The year was 1972 when Seals and Crofts released their genius hit Summer Breeze. If there is one song that embodies summer, this song certainly ranks high on the list, if not at the top. The words can take you to a front porch with some acoustic guitar love happening and fireflies all around. Take a moment and enjoy these lyrics:
See the curtains hangin' in the window, in the evenin' on a Friday night
A little light a-shinin' through the window, lets me know everything is alright
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind
See the paper layin' in the sidewalk, a little music from the house next door
So I walked on up to the doorstep, through the screen and across the floor
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind
Sweet days of summer, the jasmine's in bloom
July is dressed up and playing her tune
And I come home from a hard day's work
And you're waiting there, not a care in the world
See the smile a-waitin' in the kitchen, food cookin' and the plates for two
Feel the arms that reach out to hold me, in the evening when the day is through
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind
Songwriters: Darrell Crofts / Jimmy Seals
Summer Breeze lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
This past week I was on a working vacation of sorts (as publishing deadlines loom, no matter if you are on vacation or not). While camping, I heard the familiar sound of this song in the cool mountain air. I started walking toward it and discovered a guy sitting outside his popup camper playing Summer Breeze on a well-worn acoustic guitar and singing to his heart's content. He was escaping his worries by singing this song.
Hearing this song drove home the point about how important music and 'the song' can be in life. Reading through the lyrics above, I feel certain your mind took you to the all too familar melody. You probably remembered the first time you heard it, or it transported you to a favorite summer place. Maybe you have someone who's waiting there without a care in the world...
As you work through the dog days of summer, take time for making music. Let music be the arms that reach out and hold you. It'll make you feel fine!
Image credit: The image above was taken back in 1973 by Paul Bausch during a Seals and Crofts concert. Paul is a writer for On The Records, an online publication about Classic Rock records, and more.
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Dendy Jarrett is the Publisher and Executive Director of Harmony Central. He has been heavily involved at the executive level in many aspects of the drum and percussion industry for over 25 years and has been a professional player since he was 16. His articles and product reviews have been featured in InTune Monthly, Gig Magazine, DRUM! and Modern Drummer Magazines.
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