Summer Schemes

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of anticipation for a return to a specific natural setting, a place characterized by its "leafage" and flowing water. The narrator expresses a clear desire to revisit this spot with a companion, envisioning the sounds of nature, described as musical notations like "quavers, minims, shakes, and trills." This initial scene is one of idyllic planning, a shared future moment set against the backdrop of summer's arrival and the vibrant life it brings to the landscape. The repetition of "Calls again" emphasizes this eager expectation. However, a subtle tension immediately surfaces. The narrator's enthusiastic declarations, "We'll go" and "We shall," are immediately undercut by hesitant questions: "but who shall say / What may not chance before that day!" and "but who may sing / Of what another moon will bring!" This contrast between the stated intention and the acknowledgment of uncertainty creates the core emotional conflict. It's a yearning for a specific future, shadowed by the awareness of life's inherent unpredictability. The most striking craft element is the personification of summer as a figure who "calls again" and whose natural sounds are translated into musical terms. This elevates the natural world into a deliberate, almost orchestrated performance. The lyrics then pivot to observing the water's journey, from its source in "chinks" to a cascading fall, mirroring the planned journey. Yet, this observation of natural flow is immediately followed by the same refrain of uncertainty, suggesting that just as the water's path is set by nature, human plans are subject to forces beyond control. This delicate balance between hopeful planning and resigned acceptance of fate is what makes these lyrics resonate. The writing doesn't just describe a scene; it captures a specific emotional state – the bittersweet feeling of looking forward while knowing that the future is never guaranteed. The gentle, almost musical language used to describe nature contrasts with the stark, direct questions about what the future holds, highlighting the vulnerability beneath the surface of the narrator's plans.