Summer Lies
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We used to dance like it was going out of style
When you loved me for a while
And I remember every word you ever said; every kiss
We used to sing all the oldest songs we knew
But the words were never true for you
Or was it all a game of solitaire played in the dark?
(C): All the sweetest things you said and I believed were summer lies
Hanging in the willow trees like the dead were summer lies
I'll never fall in love again.
I whispered too but the things I said were true
And I gave up my whole world for you
I gave you all the best years of my life
And half the worst and now you're gone
I pine and wane, pale and wan, never knowing




When it's dawn, curtains drawn, hiding in my room,
Wasting away, cutting myself. (C)

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields' song "Summer Lies" is about a past relationship that ended in heartbreak. The lyrics describe a time when the couple were happy and in love, dancing and singing together. However, the relationship eventually fell apart, leaving the singer feeling empty and alone. The chorus expresses the bitterness and disillusionment that comes with realizing that the sweet words and promises of love were nothing but lies, and that the happy memories of summer are now hanging like dead leaves in a willow tree. The singer is left to mourn the loss of love, cutting themselves off from the world as they wallow in sadness.


The lyrics of "Summer Lies" are poignant and emotional, capturing the pain of heartbreak and the feeling of being betrayed by someone you trusted. The song is a reminder of how easy it is to get swept up in the passion of love, only to be left with nothing but memories of what once was. It speaks to the universal human experience of losing a loved one and feeling lost and alone in the aftermath.


Line by Line Meaning

We used to dance like it was going out of style
We used to dance as if it was the last time because it seemed like our love won't last forever


When you loved me for a while
There was a fleeting moment when your love for me was genuine and strong


And I remember every word you ever said; every kiss
I remember every word you said and every intimate moment we shared together


We used to sing all the oldest songs we knew
We used to sing old songs, but they were never relevant to our relationship


But the words were never true for you
You were never honest or sincere in your feelings towards me


Or was it all a game of solitaire played in the dark?
We were never really together, and it was just a lonely game played behind closed doors


All the sweetest things you said and I believed were summer lies
All the promises and sweet words you told me during the summer were false and insincere


Hanging in the willow trees like the dead were summer lies
The false promises and sweet words are now lifeless and hanging in the air like the leaves on a willow tree


I'll never fall in love again.
The hurt and pain of our relationship have scarred me, and I am afraid to love again


I whispered too but the things I said were true
I also whispered sweet nothings to you, but my words were sincere and real


And I gave up my whole world for you
I sacrificed everything for you, including my dreams and aspirations


I gave you all the best years of my life
I devoted the prime of my life to you


And half the worst and now you're gone
I even shared the bad times with you, but now you've left me alone


I pine and wane, pale and wan, never knowing
I suffer and deteriorate, becoming weak and lifeless, never understanding why our love failed


When it's dawn, curtains drawn, hiding in my room,
I cover myself in darkness and hide away from the world every morning


Wasting away, cutting myself.
I am slowly wasting away, and my emotional pain is like self-inflicted wounds




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions