Summer Sun by Robert Louis Stevenson

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the summer sun as a powerful, tireless entity. Personified as a male figure, it "goes" widely through the "empty heaven without repose." Its rays shower "more thick than rain," establishing its immense and pervasive presence. A subtle tension emerges as humans attempt to mitigate the sun's intensity. Despite pulling "closer still the blinds" to keep a parlor cool, the sun's persistence is undeniable. It "will find a chink or two" to slip its "golden fingers through," highlighting its unstoppable, almost playful, intrusion. What truly stands out is the sun's benevolent reach into unexpected, often neglected spaces. It "through the keyhole, maketh glad" the "dusty attic spider-clad," and "smiles" into the "laddered hay-loft." This imagery suggests that the sun's warmth and light can transform even forgotten corners, bringing a quiet joy. Ultimately, these lyrics are effective because they elevate the sun beyond a mere celestial body. The consistent personification, culminating in the sun as "The gardener of the World," underscores its essential, nurturing role in existence, bringing light, warmth, and life to everything from the grandest garden to the smallest, dustiest nook.