Garth Brooks – That Summer

“That Summer”, a song written by Pat Alger, Sandy Mahl, Garth Brooks, was recorded by Garth Brooks for the Liberty label, in June 1992, at Jack’s Tracks, 1308 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN. In the recording session Garth, he was accompanied by: Ty England (acoustic guitar, and backing vocals), Dave Gant (keyboards, fiddle and backing vocals), James Garver (electric guitar, percussion and backing vocals), Steve McClure (pedal steel and electric guitars) , Betsy Smittle (bass guitar and backing vocals), Mike Palmer (drums and percussion), Rob Hajacos (fiddle), Bruce Bouton (pedal steel guitar), Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar) Trisha Yearwood, Gary Chapman, Johnny Cobb, Vicki Hampton, Donna McElroy, Howard Smith and Yvonne Hodges (background vocals) . With the production of Allen Reynolds, the song was released on April 26, 1993, on July 3, 1993, reached # 1 on the US Hot Country charts Songs, remaining a total of 20 weeks on the charts. On the Canada Country Tracks charts, it also peaked at # 1 on July 10, 1993, for two consecutive weeks. It was the eleventh number one in Garth’s career.

The song was included on Garth’s fifth studio album, The Chase (Liberty 1992), the album was released on September 22, 1992, on October 10, 1992, peaking at # 1 on the US Top Country Albums charts, and remained a total of 97 weeks On the charts. On the Canadian RPM Country Albums charts, it also peaked at # 1. The album was another great success for Garth, it was certified, diamond (10 platinum) in the USA, five times platinum in Canada and gold in Australia. In the first week alone, it sold over 400,000 copies.

About the song:

Garth explained about the song, “That Summer started out as a single guy and a married woman meeting at a party. The married woman being ignored by whom she was with, and they snuck off together. Allen Reynolds told me,” Man, I just don’t find myself pulling for these characters. It doesn’t seem innocently cool. “I was thinking that he was right. Going home that night in the truck I started singing she has a need to feel the thunder. Sandy started helping me write the chorus, and we got the chorus done. Probably one of the neat things that I love about That Summer is that I think the song is very sexy.

Versions:

Robin McAuley 1999 (Purple Pyramid)
Déjà vu 2011 (Zulu Records)

Garth Brooks – That Summer Lyrics
I went to work for her that summer
A teenage kid so far from home
She was a lonely widow woman
Hell-bent to make it on her own
We were a thousand miles from nowhere
Wheat fields as far as I could see
Both needing something from each other
Not knowing yet what that might be

‘Til she came to me one evening
Hot cup of coffee and a smile
In a dress that I was certain
She hadn’t worn in quite a while
There was a difference in her laughter
There was a softness in her eyes
And on the air there was a hunger
Even a boy could recognize

She had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightning from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Raging in her lover’s eyes
She had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burning bright
Rushing headlong in the wind
Out where only dreams have been
Burning both ends of the night

That summer wind was all around me
Nothing between us but the night
When I told her that I’d never
She softly whispered that’s alright
And then I watched her hands of leather
Turn to velvet in a touch
There’s never been another summer
When I have ever learned so much

We had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightning from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Raging in each others eyes
We had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burning bright
Rushing headlong in the wind
Out where only dreams have been
Burning both ends of the night

I often think about that summer
The sweat, the moonlight and the lace
And I have rarely held another
When I haven’t seen her face
And every time I pass a wheat field
And watch it dancing with the wind
Although I know it isn’t real
I just can’t help but feel
Her hungry arms again

She had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightning from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Raging in her lover’s eyes
She had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burning bright
Rushing headlong in the wind
Out where only dreams have been
Burning both ends of the night

Rushing in long in the wind
Out where only dreams have been
Burnin’ both ends of the night