The signature keyboard part is played on a Hohner Pianet, and the organ is a Vox Continental.
Story
When at Blair Academy, Mark Sebastian submitted the lyrics as a poem for the literary magazine. That poem, entitled "Summer In the City," had the refrain "but at night it's a different world, go out and find a girl, come on, come on and dance all night, despite the heat it'll be alright, and babe don't you know it's a pity, the days can't be like the night, in the summer in the city." His older brother John changed the slower verses to a more upbeat model, keeping the title and the refrain. Mark's part remains as he wrote it, words and music. Bassist Steve Boone added the instrumental coda in the middle.
Media appearances
The song was featured on The Simpsons episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Badge", Only Fools and Horses episode "Miami Twice", in the opening scenes of the Bruce Willis action film Die Hard: With a Vengeance, in a Gatorade commercial, the 1994 PBS documentary Baseball: A Film by Ken Burns, in the 1989 movie The Karate Kid, Part III, in an advert for the UK retailer Marks & Spencer and recently in a commercial for Dutch brewer Grolsch. The song was used in the Debenhams advert "Actor". The song was also featured on the show, Family Ties, when Steven Keaton (Michael Gross) sings the first few lyrics while narrating a home movie.
On a VH1 Classic episode of Classic Albums featuring Disraeli Gears by Cream, it was asserted that the predominant guitar riff of the song "Tales of Brave Ulysses" was inspired by the keyboard riff of "Summer in the City"
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The song gave its name to and is featured in the first film by German art-director Wim Wenders, Summer in the City, from 1970.
Most recently, the song was used as background music in American Idol Season 8 when the tryouts were in Phoenix, Arizona.
Covers and samples
Cover versions of the song include BB King in 1972, Quincy Jones in 1973, Tim Curry in 1982, Joe Cocker in 1993, The Stranglers on their 1997 album Written in Red, and Joe Jackson released in 2000 a live album titled Summer in the City: Live in New York. The album opens with a cover of the song. The Butthole Surfers covered the song on "Music for Our Mother Ocean (MOM)" Series No. 3 released in 1999. Styx covered the song on their "Big Bang Theory" released in 2005. It was also sampled by Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip in 2006 for their song "Time We Met Musik". A modified version of the chorus was used in the third single Thru Ya City from Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump by De La Soul, Feat. D.V. Alias Khrist.
The Quincy Jones cover of "Summer in the City" has been sampled by Massive Attack in the song "Exchange" from their acclaimed album Mezzanine, Nightmares on Wax in his song "Night's Introlude" on the album Smokers Delight, and also by The Pharcyde on their seminal hit "Passin' Me By" from the album Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde. Another cover, by the Gutter Brothers appeared on the soundtrack to the Only Fools and Horses film "Miami Twice". The song has also been covered by UK jazz-dance act, Incognito on the 2006 album Bees + Things + Flowers.
Comedians Horatio Sanz and Fred Armisen sang the song on the 2004 season finale of Saturday Night Live during a sketch that contained different cast members singing songs that had a summer theme.
In 1989, the band Eat also released a cover of the song.
Country music artist Larry Stewart recorded it on his 1999 album Learning to Breathe.
In 2008, Barry Hay (The leadsinger of Golden Earring) covered this song together with the Metropole Orchestra.
Summer in the City
The Lovin' Spoonful Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back of my neck gettin' dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people lookin' half dead
Walkin' on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night, it's a different world
Come on, come on, and dance all night
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
The days can't be like the nights
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city
Cool town, evening in the city
Dressed so fine and lookin' so pretty
Cool cat lookin' for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
'Til I'm wheezing like a bus stop
Runnin' upstairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
But at night, it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on, and dance all night
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
The days can't be like the nights
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck gettin' dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people lookin' half dead
Walkin' on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night, it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on, and dance all night
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
The days can't be like the nights
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city
The Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer in the City" portrays the joys and sorrows of summertime in the urban city. The song's opening line, "Hot town, summer in the city," sets the scene for a hot and sticky environment. The singer comments on the dirt and grime that stick to his skin as he navigates the city streets. Despite the unpleasant heat, the nighttime presents a different world, and the singer explores the lively nightlife, looking for a girl to dance with. The song contrasts the daytime and nighttime experiences in the city, implying that the nighttime atmosphere is more conducive to fun and excitement, while the daytime is oppressive and a hindrance to enjoyment.
