https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y8-wk-30-at-least-its-summer/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:25:58 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y8-wk-30-at-least-its-summer/#post-354253 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:19:28 +0000 Great angle!
I got all this traffic in my head nice image! :D

"Obama bucks"? Is that about money from the state? Ah, no okay, googled it now. Food stamps, I see :wink: Well, it is a bit difficult to understand the full meaning of the term for someone from a different background, but I would like to disagree with James and keep it as it is, because it anchors the lyrics, makes them more concrete (e.g. time frame, that it is a very contemporary song now... and assuming someone would read/listen to it years from now, and would need a little research to understand the term, it is exactly these things, these little time-specific anchors which may make it more interesting then, too.. learn sth about the past...er.. I'm rambling on and on, I know, sorry :wink: )

Is "miss 3 am" a reference to some person or is it just a personification of the time? Seems like the latter (and beautifully done if it is!), but the Obama bucks have got me questioning things now.. maybe "Miss 3 a.m." is somebody on the radio or TV, who knows :lol:

Love the mood of the whole piece, half-melancholy, half-content-for-now, trying to look for the good things.. warm pavement happiness :D And V1 has a charming flow to it :D

Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
straycat.]]> Sunday Songwriters Group straycat. https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y8-wk-30-at-least-its-summer/#post-354253 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y8-wk-30-at-least-its-summer/#post-353667 Sat, 29 May 2010 13:02:13 +0000
Good start :D You tell the story well with the details used....especially the first verse....nice use of sensory details in vs 2.....

Suggestion:
#1
some points to look over.....
Bridge- Obama bucks might work well for now, but over time it will need to be udated or changed as it is more a "fad" type reference.....

#2
V3 doesn't seem to hold it's weight ....it's more a summary of vs2 and the chorus....maybe go more internally on the singer....after he is going to get drunk or whatever....show a bit of hope or change in his point of view or get on a revenge kick or something to hint as to what he might do next but leave it open ended....add something about what is happening internally.

#3
This is more personal preference, but consider making the chorus more positive.....even though the singer's story is a downer. A good example is Sittin on the Dock of the Bay......just hearing the chorus it has a positive vibe that is universal, but if you look at the verses, it's about a guy down on his luck and disheartened.....but I think the song is so popular b/c people like the groove and the universality of the lyrics in the chorus

Sittin on the Dock of the Bay-Verses
I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the 'Frisco bay
'Cause I've had nothing to live for
And look like nothin's gonna come my way -NEGATIVE

Look like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, yes -NEGATIVE

Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's two thousand miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home -NEGATIVE

I look forward to the listen :wink:

James]]> Sunday Songwriters Group jamestoffee https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y8-wk-30-at-least-its-summer/#post-353667 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y8-wk-30-at-least-its-summer/#post-39227 Wed, 26 May 2010 17:43:14 +0000
At least it's summer

Verse 1
I lost my job back when it snowed
and the bank took my car a week ago
my wife worked two jobs to keep the house
...but then she kicked me out

Chorus
At least it's summer and I can stay up
warm, lonely all night
At least it's summer and I can stay up
warm, lonely all night

Verse 2
So I'll sit and watch the taillights glow
from the sidewalk of the local motel
I got all this traffic in my head
but I love the smell of warm pavement air

Chorus
At least it's summer and I can stay up
warm, lonely all night
At least it's summer and I can stay up
warm, lonely all night

Bridge
Gonna spend my Obama Bucks
On a couple of 40's and more bad luck
gonna wait for miss 3 am
and take in her thirsty silence

Verse 3
So I'll sit and watch the taillights glow
from the sidewalk of the local motel
though there's traffic in my head
I still got warm summer thoughts

Chorus
At least it's summer and I can stay up
warm, lonely all night
At least it's summer and I can stay up
warm, lonely all night

Chorus
At least it's summer and I can stay up
warm, lonely all night
At least it's summer and I can stay up
warm, lonely all night




Take care all

Jeff]]> Sunday Songwriters Group 2thtaker https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y8-wk-30-at-least-its-summer/#post-39227