Squeaky swings and tall grass
The longest shadows ever cast
The waters warm and children swim
We frolicked about in our summer skin

I don't recall a single care
Just greenery and humid air
Then Labor Day came and went
And we shed what was left of our summer skin

On the night you left I came over
And we peeled the freckles from our shoulders
Our brand new coats so flushed and pink
And I knew your heart I couldn't win
Cause the seasons change was a conduit
And we'd left our love in our summer skin


Lyrics submitted by sethbrown

Summer Skin Lyrics as written by Christopher Ryan Walla Benjamin D. Gibbard

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Summer Skin song meanings
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  • +7
    General Comment

    Well, on the surface this song is about a summer romance coming to an end. But I think it is about alot more than that.

    I think it is about how many of the good things in your life, like being able to be totally carefree when you are young, come to an end eventually. And how it doesn't neccessarily take some major event to bring about a major change in your life, where one phase ends and another begins....sometimes it is as simple and natural as the summer coming to an end.....

    This song is beautifully arranged and produced. I think the most brilliant thing about it is how, at least for me, the lyrics create such vivid imagery about such plain, ordinary things like "squeaking swings and tall grass". That one line immediately draws me into the context of the song and makes me FEEL like I used to feel at the end of summer when I was a kid...when you can tell that the days are getting a little shorter and the sun is just a little bit lower in the sky. Those are just subtle environmental cues, but you notice them subconciuosly, and you know that the summer is going to be over soon, and that your life is going to change and you'll be moving on to other things.

    I'll admit it, this song makes me cry sometimes...

    JG in SBon September 01, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Okay, just about anyone can relate but that doesn't make the song beautiful.

    The beauty lies within the metaphors and unhibited imagry. The nostalgic feeling of youth is what Summer Skin is all about. Don't be so one dimensional people, it is too easy to believe it is about a "summer romance." It might be but I believe Death Cab is more than that. Sad day when you realize your youth is gone...

    Indie_Alton February 19, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I don't think it's just about a summer romance, more about a "high-school sweetheart" kind of relationship maturing into a friendship (except he still loves her) I just looked up "labor day" since I am English and had no clue what it means, and it's the first Monday in September. Maybe they're going off to university.

    It's interesting thast some people have likened DCFC to REM, my mum was saying that earlier and I didn't really see it but looking at the lyrics it's very interesting.

    Anyway, think about your childhood ... most memories are about Summer. For me, anyway. This whole album is beautiful. It makes me cry.

    simsfreqon March 07, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I have a friend who was in a relationship that this song would represent perfectly. They were together for a very long time. So typical, after he graduated high school they spent the summer together and he later moved away to go to college. She was stuck going to high school for another year, so naturally, that's where the relationship ended. She wrote this song down on facebook in a note and out of curiousity I looked up the lyrics and fell in love with the song. I feel like it's basically saying that with the change of seasons can come the change of life, love, etc...

    Juneaushea92on July 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    beautiful song.

    constanton August 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A song about a summer romance. Pretty obvious meaning, and a BEAUTIFUL song.

    strykerchickon August 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    my third favorite song on the album. :)

    lovely lyrical imagery.

    "we peeled the freckles from our shoulders our brand new coats were so flushed and pink and i knew your heart i couldn't win"

    me_yes_meon August 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is completely brilliant. I see it as an idea of summer being a part of life where we beginnings end. The idea of shedding the summer skin is like him entering a new stage in life and coming out of his shell. He leaves behind what happened the past summer and embraces the new season.

    Sadexon August 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is exactly whats going on in my life right now. this album is much better than transatlanticism

    eraanon August 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    wow. amazing. breathtaking. the piano and guitar and drum solos are perfect. they make the song seem so heartfelt. definiatly about summer romances...

    jinxx55on September 01, 2005   Link

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