In The Summertime – English Lyrics

• By: Mungo Jerry

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of 1970s British pop-blues with Mungo Jerry's iconic hit, "In The Summertime." This song offers a fantastic opportunity to explore English colloquialisms and expressions related to leisure, driving, and social interactions from a bygone era. Its simple, repetitive structure and clear, cheerful delivery make it highly accessible for language learners, while its unique jug-band sound and timeless summer vibe make it a truly special and enduring piece of music history. Listen closely to Ray Dorset's distinctive vocal style and the unconventional instrumentation to enhance your ear for authentic English sounds and cultural nuances.

[English]

In the summertime, when the weather is high

You can stretch right up and touch the sky

When the weather's fine

You got women, you got women on your mind

Have a drink, have a drive

Go out and see what you can find

If her daddy's rich, take her out for a meal

If her daddy's poor, just do what you feel

Speed along the lane, do a ton or a ton and twenty-five

When the sun goes down

You can make it, make it good in a lay-by

We're not grey people, we're not dirty, we're not mean

We love everybody, but we do as we please

When the weather's fine, we go fishing or go swimming in the sea

We're always happy, life's for living

Yeah, that's our philosophy

Sing along with us

Dee-dee-dee, dee-dee

Dah-dah-dah, dah-dah

Yeah we're hap-happy

Dah dah-dah

Dee-dah-do, dee-dah-do, dah-do-dah

Yeah, dah-do, dah-dah-dah

Dah-dah-dah, do-dah-dah (alright, alright, alright)

Alright

...

When the winter's here, yeah it's party time

Bring your bottle, wear your bright clothes

It'll soon be summertime

And we'll sing again, we'll go driving

Or maybe we'll settle down

If she's rich, if she's nice, bring your friends

And we'll all go into town

...

In the summertime, when the weather is high

You can stretch right up and touch the sky

When the weather's fine, you got women

You got women on your mind

Have a drink, have a drive, go out and see what you can find

If her daddy's rich, take her out for a meal

If her daddy's poor, just do what you feel

Speed along the lane, do a ton or a ton and twenty-five

When the sun goes down, you can make it

Make it good in a lay-by

We're not grey people, we're not dirty, we're not mean

We love everybody, but we do as we please

When the weather's fine, we go fishing or go swimming in the sea

We're always happy, life's for living

Yeah, that's our philosophy

Sing along with us

Dee-dee-dee, dee-dee

Dah-dah-dah, dah-dah

Yeah we're hap-happy

Dah dah-dah

Dee-dah-doo, dee-dah-do, dah-do-dah

Yeah dah-dah, dah-dah-dah

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
summertime /ˈsʌmərˌtaɪm/ A2	noun - the season of summer
weather /ˈweðər/ A1	noun - the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth.
women /ˈwɪmɪn/ A1	noun - plural of woman
drink /drɪŋk/ A1	verb - to swallow liquid noun - liquid suitable for drinking
drive /draɪv/ A1	verb - to operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle noun - a trip in a car
rich /rɪtʃ/ A2	adjective - having a great deal of money or assets; wealthy
meal /miːl/ A1	noun - an occasion when food is eaten, or the food that is eaten on such an occasion
poor /pʊər/ A2	adjective - lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society
lane /leɪn/ A2	noun - a narrow road, especially in a rural area
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a strong feeling of affection for (someone)
fishing /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/ A2	noun - the activity of catching fish, either for food or as a sport.
swimming /ˈswɪmɪŋ/ A1	noun - the activity of propelling oneself through water using the limbs
sea /siː/ A1	noun - the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its landmasses.
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
winter /ˈwɪntər/ A1	noun - the coldest season of the year, between autumn and spring
party /ˈpɑːrti/ A1	noun - a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment.
bottle /ˈbɒtl/ A1	noun - a container, typically made of glass or plastic and with a narrow neck, used for storing liquids.
clothes /kloʊz/ A1	noun - items worn to cover the body
bright /braɪt/ B2	adjective - giving out or reflecting a great deal of light
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government, and that is generally larger than a village and smaller than a city.

Key Grammar Structures

• In the summertime, when the weather *is* high

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (Present Simple)

  ➔ Uses the simple present tense "is" to describe a general state of being or a characteristic of the weather in summertime. This implies a recurring or habitual condition.

• You can stretch right up and *touch* the sky

  ➔ Modal Verb "can" + Bare Infinitive

  ➔ Uses the modal verb "can" to express ability or possibility, followed by the bare infinitive "touch". This describes something that is possible to do.

• If her daddy's rich, *take* her out for a meal

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ Uses the imperative mood with the verb "take" to give a direct command or instruction. This is used to suggest an action to be performed.

• Speed along the lane, *do* a ton or a ton and twenty-five

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ Uses the imperative mood with the verb "do" to give a direct command or suggestion, in this context meaning to drive at a certain speed. Similar to the previous line, it's a casual suggestion.

• When the sun goes down, you can *make* it, *make* it good in a lay-by

  ➔ Modal Verb "can" + Bare Infinitive; Repetition for Emphasis

  ➔ Uses "can" + bare infinitive ("make") to express possibility. The repetition of "make it" is used for emphasis, making the suggestion more forceful and memorable. The slang "make it good" is an idiomatic phrase.

• We're not grey people, we're not dirty, we're not mean

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (Negative Form)

  ➔ Uses the negative form of the simple present tense ("We're not") to negate qualities. This is a statement of what they are not, defining themselves by what they lack.

• We love everybody, but we *do* as we please

  ➔ Simple Present Tense; Auxiliary Verb "do" for Emphasis

  ➔ Uses the simple present tense to describe a habitual action. The auxiliary verb "do" is used for emphasis, making the statement about doing as they please stronger.

• It'll soon *be* summertime

  ➔ Future Simple with "will"

  ➔ Uses "will" + bare infinitive (be) to express a future prediction or certainty. The contraction "It'll" means "It will."