From the recording The One Delight
South Side of Summer
Written by Ruby Bird & Billy Carl Mancini, Published by Bonk Zone Music ASCAP ©2021
Ruby came to me and said she wanted a song that had a lazy, end of summer kind of feel. She already had ideas in her head about lyrics. I have always loved Gershwin's "Summertime" (especially by Ella Fitzgerald) and thought of that laid back feel when I came up with the chords and melody. Ruby got it immediately came up with the perfect visual lyrics.
-Billy Carl Mancini
Here’s the way I remember it:
I wrote the words to this song in the dead of winter, longing for the warm days and starry firefly nights I enjoyed on my family farm, and the bounty it provided in late summer. I brought these words to Billy, to see if he could come up with music that captured that lazy, sultry summertime feeling...and of course he did. South Side of Summer is a special time.
-Ruby Bird
Lyrics
South Side of Summer
Written by Ruby Bird & Billy Carl Mancini, Published by Bonk Zone Music ASCAP ©2021
August 17…..A special time
Corn on the cob…..Blueberry pie
Sultry sun to balmy nights give way
South side of summer coming my way
Sunflowers tall……Sneakers on the line
Eggplant’s almost ready……Tomatoes on the vine
Fields of green and yellow…..Stacked high with hay
South side of summer coming your way
It’s what I dream of……January
It’s what I pray for……February
Sweet anticipation round April and May
Hallelujah, it’s here today……
Rivers running slow now……Creek’s down to a crawl
Over your shoulder……Looking toward Fall
Cicadas sing a warning……these last warm days
South side of summer slipping away
South side of summer…..Slipping…..Away