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Song of the Week: "Nightswimming"

I'm guessing if you ask people to name a great summer song, most of them will come up with something loud, upbeat or sunny.  Cheryl Crow, "All I Wanna Do" or "Soak Up the Sun".  B-52s, "Love Shack".  Dixie Chicks, "Goodbye Earl".  Lynyrd Skynrd, "Sweet Home Alabama".

For my money, though, the perfect summer song is R.E.M.'s "Nightswimming".  It might be none of the above, but it captures for me the freedom of driving with windows down on dark, warm summer nights.  The joyful exhaustion at the end of days spent in the lake, at the river or playing volleyball on the beach.

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night
The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago,
Turned around backwards so the windshield shows
Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse

I remember that sense of liberty knowing there was no school, no place I had to be for hours a day. I would sleep late into the morning until the sun was already well into its ascent.  My afternoons were a mad rush from place to place or friend to friend.  In the evening I would stick my head in the sink and wet my hair before heading off to the grocery store to work.  It was my token attempt at hygiene (until Sunday morning, of course).  I was otherwise content to remain coated in a layer of lotion, sweat and sand.

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night
I'm not sure all these people understand
It's not like years ago,
The fear of getting caught,
Of recklessness and water

Nowadays, summer nearly feels like a non season.  If I sleep in late its because I've been up all night working with people in India or London.  I go from my air conditioned car or bus or train to an air conditioned office.  I scarcely feel the heat.  I've only been swimming at the river one time this summer.  Instead of living in the moment, my thoughts are occupied with adult things, work things, mundane things.

Nightswimming, remembering that night
September's coming soon
I'm pining for the moon

These things, they go away,
Replaced by everyday

Every once in a while, though, there is a chance to reach back and drag the past into the present.  It happened on Tuesday night.  We were at McCullom Park celebrating the end of the season with Braeden's and Emma's swim team.  It was dark and rainy.  The underwater lights illuminated the swimming pool in which Braeden, Emma and Mark were playing.  I was tucked under an awning with Thelma keeping clear of the rain.  I ventured out just long enough to make sure Mark was keeping up with the throng of older kids trying to create a whirlpool.

It all came back to me as I was standing there in the pouring rain.  The joy of swimming at night.  The wonderful effect of light streaming out of the water.  The dancing blue on the waves and white on the walls.  I kicked off my sandals, put on my suit and jumped back into summer bliss if only for a moment. 

The photograph reflects,
Every streetlight a reminder
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night

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Hannah Stevenson said…
Wow, I couldn't agree with you more. This song has been and always will be a classic summer song.
August 25, 2008 at 4:32 PM
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