Brave Records: Listen
This Summer Night
Previously unreleased. Produced by Keith Hampton, engineered by Steve Friedman at Melville Park, Boston, MA. Piano & vocals: Sandi Hammond. Saxophone: Mike Carey. Alternate version appears on the EP This Summer Night.
New Orleans, Louisiana: An eight-year-old boy lies awake. A summer breeze blows in through the tall French doors, and cools the sweat off his face. He listens for the sounds of summer. Strange how sweet they can be. Sometimes he hears the loud voice of the lions from the big city zoo down the street. I'm listening, I'm listening, I'm listening to the beautiful sounds of this summer night. And I'm singing, I'm singing, I'm singing to myself. Everything will be all right. His older brothers and sisters, they've gone off to college now. It's just him and his mother and his father taking up all the space in this big house. Sometimes he's scared to go downstairs but he'll never tell you why. He stays in his room, teaching himself guitar, and he waits for that storm to pass by. I'm listening, I'm listening, I'm listening to the ugly sounds of this summer night. And I'm singing, I'm singing, I'm singing to myself. Everything will be all right. Take me up to where the strongest birds fly, to a place full of color and light. I'll come back down when I'm good and ready. I've never enjoyed a good fight. I'm listening, I'm listening, I'm listening to all of the sounds of this summer night. And I'm singing, I'm singing, I'm singing to myself. Everything will be all right.