This little piece of summertime fun pretty much encapsulates Beat Happening’s essential persona: a bit deceiving, almost childlike but sexual, pop and cheery but a little somber.
Dean Wareham – of Luna and Galaxie 500 fame – said:
This song is indie’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door”– everybody’s done...
[Verse 1]
Breakfast in cemetery
Boy tasting wild cherry
Touch girl, apple blossom
Just a boy playing possum
[Chorus 1]
We'll come back for Indian summer
We'll come back for Indian summer
We'll come back for Indian summer
And go our separate ways
[Verse 2]
What is that cheerful sound?
Rain falling on the ground
We'll wear a jolly crown
Buckle up, we're wayward bound
[Chorus]
We'll come back for Indian summer
We'll come back for Indian summer
We'll come back for Indian summer
And go our separate ways
[Verse 3]
I touch your hem, you say
"Let's stroll down Martin Way"
Pick plums, abandoned farm
Who let norms come to harm?
[Chorus]
We'll come back for Indian summer
We'll come back for Indian summer
We'll come back for Indian summer
And go our separate ways
[Bridge]
Cover me with rain
Walk me down the lane
I'll drink from your drain
We will never change
No matter what they say
[Chorus]
We'll come back for Indian summer
We'll come back for Indian summer
We'll come back for Indian summer
And go our separate ways
[Verse 4]
Motorbike to cemetery
Picnic on wild berries
French toast with molasses
Croquet and baked alaskas
[Outro]
We'll come back for Indian summer
We'll come back for Indian summer
We'll come back for Indian summer
Cover me with rain
Indian Summer was written by Beat Happening.
Indian Summer was produced by Gary Lee Conner & Mark Lanegan & Steve Fisk.