Ancient Summer
Whispers of Youth: Nostalgic Adventures in John Engel's 'Ancient Summer'
Lyrics
Build a raft to sail away
Expresses a desire to escape or embark on an adventure by building a raft.
Count the trains that time the day
Suggests a reflection on the passage of time, using trains as a measure of the day.
In the late afternoon blush
Describes the time of day with a vivid image of a late afternoon blush.
Me and my friends run through the brush
Recalls playful moments with friends, running through the brush.
Skimming stones across the lake
Depicts a carefree activity of skimming stones across a lake.
Skipping ties between the rails
Highlights the innocence of youth, engaging in activities like skipping ties between railroad rails.
Crunch on corn and snack on beet
Describes casual and simple pleasures like crunching on corn and snacking on beet.
Make chewing gum out of wheat
Imagines creating chewing gum out of wheat, emphasizing resourcefulness.
And in the night we look at stars
Shares a moment of stargazing with friends during the night.
And give them names for all the girls
Symbolic act of naming stars after girls, suggesting dreams and aspirations.
We'll never know but dream about
Acknowledges the inevitability of uncertainties but encourages dreaming about them.
Whistling contests through a leaf
Describes a whimsical activity of whistling contests through a leaf.
Sneak in the theater like a thief
Recounts a mischievous act of sneaking into a theater like a thief.
Trade bikes and movie cards
Shares the camaraderie of friends, trading bikes and movie cards.
Roam forever but never too far
Expresses the desire to roam freely without straying too far.
Steal plums from the neighbor's yard
Describes a playful act of stealing plums from the neighbor's yard.
Turn green on an old cigar
Reflects on the allure of forbidden things, stating that forbidden fruit is sweet.
Forbidden fruit is sweet
Evokes a sensory experience of smelling the evening curfew on the street.
Smell the blown curfew on the evening street
Reiterates the theme of stargazing and naming stars after girls.
And in the night we look at stars
Continues the motif of dreaming about the unknown while looking at stars.
And give them names for all the girls
Reaffirms the act of naming stars after girls, emphasizing the dreamlike quality.
We'll never know but dream about
Encourages maintaining dreams and aspirations despite the uncertainty of knowing.
And in the night we look at stars
Reiterates the theme of stargazing and naming stars after girls during the night.
And give them names for all the girls
Continues the motif of dreaming about the unknown while looking at stars.
We'll never know but dream about
Emphasizes the importance of maintaining dreams and aspirations despite uncertainties.
Cop a feel or steal a kiss
Touches on the innocence and curiosity of youth, referencing physical interactions.
Score one and it's a week of bliss
Describes the blissful feeling that follows a romantic or physical encounter.
Racing scooters and soapbox cars
Depicts the excitement of youth, engaging in activities like racing scooters and playing with soapbox cars.
Banging tunes on a junk guitar
Highlights the joy of creating music, even with makeshift instruments like a junk guitar.
No worries about how to pay
Expresses a carefree attitude towards financial concerns, enjoying the present moment without worries.
The sandman so he goes away
Refers to the wishful act of keeping the Sandman away, possibly wanting to extend moments of joy.
The girls we love in silence know
Acknowledges the silent understanding between friends and romantic partners.
When you're eleven, vows have no tomorrow
Highlights the innocence of youth by stating that vows made at the age of eleven have no tomorrow.
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