While it has a distinctive style in its original form, something about it makes it endlessly adaptable. Gershwin wanted to create something in the style of a spiritual, and to most commentators he succeeded way beyond his initial brief.
He uses it four times in the opera, including as a lullaby at the very opening. What is it about this song that makes it so special and so timeless?
It has a kind of ambiguity that allows us to find our own message. To some, it evokes lazy sunny days, to others it has a brooding or yearning quality. The chords have a way of playing with our expectations and anticipations. Looking at a popular song sheet version, it starts on a dark, tense Am6 chord and moves to an E7, a chord that is commonly used to lead us to some kind of change or resolution, but here just falls back to the Am6, rocking us between the two, lulling us into a hazy torpor that feels relaxed but still seems to anticipate something.
A B in the bass under the E chord emphasises the gentle sway. The effect is like a sudden fresh breeze on a balmy afternoon. The string fills usually included in song sheets wrap around the melody, adding a flowing feel with bluesy passing half-steps. You could teach yourself an accompaniment pretty easily using the above mentioned song sheet. All lyrics provided for educational purposes only.
What does Summertime mean? Login Create Account. My Chemical Romance : Summertime Meaning. Tagged: Summer [suggest]. When the lights go out Will you take me with you?
And carry all this broken bone Through six years down in crowded rooms And highways I called home? Is Something I can't know 'til now. Submit Your Interpretation. Select another language:. Please enter your email address: Subscribe. Discuss these summertime definitions with the community: 0 Comments. Notify me of new comments via email. Cancel Report. Create a new account. Log In. Powered by CITE. Are we missing a good definition for summertime?
Don't keep it to yourself Submit Definition. The ASL fingerspelling provided here is most commonly used for proper names of people and places; it is also used in some languages for concepts for which no sign is available at that moment.
There are obviously specific signs for many words available in sign language that are more appropriate for daily usage. Browse Definitions. Yet, it is an anthem for young vocalists who know little about the meaning or the story and history of Black women forced to care for white children while theirs were being sold, beaten, and murdered.
It is ironic, indeed. The first time I heard this song I immediately knew it was a black slave singing to a white child. I think the black slave knows the white child is innocent and means no harm at that age. We learn from history and hopefully not repeat things we can change.
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