Album version
Well the streetlights shine down on Blessing Avenue
Lovers they walk by holding hands two by two
A breeze crosses the porch, bicycle spokes spin 'round
Jacket's on, I'm out the door, tonight I'm gonna burn this town down
And the girls in their summer clothes in the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes pass me by
Kid's rubber ball smacks off the gutter 'neath the lamp light
Big bank clock chimes off go the sleepy front porch lights
Downtown the stores alight as the evening's underway
Things been a little tight but I know they're gonna turn my way
And the girls in their summer clothes in the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes pass me by
Frankie's Diner's an old friend on the edge of town
Neon sign spinning round like a cross over the lost and found
Fluorescent lights flick above Pop's Grill
Shaniqua brings a coffee and asks, "fill?"
And says, "penny for your thoughts now my boy Bill"
She went away, she cut me like a knife
Hello beautiful thing, maybe you just saved my life
In just a glance down here on Magic Street
Love's a fool's dance, I ain't got much sense but I still got my feet
And the girls in their summer clothes in the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes pass me by
And the girls in their summer clothes in the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes pass me by
La la la la, la la la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la la la
And the girls in their summer clothes...
[Fades out]
GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 2007 album Magic. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES as released in 2007.
The album version of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was included on the Best Of Bruce Springsteen compilation album.
It's unknown when exactly GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was written, but the song was recorded during the Magic recording sessions which took place between March and May 2007 at Southern Tracks Studios in Atlanta, GA. The song features a string section consisting of Kenn Wagner (violin), Jay Christy (violin), Justin Bruns (violin), William Pu (violin), Cristopher Pulgram (violin), John Meisner (violin), Olga Shpitko (violin), Sheela Lyengar (violin), Tania Maxwell Clements (viola), Amy Chang (viola), Lachlan McBane (viola), Karen Freer (cello), Daniel Laufer (cello), and Charae Kruege (cello). Patrick Warren adds Chamberlin and/or tack piano
"I was interested in having a song where you get this classic image of late summer, light on, in a small American town," Springsteen told The Sunday Times' Dan Cairns, "and it's perfect in a way that only occurs in pop songs — when the air is just right, where the sun's sitting a certain way."
Manager Jon Landau told Rolling Stone that the track has a "little bit of a [Beach Boys' classic album] Pet Sounds-type feeling mixed in with the sound of the E Street Band."
A "Winter Mix" of the song was released in November 2007. It featured a single (not doubled) Springsteen vocal track, some added or enhanced percussion parts, and similar small changes. This remix clocks at 4:25, four seconds longer than the album version.
The music video for GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was directed by Mark Pellington and uses the song's "Winter Mix". Filmed in mid-November 2007 in Ocean Grove, NJ, it shows girls and women of various ages, interspersed with shots of Springsteen strumming his vintage Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar. The backing E Street Band was not portrayed at all. Parts of the video mirrored the song's imagery, especially the diner scene.
The "Winter Mix" of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was originally issued for radio airplay in November 2007. A digital EP was on 15 Jan 2008 exclusively on iTunes. The EP consisted of two audio tracks (the "Winter Mix" and a "Live Version" compiled from several recordings of the song from 2007 concerts) and an accompanying music video (see above secion). This was the music video's debut. The EP was released on Amazon and other online stores on 29 Jan 2008.
GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES, both the album version and the "Winter Mix", was issued on CD-R for promotional purposes worldwide.
The release achieved minor chartal success, reaching positions 95 on the Billboard Hot 100, 67 on the Pop 100, and 62 on Hot Digital Songs.
| Country | Chart | Peak position | Weeks in chart | Charting period |
| USA | Billboard Hot 100 | 95 | 1 | |
| USA | Pop 100 | 67 | ||
| USA | Hot Digital Songs | 62 |
GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was nominated for two 2009 Grammy Awards, Best Rock Song and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance. It won the former and lost the latter. The primary awards ceremony took place on 08 Feb 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, and was televised in the United States on CBS. Springsteen didn't attend the awards ceremony. He later commented, "I didn't even know I was up for a Grammy!... I opened the newspaper on Monday [09 Feb 2009] and saw that I had won, and thought, 'Well, that's great!'"
Magic is Bruce Springsteen's fifteenth studio album. It was released on 02 Oct 2007 on Columbia Records. The album was officially announced, along with its track listing, on 16 Aug 2007. It was produced by Brendan O'Brien and was recorded between March and May 2007 at Southern Tracks Studios in Atlanta, GA.
Magic was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album but failed to win. It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, becoming Springsteen's eighth number one album in the U.S. and selling about 335,000 copies in its first week. Magic also peaked at number one in several European countries including the UK.
The album features 12 tracks and clocks at 50:48. The twelfth track is bonus hidden track that was added to the album two weeks after the album was announced.
Best Of Bruce Springsteen is a compilation album released on Columbia Records on 19 Apr 2024. The album is collection of original songs spanning Springsteen's entire career, from 1973 to 2020. The release was officially announced on 01 Mar 2024.
Two variants of the album were released: the 18-track physical releases and an expanded 31-track download-only version. The physical releases include a single-disc CD and as a two-disc LP set. Four editions of the vinyl release were issued: a regular edition on black vinyl, an Atlantic Blue vinyl exclusive to Europe, a Highway Yellow vinyl exclusive to independent retailers, and a Jersey Devil Red vinyl exclusive to Amazon Music.
The album version of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES also appears on some various artists albums.
Other versions of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES were also officially released.
In preparation for the Magic Tour, GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was performed during two of the tour's three public warm-up rehearsal shows that took place in September 2007 in Asbury Park and East Rutherford. The song is also known to have been practiced during at least 3 of the private rehearsals that took place in September 2007 in Asbury Park prior to the tour's first leg, and during at least one of the private rehearsals that took place in February 2008 in Asbury Park prior to the tour's second U.S. leg.
GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was performed 65 times during the Magic Tour (100 dates, October 2007 to August 2008), including all but one of the 2007 dates. The live 19 Nov 2007 version of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was released on the TD Banknorth Garden, Boston 11/19/07 official live download in 2018. The live 23 Aug 2008 version of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was released on the Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO 8/23/2008 official live download in 2017.
Since 2002, Springsteen has been playing private benefit shows for schools and colleges that his kids attended ─ Rumson Country Day School of Rumson, NJ, and Ranney School of Tinton Falls, NJ, and Boston College of Chestnut Hill, MA. GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was performed at one of these fundraisers, on 13 May 2008 in Asbury Park, NJ, backed by Bobby Bandiera and his band.
GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was performed 4 times during the Working On A Dream Tour (83 dates, April to November 2009), all in less than a month's period. Jay Weinberg substituted for his father on drums on two of these performances.
GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was performed 3 times during the Wrecking Ball Tour (133 dates, March 2012 to September 2013).
GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was performed once during the High Hopes Tour (34 dates, January to May 2014). The song was played in a solo acoustic arrangement. Audio recordings for most High Hopes Tour shows are officially available for purchase. See the live 07 Feb 2014 version for more details.
At least 7 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES.
Thanks Rick Holeman, Ugo C, Sanjiv, Ian Parish, Alberto Piedrabuena, Mark, Logan, Christian, Silvio, Ravn, Jimmy Peterson, and Robert Fawber for the lyrics corrections.
Info about the various artists LP is taken from Lost In The Flood. Info for some of the above RADIO NOWHERE cover releases is taken from the Nebraska website.
If you have any corrections or additional info, please contact me via the below form or by email: .
List of available versions of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES on this website:
GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Album version]
