“Suddenly Last Summer” by The Motels
On the surface, “Suddenly Last Summer” would seem like a song based on a relationship Martha Davis was involved in. And this idea is also supported by the track’s music video. But the lyrics of the track themselves are quite-difficult to decipher. And the true genesis of the song is based on Davis’s recollections of summer in general, especially in her youth.
The inspiration behind this track is that ubiquitous ice cream truck theme music that we all know and love. During one summer when Martha heard the truck rolling around, she also felt the first autumn breeze and realized she would “not see the truck again that year”. And somehow this experience eventually led to her penning this track, with an ice cream even being present in the music video though not in the song’s lyrics themselves.
As for trying to derive a definitive meaning from this song’s seemingly-contradictory and often-confusing lyrics, it appears that the singer is reminiscing on a very-memorable summer in general. The highlight of this season, according to the beginning of the song at least, was the love she had for the person she is initially singing to. However, summer is indeed finite, and so apparently were these strong feelings of affection.
Ultimately the vibe that seems to be relayed throughout the track doesn’t necessarily seem like an acknowledgement of summer per se. Rather the song progresses more along the idea of seasons, as in periods of life, having their beginnings as well as their ends. But this “last summer” in particular seems to have been a very-memorable period for the singer. It was indelibly special perhaps due to the aforementioned relationship she experienced.
It happened to me One summer and we’ve known each other since we were in high school 40 something years now he’d now he just passed away. We have loved each other for all these years But never the right time or a moment to be forever Is heartbroken forever