean
and pretty much anything by Duncan Sheik - love his self-titled album
@cclinton409
I'm in my Indian Summer years at 81 yrs old. Brings tears as I reflect on life and the years that can't come again. Such beautiful music from the Dream Acadamy.
@dorerd
If I reach 81, I will be more than content. I hope my comment finds you well.
@jbazinga2385
I'm a little behind you...sitting at 58...and while I couldn't begin to compare my life experiences to yours, I continuously find myself thinking more and more about who I am and how I got to be who I am. Something I think the current generation can't even fathom as most of them think their entire life revolves around how many clicks and likes they can garner on their various social media accounts, along with trying to desperately capture a moment or two on their phone instead of living in the moment and creating a memory for themselves to remember as the years go by.
@richardghormley5995
Very underrated band here in the US. I love their sound. Can we go back to the 80's where life was awesome and no covid 19?
@glfx005
Instead you'll have HIV/AIDS, but still better than modern times when all things considered ;)
@BlackCrossCrusader
Covid crisis is going to last as long as politicians can milk it.
@WeknowhoUR
@Lawrence Goldfox yeah, same Fauci 🤡 that said HIV would mutate and run rampant thru the heterosexual population is now the Joker that is heading up the CCP virus response. Follow the $$$$
@SmokyMountainStarlight
please!
@michelelaraia7358
Love this one,1st track from their 1985 album.St. Martin's Summer here in Italy,3rd November's Friday.
@bobwerner3697
One of the most artistic, amazing bands..... I love them!! Been listening to them since 1983