Summer in the City
Three Dog Night Lyrics


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Light up light up
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
There are places to come from and places to go
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

Overall Meaning

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
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Christine Shire


on My Impersonal Life

Who sang vocals for this

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