It's Always Summer in My Mind

Although this is a piano-jazz ballad, it was inspired by several songs Brian Wilson wrote for The Beach Boys, especially "Your Summer Dream." 

Note: there's a lyrical change in the 2nd verse which differs from the recording.

As usual the recording is just me and Janice Friedman (on piano) recorded in her living room with a hand-held Olympus voice recorder.

Brian Wilson

"It's Always Summer in My Mind"

(click on the title to listen)

When autumn colors come to paint the park,
and skies grow dark, I’m not inclined
to let the season choose the clothes I wear,
for it’s still summer in my mind.

And when my radiator murmurs low

and winter snowdrifts form, I find
I’m by the seashore in the balmy air.
And it’s still summer in my mind.

I found my love as cotton clouds blew by,

one sweet July, long, long ago.

But then September came and summer said goodbye.

Years pass and I still love her so.

So...

when laughing daffodils declare, “It’s spring,”
and skylarks sing just to unwind,
their shining fineries can’t compare to mem’ries

of her and summer in my mind.

It’s always summer in my mind.

A Johnny Mercer summer in my mind.

It’s always summer in my mind.

Words & Music © 2011 by Lee Charles Kelley

West Sixty Ninth Street Music (ASCAP)

Rough Demo

Vocal: Lee Charles Kelley

Piano: Janice Friedman