Boys Of Summer

Don Henley's 'Boys Of Summer' is a song that encapsulates the feeling of nostalgia and the bittersweet remembrance of a past love. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a deserted town at the end of summer, symbolizing the end of a season and, metaphorically, the end of a relationship. The repeated imagery of emptiness and the sun setting alone evokes a sense of loneliness and longing for what has been lost.

The chorus of the song, with its reference to the 'boys of summer' having gone, suggests a fleeting romance that is as temporary as the summer itself. Henley's portrayal of the woman, with her 'brown skin shinin' in the sun,' and the repeated assurance that his love will remain strong even after the summer ends, indicates a deep affection that persists despite the passage of time. This is a love that outlasts the seasonal flings and continues to haunt the narrator.

A notable cultural reference in the song is the mention of a 'DEADHEAD sticker on a Cadillac,' which contrasts the countercultural Grateful Dead fandom with the materialism symbolized by a Cadillac. This line, along with the advice to 'never look back,' speaks to the theme of moving on from the past, even though the narrator finds it difficult to let go of the memories. 'Boys Of Summer' is a reflection on the impermanence of youth and love, and the enduring impact of those memories on our lives.