Bryan Adams Released This 1985 Classic Hit Without Explanation — and Decades Later He Finally Revealed Its True Meaning
Canadian rock icon Bryan Adams was only nine years old in 1969 — so what could have been so thrilling about his childhood that he had to immortalize it in one of his famous hits? Memories play a vital role in an artist’s songwriting. Although they can get hyperexaggerated in the middle of the production, memories remain the spirit of a song.
Some are autobiographical in nature, like Bruce Springsteen’s “The River,” which is based on his sister’s life and his working-class roots in New Jersey. Others get creative with the metaphors. Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” alludes to the sleekness of the car to a sensual one-night stand, but it’s actually based on his bandmate’s pink Mercury Montclair. One of Adams’ songs is the combination of both — looking back on a nostalgic period, with a little cheekiness on the side.
The Title “Summer of ‘69” Has More to Do With a Cheeky Sexual Reference Than the Year
Out of all the seasons and years in the calendar, Adams stuck by the title “Summer of ‘69.” On one hand, Adams cheekily addressed the obvious double innuendo: “A lot of people think it’s about the year, but it’s more about making love in the summertime. It’s using ‘69 as a sexual reference.” Adams has also admitted that “[he] only ever wrote that title because it made [him] laugh.” Considering that the late ‘60s was the peak of the free hippie movement and the “free love” era (especially with the infamous Woodstock of 1969), the double innuendo in the title seemed even more fitting.
On the other hand, Adams also revealed the song’s slightly autobiographical nature. The song opens with, “I got my first real six-string / Bought it at the five-and-dime.” Compared to the rest of the song, which is mostly sung from an observative point of view, the opening verse is reportedly based on Adams’ childhood experience. However, instead of 1969, the singer bought his first guitar in 1970 while living in the UK. The same six-string would become a lore in the artist’s life. Having left the guitar when he moved from the UK to Israel, Adams reunited with it thanks to a stranger who claimed to have his guitar.
”Summer of ‘69” Is a Love Letter to a Carefree Youth
All references aside, “Summer of ‘69” is a throwback tune that still rings true in modern times. Whether’s it’s trading passions for real life (“Had a band and we tried real hard / Jimmy quit, Jody got married”), or drudging through a dead-end job to make ends meet (“Ain’t no use in complainin’ / When you’ve got a job to do), 1969 doesn’t feel too different from 2025. As Adams emphasizes, no one would “get far” pursuing these lofty ambitions, but it also doesn’t hurt to look back on all the good times.
Just like the bliss of the sunny period, “Summer of ‘69” encourages listeners to find love in between the pains of growing up.
There’s nothing quite like the summer time to be “young and restless.” The idea of summer is different for everyone. To some, it’s playing in the sandy beaches, driving across the country, or partying from sun down until sun rise. In “Summer of ‘69,” it’s basking in the little joys of summer. It’s holding someone’s hand when you’re “standing on your mama’s porch,” hoping that the moment lasts forever. it’s basking in the little joys of summer.
Taylor Swift Helped with the Resurgence of “Summer of ‘69”
”Summer of ‘69” wasn’t the immediate success Adams had hoped for. Although it was considered a success in the States, it was a flop in the U.K.) However, in recent years, the song has had its huge resurgence, all thanks to Taylor Swift. During her 2018 Reputation tour stop in Toronto, Swift brought. Adams to the stage for a live duet of “Summer of ‘69.” Adams himself has some praises to sing about Swift’s version: “The only person I can think of who did a version of Summer of ‘69, and did such justice was Taylor Swift.” In true musicianship, Adams also gave a behind-the-scenes look at working with Swift.
“Well, I think Taylor’s version – no pun intended – was when she invited me to sing with her. She sang the lead vocal, I sang the harmony, and that was really fun for me because I’ve always thought that the harmony in that song is very subliminal on the record – but it’s there. That harmony is one of the key things that most people don’t get when they hear the song; they don’t realize how important it is. But when I sang it with her, we nailed it. And then, we only had one rehearsal, so she knows that song really well. And yeah… it’s fantastic.”
