Me and my friends are like
the drums on "Lust for Life"
we pound it out on floor toms
our psalms are sing-a-long songs

this whole town is lifeless
been that way all our whole lives just
work at the mill until you die
work at the mill and then you die
we're gonna build something this summer
(gonna build something this summer)
we'll put it back together
raise up a giant ladder
with love and trust and shows all summer
(this summer)

We're gonna lean this ladder
up against the water tower
climb up to the top
and drink and talk
(this summer)

me and my friends are like
doublewhiskeycokenoice
we drink along in double time
might drink too much but we feel fine

We're gonna build something this summer
(gonna build something this summer)
summer grant us all the power
to drink on top of water towers
with love and trust and shows all summer
get hammered
let this be my annual reminder
that we can all be something bigger

i went to your schools
i did my detention but the walls were so gray i couldn�t pay attention
i read the gospel' it moved me to tears
but I couldn't find the hate and I couldn't find the fear

I met your savior I knelt at his feet
and he took my ten bucks and went down the street
tried to believe all the things you said
my friends that aren't dying are already dead

Raise a toast to saint Joe Strummer
I think he might have been our only decent teacher
getting older only makes it harder to remember
we are our only saviors
we're gonna build something this summer



Lyrics submitted by st5801

Track duration: 02:56


Constructive Summer song meanings
Add your thoughts

14 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:This was the song that got me into the Hold Steady. When I first heard it I thought it was some Husker Du song I'd never heard before. Because of this, I've always heard the first line as "Me and my friends are like/The drums all Husker-like". I know it's not what he's actually saying, but it works for me.
    Flag trjones1on April 12, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Such a powerful introspection about the summers of his youth. This song is laced with pop-culture references and that piano is killer!!

    yournewfavsong.blogspot.com/2012/02/…">The Hold Steady - "Constructive Summer"
    Flag the270bloggeron February 09, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:strummer WAS our only decent teacher

    "work at the mill until you die, work at the mill and then you die"...great
    Flag Clyde95on March 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A great start to another great Hold Steady album. To me it speaks of a group of friends who want to have the "perfect summer." The kind that they'll never forget.
    Flag modestcoryon March 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Incredible song about being optimistic about the future.

    But the line is "Our psalms are sing-along songs," not "Our songs are sing-along songs."
    Flag Gruberon January 21, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I turned 30 in August 2008, and this song reminds me of the summers I spent on my family's Indian Reservation in South Dakota; listening to my favorite bands; D4, Iggy Pop, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, and drinking beers. I feel like this song was (literally) written to me. There was a water town north of town where I used to watch storms come in. It was amazing. Coming from Seattle, I really never got the chance to see thunderstorms like that. God, I fucking love The Hold Steady.
    Flag Propaganda78on November 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The line "my friends that aren't dying are already dead" is a reference to Knuckles off Almost Killed Me: "It's hard to keep trying when half your friends are dying/it's hard to hold steady when half your friends are dead."
    Flag Keterianon September 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is by far their best song lyric wise. Reminds me of a Darkness era Springsteen song....
    Flag danbon June 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"doublewhiskeycokenoice" is a reference to a song by Dillinger Four.
    Flag nav3on June 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:also that last verse about Joe Strummer is amazing
    Flag mechpope13on June 15, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain