GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES

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]


Info

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.


Writing and Recording

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.

Music Video

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.


Single Release and Reception

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.

Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes (single cover art)
Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes (single cover art)

GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES, both the album version and the "Winter Mix", was issued on CD-R for promotional purposes worldwide.

Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes

CD-R single - Columbia (88697 20478 2) - USA, 2007

Promotional single, comes in a slimline jewel case with picture insert.

01- GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Winter Mix]
02- GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Album Version]
Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes

CD-R single - Columbia (no catalog number) - UK, 2007

Promotional single, comes in a clear plastic sleeve with title inlay.

01- GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Album Version]
Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes

CD-R single - Sony/BMG (no catalog number) - Holland, 2007

Promotional single, comes in a slimline jewel case with picture insert.

01- GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Winter Mix]
Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes

CD-R single - Columbia (no catalog number) - France, 2007

Promotional single, comes in a stickered cardboard sleeve.

01- GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Winter Mix]
02- GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Album Version]
Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Bruce Springsteen -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes

CD-R single - Sony Music (no catalog number) - Japan, 2007

Promotional single, comes in a slimline jewel case with picture insert.

01- GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Winter Mix]
02- GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Album Version]

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

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.

Bruce Springsteen -- Magic
Bruce Springsteen -- Magic

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.

Other Official Releases

The album version of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES also appears on some various artists albums.

Various artists -- Hit's A Sony Music Express Vol. 58 December 2007
Various artists -- Hit's A Sony Music Express Vol. 58 December 2007

CD - Sony Music Japan International (SDCI 80519) - Japan, 2007

Promotional compilation album.
Various artists -- Record Store Day: April 19, 2008
Various artists -- Record Store Day: April 19, 2008

LP - Sony/BMG (88697291751) - USA, 2008

12-track various artists sampler given as a freebie with the purchase of any Columbia, Epic, or Legacy vinyl LP at participating independent record stores in North America and Europe during the first "Record Store Day" campaign on 19 April 2008.

Other versions of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- TD Banknorth Garden, Boston 11/19/07
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.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO 8/23/2008
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.
live.brucespringsteen.net
Audio recordings for most High Hopes Tour shows were officially released on live.brucespringsteen.net. These include one version of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES.

  1. 07 Feb 2014 at Perth Arena, Perth, Australia

Live History

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.

  1. 12 Sep 2007 at Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ (private rehearsal)
  2. 13 Sep 2007 at Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ (private rehearsal)
  3. 21 Sep 2007 at Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ (private rehearsal)
  4. 24 Sep 2007 at Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ (public rehearsal)
  5. 25 Sep 2007 at Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ (public rehearsal)
  6. 25 Feb 2008 at Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ (private rehearsal)

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.

  1. 02 Oct 2007 at Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
  2. 05 Oct 2007 at Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
  3. 06 Oct 2007 at Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
  4. 09 Oct 2007 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
  5. 10 Oct 2007 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
  6. 14 Oct 2007 at Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Canada
  7. 15 Oct 2007 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada
  8. 17 Oct 2007 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
  9. 18 Oct 2007 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
  10. 21 Oct 2007 at United Center, Chicago, IL
  11. 25 Oct 2007 at Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
  12. 26 Oct 2007 at Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
  13. 29 Oct 2007 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
  14. 30 Oct 2007 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
  15. 02 Nov 2007 at Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
  16. 04 Nov 2007 at Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
  17. 05 Nov 2007 at The Palace Of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI
  18. 11 Nov 2007 at Verizon Center, Washington, DC
  19. 12 Nov 2007 at Verizon Center, Washington, DC
  20. 14 Nov 2007 at Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
  21. 15 Nov 2007 at Times Union Center, Albany, NY
  22. 18 Nov 2007 at TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
  23. 19 Nov 2007 at TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
  24. 25 Nov 2007 at Palacio De Deportes De La Comunidad De Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  25. 26 Nov 2007 at Bizkaia Arena, Bilbao, Spain
  26. 28 Nov 2007 at Datch Forum, Milan, Italy
  27. 01 Dec 2007 at Gelredome, Arnhem, The Netherlands
  28. 02 Dec 2007 at Sap Arena, Mannheim, Germany
  29. 04 Dec 2007 at Oslo Spektrum, Oslo, Norway
  30. 08 Dec 2007 at Forum København, Copenhagen, Denmark
  31. 10 Dec 2007 at Globe Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
  32. 12 Dec 2007 at Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
  33. 13 Dec 2007 at Kölnarena, Cologne, Germany
  34. 15 Dec 2007 at Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
  35. 17 Dec 2007 at Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
  36. 19 Dec 2007 at The O2 Arena, London, England
  37. 28 Feb 2008 at Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
  38. 02 Mar 2008 at Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada
  39. 03 Mar 2008 at Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Canada
  40. 06 Mar 2008 at Blue Cross Arena At The War Memorial, Rochester, NY
  41. 07 Mar 2008 at HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
  42. 10 Mar 2008 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
  43. 14 Mar 2008 at Qwest Center, Omaha, NE
  44. 16 Mar 2008 at Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
  45. 24 Mar 2008 at Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
  46. 28 Mar 2008 at Rose Garden, Portland, OR
  47. 04 Apr 2008 at Arco Arena, Sacramento, CA
  48. 07 Apr 2008 at Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
  49. 13 Apr 2008 at American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
  50. 14 Apr 2008 at Toyota Center, Houston, TX
  51. 27 Apr 2008 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, NC
  52. 02 May 2008 at Bankatlantic Center, Sunrise, FL
  53. 23 May 2008 at RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
  54. 31 May 2008 at Emirates Stadium, London, England
  55. 16 Jun 2008 at LTU Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany
  56. 18 Jun 2008 at Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  57. 25 Jun 2008 at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
  58. 27 Jun 2008 at Parc Des Princes, Paris, France
  59. 05 Jul 2008 at Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
  60. 08 Jul 2008 at Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway
  61. 11 Jul 2008 at Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
  62. 27 Jul 2008 at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
  63. 28 Jul 2008 at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
  64. 21 Aug 2008 at Sommet Center, Nashville, TN
  65. 23 Aug 2008 at Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO

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.

  1. 13 May 2008 at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ (during a private fundraiser for Ranney School)

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.

  1. 30 Jul 2009 at Estadio Municipal De Foietes, Benidorm, Spain
  2. 01 Aug 2009 at Estadio José Zorrilla, Valladolid, Spain
  3. 23 Aug 2009 at Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA (with Jay Weinberg on drums)
  4. 25 Aug 2009 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY (with Jay Weinberg on drums)

GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES was performed 3 times during the Wrecking Ball Tour (133 dates, March 2012 to September 2013).

  1. 27 Jul 2012 at Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
  2. 15 Aug 2012 at Fenway Park, Boston, MA
  3. 18 Jul 2013 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland

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.

Covers

At least 7 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES.

Doc Walker -- Go
Doc Walker -- Go

CD - Open Road (unknown catalog number) - Canada, 2009
CD - ABC Music (unknown catalog number) - Australia, 2010
Various artists -- "Girls In Their Summer Clothes / If I Should Fall Behind"
Various artists -- "Girls In Their Summer Clothes / If I Should Fall Behind"

7" single - Where It's At Is Where You Are (wiaiwya35) - UK, 2009

A1- Darren Hayman: GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES
B1- The Wave Pictures: IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND

Includes a bonus Bruce Springsteen tribute album titled "Play Some Pool". The free CD contains 10 Springsteen songs recorded by The Wave Pictures.
Catch This Beat -- Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
Catch This Beat -- Tribute To Bruce Springsteen

Digital album - Talking Clive (unknown catalog number) - USA, 2012

This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Heinrich Müller & Band -- On Fire: A Tribute To The Music Of Bruce Springsteen
Heinrich Müller & Band -- On Fire: A Tribute To The Music Of Bruce Springsteen

CD - Carusounds (NB0325) - Switzerland, 2012

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Various artists -- Red, White & You
Various artists -- Red, White & You

CD - Toledo Free Press (no catalog number) - USA, 2013

GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES is performed by Kerry Patrick Clark.
David Furtado -- Tribute to Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
David Furtado -- Tribute to Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

Digital album - no label (no catalog number) - Portugal, 2020

This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Heaven Is Shining -- Born In The USA
Heaven Is Shining -- Born In The USA

Digital album - Rosenklang (unknown catalog number) - Germany, 2021

This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

Credits / References

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.

Request

If you have any corrections or additional info, please contact me via the below form or by email: .

Available Versions

List of available versions of GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES on this website:

GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Album version]
GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES [Live 07 Feb 2014 version]

Page last updated: 13 Jun 2021