Pop Rock Music

The song “Summer in the City” was written by The Lovin’ Spoonful members John Sebastian and Steve Boone and Mark Sebastian. The song #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966 for three consecutive weeks. It was also #1 in Canada and Finland. It went to #2 in the Netherlands, #3 in Norway, and #8 in the U.K. “Summer in the City” was on their album Hums of the Lovin’ Spoonful. It was released as a single with “Butchie’s Tune” as the B-Side. There are jackhammer sounds and car horns (from a VW) that help paint the urban soundscape. Rolling Stone magazine has the song its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It’s fun American sixties music.

The Lovin’ Spoonful formed in NY, NY and had their roots in the folk music scene. For this track, group members were John Sebastian, Zal Yanovsky, Joe Butler, and Steve Boone. The Lovin’ Spoonful also had commercial success with “Do You Believe in Magic,” “You Didn’t Have to Be so Nice, “”Daydream,” and “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your MInd?” — to mention a few.

Here are the lyrics to “Summer in the City” by The Lovin’ Spoonful:

“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”

For more songs by The Lovin’ Spoonful: “Daydream” and “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ commercial free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Summer in the City” by The Lovin’ Spoonful.