The song portrays the bustling and vibrant city ambiance, attracting people into its energy. Despite the discomfort and busyness that the city brings, people still long to explore and experience all its offerings fully. The song reminds us to embrace the chaos of city living and find pleasure in the long and hot summer days and nights.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot town, summer in the city
The temperature is high and it's summertime in the urban area
Back of my neck gettin' dirty and gritty
Due to the hot and humid climate, the back of the person's neck is getting dirty and sweaty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
The person is feeling low and it's unfortunate
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
There aren't enough trees or buildings to provide shade in the city
All around, people lookin' half dead
The heat is taking a toll on the people, making them look exhausted and lethargic
Walkin' on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
The pavement is so heated up that it feels as hot as a match head
But at night, it's a different world
The nighttime has a different environment than the daytime
Go out and find a girl
Find a girl to spend time with
Come on, come on, and dance all night
Dancing throughout the night is encouraged
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
Even though the temperature is high, things will be fine
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
It's a shame that the days can't be as good as the nights
The days can't be like the nights
It's not possible to have the same level of enjoyment during the daytime as it is at nighttime
Cool town, evening in the city
The temperature has cooled down, and it's nighttime in the city
Dressed so fine and lookin' so pretty
People are dressed nicely and appear attractive
Cool cat lookin' for a kitty
A cool person searching for a romantic partner
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Will search thoroughly for the right person
'Til I'm wheezing like a bus stop
Will continue searching until out of breath
Runnin' upstairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
Will run up to the rooftop to meet the person being searched for
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Steve Boone, John Benson Sebastian, Mark Douglas Sebastian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@francislynne478
Why was the phone busy? Who are you calling?
The psychic hotline.
I’d advice you to take this more seriously.
Look, this is a public phone, what do you want me to say?
You could simply say that there was a fat women on it and it took you a minute to get her off.
@reddrs424
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Cool town, evening in the city
Dressing so fine and looking so pretty
Cool cat, looking for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Till I'm wheezing like a bus stop
Running up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
@TheRWS
I don't think I could ever explain how much I love this song
@enigma2845
This brings back childhood memories for me, growing up in Chicago, and summers that seemed to be endless🌞, the good old day wouldn't trade them for the world.💖
@MIKECNW
Glad you enjoyed but remember what was going on that summer? Race riots. Though my understanding 10 other cities were going through the same thing.
@RayonConmar
@@MIKECNW Hey do you know what's really cool? Letting people reminisce on fond memories without shoehorning your agenda in.
@richardmartinez2428
@@MIKECNW The only thing was for a kid growing up during those times, besides cartoons music was all we had. Summer times at the beach listening to this song and many others on the radio was the escape during those times. The adults had to deal with the real world at those times.
@JoeNormal
Love Chicago!! Here's a new summer anthem for ya! "SUMMER JOBS" https://youtu.be/SpAC4DDz628
@josephcostello695
grew up in nyc when this song was big I think I was 7 or 8 at the time. but goid times they were. you have great taste in music.
@brettkoeshall2325
This is actually one of favorite Lovin' Spoonful.
@RickRox75
This was one of the songs that defined the summer of 1966, in fact it was one of the songs of 1966. Summer In The City is a classic done brilliantly by John Sebastian and The Lovin' Spoonful, an American No.1 in August 1966, it peaked at No.8 in the UK that same month. America's No.11 of 1966 was the UK's 85th best seller of 1966.
@mikal0457
why does it have so little views