The Summer I Read Collette

Song Meaning

This song captures a pivotal summer of personal liberation, marked by the act of reading Colette. It's the season after a difficult spring, a time for shedding old burdens and embracing new experiences. The narrator describes a profound shift, moving from a state of emotional stagnation to one of vibrant feeling and self-discovery. The act of reading becomes intertwined with a burgeoning romance, a sensory awakening that allows them to finally 'let it go.' The central tension lies in the contrast between past confinement and present freedom. The lyrics speak of 'bones were a prison' and a 'sad anniversary,' suggesting a period of being trapped by memory and past hurts. This is directly juxtaposed with the 'new way of feeling a million more things' and the idea of 'salvation.' The narrator seems to be actively choosing to release the past, finding that if it weren't for it, they'd 'feel nothing at all,' implying the past provides a necessary contrast to appreciate the present. The most striking craft element is the recurring motif of being 'blinded by the beauty in our own lives.' This suggests a common human tendency to overlook the richness available in the present moment, a blindness the narrator actively combats by 'taking all I could get.' The specific mention of Colette grounds this awakening in literature, implying that the author's words provided a lens through which to perceive this beauty, transforming a simple summer month into a profound personal revelation. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they articulate a universal desire for transformation and the power of intentionality. The narrator doesn't just passively experience change; they actively seek it, selling possessions to find a specific, almost sacred space ('a room with a candle up three flights of stairs') to immerse themselves in this new reality. The summer becomes a tangible period where the narrator fulfills their 'body with my heart and soul,' a powerful image of integration and wholeness.