Late Summer Songs

Late summer is, for me, the best of the season, and probably the best of the year. To sit in the garden, when the wind starts getting cold in the evening, eating an entire bag of chips and reading a book (this part only if I’m feeling productive) is amongst my favorite things to do ever.

It’s true that some people say August is melancholic. It’s not that I don’t agree - the stillness after the rush of summer, when the only thing left to do is wait for September, can be uncomfortable. “Just” waiting is something that I don't think we're very used to, and it can make us kind of sink into ourselves. But this idea of late summer being so sad and wounding is overused. I think sometimes we focus so much on how the next thing after ripe is spoiled that we don’t actually enjoy the thing at its prime. So I recommend going for walks, talking to people, and getting outside your house. There’s nothing wrong with melancholy, but if you lean into it too much you miss out.

The pictures are from me taking my own advice and going for a walk!

1. Magnolia - JJ Cale

2. Through My Sails - Neil Young & Crazy Horse

3. I Am Yours - Derek & The Dominos

4. For the Roses - Joni Mitchell

5. Early Mornin’ Rain - Peter, Paul & Mary

6. Melissa - Allman Brothers Band

7. On the Sea - Beach House

8. Wild West End - Dire Straits

9. Lay, Lady, Lay - Bob Dylan

10. Just a Song Before I Go - Crosby, Stills & Nash

11. Lonesome Suzie - The Band

12. From the Beginning - Emerson, Lake and Palmer

13. Albatross - Fleetwood Mac

14. Sweet Thing - Van Morrison

15. Tin Man - America

16.  Man of the World - Fleetwood Mac

17. Strangers - The Kinks

18. I Can't Find You At All - AJ Lee and Blue Summit

19. Tamalpais High (At About 3) - David Crosby

20. Desperado - The Eagles

21. Long Distance Love - Little Feat

22. Helplessly Hoping - Crosby, Stills & Nash

23. Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

24. Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkel

25. Promises - Eric Clapton

26. Long, Long, Long - Beatles

27. Myth - Beach House

28. Me and Magdalena - The Monkees

29. Willin’ - Little Feat

30. Carried Away - Crosby, Stills & Nash

31. Samba Pa Ti - Santana

32. Albuquerque - Neil Young

33. I Need You - America

34. Twelve-Thirty - The Mamas and the Papas

35. Crazy Love - Van Morrison

36. Days Like This - Van Morrison

37. Going to California - Led Zeppelin

38. Flume - Bon Iver

39. I Threw It All Away - Bob Dylan

40. Gold Dust Woman - Fleetwood Mac

41. In My Dreams - Crosby, Stills & Nash

42. Sister Golden Hair - America

43. It Ain’t Me Babe - Bob Dylan

44. Wild Horses - The Rolling Stones

45. Toulouse Street - The Doobie Brothers

46. Oh! Sweet Nuthin’ - The Velvet Underground

47. Teach Your Children - Crosby, Stills & Nash

48. I Shall Be Released - The Band