Summer in the City

The Lovin' Spoonful

About Summer in the City

"Summer in the City" is a song recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful and written by John Sebastian, Mark Sebastian, and Steve Boone. It appeared on their album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, in August 1966, for three consecutive weeks. The song features car horns and jackhammer noises during the instrumental bridge, to represent the sounds of a noisy city street. The song became a gold record. It is ranked #401 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  


Year:
1999
2:40
56 
#1

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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

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The Lovin' Spoonful

The Lovin' Spoonful is an American rock band of the 1960s, named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. When asked about his band, leader John Sebastian said it sounded like a combination of "Mississippi John Hurt and Chuck Berry," prompting his friend, Fritz Richmond, to suggest the name "Lovin' Spoonful" from a line in Hurt's song, "Coffee Blues".[citation needed] more »

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Written by: Steve Boone, John Benson Sebastian, Mark Douglas Sebastian

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release and Popularity
"Summer in the City" was released by The Lovin' Spoonful in July 1966. It became a major hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
Song Writing
John Sebastian, who was the lead vocalist of The Lovin' Spoonful, co-wrote "Summer in the City" with his brother, Mark Sebastian, and fellow band member Zal Yanovsky.
Unusual Instrumentation
One of the song's most distinctive features is its bridge, which incorporates jackhammer sound effects to mimic the noise of a bustling city in the summertime.
Awards and Recognition
The song won the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999, a special Grammy award that honors recordings that are at least 25 years old and have "qualitative or historical significance."
Cover Versions
Many artists have recorded covers of "Summer in the City," including The Turtles, Styx, Quincy Jones, and The Who.
Soundtrack Appearances
The song has been featured in several movie soundtracks, such as "Die Hard With a Vengeance" and "The Sandlot" and popular television shows like "Lost" and "The Simpsons."
Chart Success
Besides topping the charts in the U.S, "Summer in the City" also did well internationally, reaching number eight in the United Kingdom.
Time Signature
Unlike many popular songs that are written in common time or 4/4, "Summer in the City" has a time signature of 5/4.
Legacy
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Summer in the City" at number 401 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Unique Features
The song is also known for its abrupt changes in rhythm and melody, a stylistic choice that helped it stand out from other popular songs of its time.

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    "Summer in the City Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2948129/The+Lovin%27+Spoonful/Summer+in+the+City>.

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    Summer in the City

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1966

    Billboard #1


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