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Summer Nights
ill-Advised Lyrics
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I'm addicted to being alone
All the scars were etched in me
By forgotten memories
I'm too old to let it go
Lost inside a setting sun
That's burned away what's left of me
The wolves in my head won't stop
And the bills keep adding up
I guess it's how it will always be
But it's killing what's left of me
We never really had enough
It forced a kid to be grown up
You walked away from us that day
You lied and threw it all away
You just threw us both away
You just threw it all away
The summer nights are haunting me
It's so hot I can barely breathe
Get in the car and run away
Burn down the house
We'll find a way
Nothing is really how it seems
A small fire is all we need
We'll start again some other place
Where the nights won't keep us awake
The summer nights won't keep us awake
She works all day a job she hates
And cleans big houses until late
But it still isn't adding up
The landlord has had enough
She knocks on doors every other week
Selling phone books for cheap
Her sister says that she has it easy
Her mother hates her 'cus she isn't
Who she wants her to be
The words, they burn her like gasoline
The summer nights are haunting me
It's so hot I can barely breathe
Get in the car and run away
Burn down the house
We'll find a way
Nothing is really how it seems
A small fire is all we need
We'll start again some other place
Where the nights won't keep us awake
The summer nights won't keep us awake
Your words fall short
You know they do
The lies you told
They haunt me still
And after all
We have been through
I'm all alone
Because of you
Because of you (summer nights won't keep us awake)
I'll just become somebody else
In "Summer Nights," Ill-Advised explores themes of loneliness, personal struggles, and the impact of past experiences on one's identity. The lyrics suggest a character who is afraid of getting too close to others, preferring to be alone due to the scars left by forgotten memories. This addiction to solitude has made them feel older and disconnected, losing touch with the person they used to be.
The metaphor of "wolves in my head" represents the constant turmoil and negative thoughts that plague the character's mind. They feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life, with bills piling up and a sense that this is their perpetual reality. These ongoing struggles are taking a toll on their well-being and chipping away at their sense of self.
The song further delves into a specific personal situation of someone close to the character. A significant loss occurred when the subject of the song, "you," walked away from them, betraying their trust and throwing away their relationship. This abandonment has deeply affected the character, leaving them feeling alone and discarded, as if they no longer matter.
Throughout the song, the heat of the summer nights becomes a symbolic representation of the emotional intensity and suffocation the character feels. They long to escape from their current circumstances, even metaphorically suggesting burning down the house as a radical act to find a new beginning. The lyrics reinforce the notion that things are not always as they seem and that sometimes a small change, like a small fire, is enough to spark a fresh start.
The song also touches on the struggles of a woman who is dealing with a hated job, financial difficulties, and strained relationships within her family. She faces judgment from her sister and disapproval from her mother, causing her pain and feelings of inadequacy. The words directed at her are compared to gasoline, implying that they ignite and intensify her emotional distress.
The lyrics express a sense of longing for a different life, where they can escape the haunting memories and stifling nights. The repeated line about becoming somebody else suggests that the circumstances and experiences depicted in the song have transformed the characters' core sense of self.
Overall, "Summer Nights" captures a poignant exploration of loneliness, the weight of past experiences, and the yearning for a new beginning. It portrays the emotional struggles and longing for change that many individuals can relate to on a personal level.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't let you get too close
I am afraid of getting emotionally attached to someone
I'm addicted to being alone
I find comfort and solace in solitude
All the scars were etched in me
I carry the emotional wounds inflicted upon me
By forgotten memories
From past experiences that have been pushed out of my mind
I'm too old to let it go
I feel like I should have moved on by now, but I haven't
Lost inside a setting sun
Feeling trapped and directionless in a fading time
That's burned away what's left of me
Those experiences have eroded my identity and sense of self
The quiet boy I used to be
The person I once was, who was introverted and calm
The wolves in my head won't stop
My inner demons and negative thoughts persistently haunt me
And the bills keep adding up
Financial burdens continue to accumulate
I guess it's how it will always be
I have resigned myself to the belief that this is my perpetual reality
But it's killing what's left of me
It is slowly destroying any remaining parts of my being
We never really had enough
We were always lacking in some way
It forced a kid to be grown up
The circumstances compelled a child to mature prematurely
You walked away from us that day
You abandoned both of us on that particular day
You lied and threw it all away
Your deceitful actions caused everything to crumble
You just threw us both away
You simply discarded and disregarded both of us
The summer nights are haunting me
The warm evenings evoke distressing emotions within me
It's so hot I can barely breathe
The sweltering heat becomes suffocating and overwhelming
Get in the car and run away
Escape the current situation by driving away
Burn down the house
Metaphorically destroy the familiar and start anew
We'll find a way
We will discover a solution or path forward
Nothing is really how it seems
Appearances can be deceiving, and reality may be different
A small fire is all we need
A flicker of hope can be enough to ignite change
We'll start again some other place
We will begin afresh in a different location
Where the nights won't keep us awake
A place where we can find peace and serenity during nighttime
She works all day a job she hates
She spends her entire day in a job that brings her no joy
And cleans big houses until late
Her occupation involves tidying large residences until the late hours
But it still isn't adding up
Despite her efforts, the situation remains unsatisfactory
The landlord has had enough
The property owner is fed up with her circumstances
She knocks on doors every other week
She goes door-to-door at regular intervals
Selling phone books for cheap
Engaging in the sale of inexpensive phone directories
Her sister says that she has it easy
Her sibling believes her life is uncomplicated
Her mother hates her 'cus she isn't who she wants her to be
Her mother disapproves of her because she doesn't meet the desired expectations
The words, they burn her like gasoline
The hurtful words inflicted upon her have a powerful and destructive impact
Your words fall short
Your words lack sincerity and fail to fulfill their intended effect
You know they do
You are aware that your words are inadequate
The lies you told
The falsehoods and deceptions you shared
They haunt me still
They continue to torment and disturb me
And after all
Despite everything that has happened
We have been through
The challenges and experiences we have endured together
I'm all alone
I am left without companionship
Because of you
Your actions and choices are the cause of this loneliness
Because of you (summer nights won't keep us awake)
It is because of you that the summer nights no longer disturb us
I'll just become somebody else
I will undergo a transformation and adopt a different identity
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Harry Metzler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JackCaseySongwriter
What a moving, beautiful song!
@krakarpie
That nearly made me cry. You're super talented♥
@lancelee8563
👏👏👏👏 SO GOOD !!!!
@timosha21
Nicely done Harry!!!
@JuxtaMusic
Great video. Simple but very effective!