That Summer Lyrics
I went to work for her that summer
A teenage kid so far from home
She was a lonely widow woman
Hell-bent to make it on her own
We were a thousand miles from nowhere
Wheat fields as far as I could see
Both needin' somethin' from each other
Not knowin' yet what that might be
[Verse 2]
'Til she came to me one evenin'
Hot cup of coffee and a smile
In a dress that I was certain
She hadn't worn in quite a while
There was a difference in her laughter
There was a softness in her eyes
And on the air, there was a hunger
Even a boy could recognize
[Chorus]
She had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightnin' from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Ragin' in her lover's eyes
She had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burnin' bright
Rushin' headlong in the wind, out where only dreams have been
Burnin' both ends of the night
That summer wind was all around me
Nothin' between us but the night
And when I told her that I'd never
She softly whispered that's alright
And then I watched her hands of leather
Turn to velvet in a touch
There's never been another summer
When I have ever learned so much
[Chorus]
We had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightnin' from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Ragin' in each other's eyes
We had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burnin' bright
Rushin' headlong in the wind, out where only dreams have been
Burnin' both ends of the night
[Verse 3]
I often think about that summer
The sweat, the moonlight, and the lace
And I have rarely held another
When I haven't seen her face
And every time I pass a wheat field
And watch it dancin' with the wind
Although I know it isn't real, I just can't help but feel
Her hungry arms again
She had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightnin' from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Ragin' in her lover's eyes
She had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burnin' bright
Rushin' headlong in the wind, out where only dreams have been
Burnin' both ends of the night
[Outro]
Rushin' headlong in the wind, out where only dreams have been
Burnin' both ends of the night
About
This song is about a young man who has a sexual relationship with an older widow
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
From the liner notes of The Hits:
“That Summer” was rewritten about four or five times. Allen Reynolds was disturbed with the first version that Pat Alger and I submitted about a married woman and a single man who meet at a party. He didn’t fall in love with the characters, and it wasn’t something he could pull for. While driving home in my truck and the wind blowing through my hair (what’s left of it), I was reminded of growing up in Oklahoma, surrounded by wheat fields. This story started coming to mind, a story that did happen to me in certain key ways. When I returned home, I had this melody in my head. My wife, Sandy, and I wrote the chorus that night and I took it in to Alger the next day to complete the story line. I cut it with one line missing, which is still my favorite line because Allen would not settle until we came up with it. The line started out “every time I pass a wheat field” and was completed by “and watch it dancing with the wind.” When I’m singing it live and come to that line, I’m glad he held out for the good stuff because that line makes me smile.
- 3.Mr. Right
- 8.That Summer
- 10.Face to Face