The original lineup included three lead vocalists — Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron, and Cory Wells — along with Michael Allsup on guitar, Jimmy Greenspoon on keyboards Floyd Sneed on drums and Joe Schermie (from the Cory Wells Blues Band) on bass.
Three Dog Night recorded some tracks with Beach Boys producer, composer, vocalist, and instrumentalist Brian Wilson before signing with Dunhill Records and at the time went under the name Redwood. The band changed their name based on an article describing how Australian Aborigines slept with their dogs for warmth on cold nights, the coldest being a "three-dog night."
Summer in the City
Three Dog Night Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Light up your lazy blue eyes
Moon's up nights up
Taking the town by surprise
Night time night time
Day left an hour ago
City light time
Must you get ready so slow
Night in the city looks pretty to me
Night in the city looks fine
Music comes spilling out into the street
Colors go flashing in time
Take off take off
Take off your stay-at-home shoes
Break off shake off
Chase off those stay-at-home blues
Stairway stairway
Down to the crowds in the street
They go their way
Looking for faces to greet
But we run on laughing with no one to meet
Night in the city looks pretty to me
Night in the city looks fine
Music comes spilling out into the street
Colors go waltzing in time
The lyrics to Three Dog Night's "Summer in the City" depict a vibrant and exciting night in the city. The singer is encouraging their companion to join in on the fun and leave their hesitation behind. The opening lines, "Light up your lazy blue eyes / Moon's up nights up / Taking the town by surprise," suggests that the energy of the city has awoken their spirit and they're ready to have a good time. The city lights and the lively music that spills into the streets create an atmosphere that the singer finds exhilarating, as "colors go flashing in time."
As the song continues, the singer pushes their companion to break out of their routine and join the masses on the city streets. They urge them to "take off" their "stay-at-home shoes" and "chase off" their "stay-at-home blues." They ultimately end up running through the streets, laughing without any particular destination in mind.
This song captures the spirit of youthful adventure and the desire for something beyond routine. The upbeat rhythm and the quick tempo mimic the energy of the city at night, and the lyrics depict the thrill of being a part of it. Even though the song is over fifty years old, it remains a timeless classic that celebrates the magic of summer nights in the city.
Line by Line Meaning
Light up light up
Turn on the lights, let's get started
Light up your lazy blue eyes
Wake up and pay attention
Moon's up nights up
It's nighttime, let's go out and have fun
Taking the town by surprise
Let's do something unexpected
Night time night time
It's nighttime, let's enjoy it
Day left an hour ago
Time flies, let's not waste it
City light time
The city is lit up, let's go explore it
Must you get ready so slow
Let's not waste time getting ready
There are places to come from and places to go
Let's go out and explore the city
Night in the city looks pretty to me
The city is beautiful at night, let's enjoy it
Night in the city looks fine
The city is great at night, let's have fun
Music comes spilling out into the street
The music is loud and lively
Colors go flashing in time
The lights are changing and it's fun
Take off take off
Let's get going
Take off your stay-at-home shoes
Let's get out of the house and do something
Break off shake off
Let's shake off our worries and have fun
Chase off those stay-at-home blues
Don't be sad, let's enjoy the night
Stairway stairway
Let's go down the stairs and out into the night
Down to the crowds in the street
Let's join the fun and excitement outside
They go their way
Other people are doing their own thing
Looking for faces to greet
Let's meet new people and have fun
But we run on laughing with no one to meet
We're having fun on our own, enjoying each other's company
Colors go waltzing in time
The lights are dancing and it's fun
Lyrics © Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing
Written by: JEFF LYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christine Shire
on My Impersonal Life
Who sang vocals for this