Summer is Coming

Song Meaning

Labi Siffre's "Summer is Coming" isn't just a forecast; it's a psychological portrait of anticipation itself. The repeated mantra of "Summer is coming" acts as both an observation and an incantation, a self-persuasion that bleeds into the mundane. He's not just noting the shift in temperature; he's documenting the internal shift, the hopeful hum that underlies the everyday. The almost childlike repetition creates an atmosphere of innocent expectation, like a kid counting down the days until vacation. It hints at a deeper yearning, perhaps for a change in circumstances or a rekindling of connection. The lyrical snapshot of "summer in the city" reveals a world where even work adopts a playful hue. But the core of the song meaning seems to lie in the speaker's introspective moments: "I haven't had much to do/ Thought a lot about you/ Did you think about me too?" This hints at a longing for connection, a desire for reciprocity that the burgeoning summer seems to amplify. The weather becomes a catalyst, awakening dormant emotions and desires. The speaker’s confession of sweating, an unusual occurrence, underscores the intensity of this internal shift. This seemingly simple song captures the subtle ways in which external changes impact our internal landscape. The almost absurd line about beating himself at chess reinforces the feeling of idle contemplation, a mind circling around itself, waiting. It’s a clever acknowledgement of the slightly absurd nature of anticipation. The final verses, with the promise of getting "around to you," add a layer of romantic or relational anticipation, suggesting that the coming summer isn't just about the weather, but about the possibility of renewed or deepened connection. The repeated, almost hypnotic pronouncements of "Summer is coming" drive home the central theme: the power of hope, the quiet electricity of expectation, and the profound impact of the changing seasons on the human heart.