♫ Summertime Blues ♫

Posted on by under music

Officially, it isn’t summer yet, but here it sure has felt like mid-summer for the past week or so.  Last week it rained nearly every day, and once the rain stopped, the 90° (F) temperatures kicked in with high humidity.  Hence, I’ve only been able to be outside for about 10 minutes before my lips start turning blue from a lack of that stuff … what’s it called again … oh yeah, oxygen!  Anyway, summer doesn’t officially start here until next Monday, at which time winter will commence for our friends in Oz and other parts south of the equator.

I must admit to cheating a bit tonight.  Y’see, our friend Clive did a really great post with a compilation of summertime songs, and my selection tonight is one that he included on his post, but I’m asking you to please go check out his post for more really great summertime songs!

Written by Eddie Cochran and his manager, Jerry Capehart, this song was released in August 1958 when Eddie Cochran was only 19 years old.  Capehart explained the inspiration for this song …

“There had been a lot of songs about summer, but none about the hardships of summer.”

This was supposed to be the B-side of Love Again, which was written by 17-year-old Sharon Sheeley. It was clear that this was the bigger hit, but Sheeley eventually became Cochran’s girlfriend.  Sheeley provided the hand claps on this. She really wanted to do it, but had trouble getting the rhythm. Eddie helped her out by showing her how to clap.  This was Cochran’s breakthrough hit. His previous singles didn’t do very well, but this gave him a lot of exposure and established him as a star.  Tragically, Cochran died at the age of 21 in a car crash in Bath, Somerset, England just two years after this song was recorded.

Now, this is one of those cases where I find the history of the artist far more fascinating than the story behind the song.  This video (link only) tells a bit about his life, his devotion to music, and his death.

And now, onto cheerier things like … Summertime Blues!

Summertime Blues
Eddie Cochran

Well I’m a gonna raise a fuss, I’m gonna raise a holler
About workin’ all summer just to try an’ earn a dollar
Everytime I call my baby, to try to get a date
My boss says, no dice, son, you gotta work late
Sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do
‘Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues

Well my mom ‘n papa told me, son, you gotta make some money
If you want to use the car to go ridin’ next sunday
Well I didn’t go to work, told the boss I was sick
Now you can’t use the car ’cause you didn’t work a lick
Sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do
‘Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues

I’m gonna take two weeks, gonna have a vacation
I’m gonna take my problem to the united nation
Well I called my congressman and he said quote
I’d like to help you son, but you’re too young to vote
Sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do
‘Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues

Well I’m a gonna raise a fuss, I’m gonna raise a holler
About workin’ all summer just to try an’ earn a dollar
Sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do
‘Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues

Yeah, sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do
‘Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues
No there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Eddie Cochran / Jerry Neal Capehart
Summertime Blues lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

24 thoughts on “♫ Summertime Blues ♫”

  1. :-)) Great choice, Jill! Honestly, i am feeling like in the midst of summer, with temperatures around 27 degrees (C), the last three days. Yes, its OK if its not summer, so i hope we will have some more of these days. Lol xx Michael

    Liked by 2 people

        • True … but then, take your laptop outside and work there! I have enjoyed a semi-day off … no cooking tonight, since daughter Chris has band practice after work and won’t be home ’til nearly 10:00, so Miss Goose and I have had a lazy day! xx

          Like

Comments are closed.