Indian Summer

Joe Dassin's 'Indian Summer' is a poignant reflection on a past love, wrapped in the warm, golden hues of nostalgia. The song opens with the artist reminiscing about a perfect morning spent walking along the beach with a loved one. This memory is set against the backdrop of an 'Indian summer,' a term used in North America to describe a period of unseasonably warm weather in autumn. The artist, however, personalizes this term, referring to it as 'our summer,' indicating that this time was uniquely special to them.

The lyrics are rich with vivid imagery, such as the loved one in a long dress looking like a 'beautiful water-colour,' which evokes a sense of timeless beauty and serenity. The artist's recollection is so vivid that it blurs the lines between past and present, making it feel as though the memory could have been from 'a year ago' or 'a thousand years ago.' This timeless quality underscores the depth of the emotional connection and the lasting impact of this relationship on the artist's life.

As the song progresses, the artist grapples with the passage of time and the uncertainty of whether the love they once shared still holds any significance for the other person. The repeated question, 'Will you still belove in me when the summer is gone?' captures the fear of being forgotten and the hope that the memory of their love will endure. The metaphor of the artist being 'like a wave drawn by the Moon' suggests a natural, almost inevitable pull back to these memories, despite the physical distance and the passage of time. Ultimately, 'Indian Summer' is a beautiful, melancholic meditation on love, memory, and the enduring impact of a cherished moment in time.