The Wrongologist

Welcome to the start of the Labor Day weekend. Despite Ukraine, Syria, ISIS, Uzis in the hands of 9 year-olds, and the omnipresent Mitch McConnell, we are here today to listen to songs about the end of summer. The Wrongologist thinks Labor Day feels more like New Year’s, that it is the start of something new. New academic year, the annual budgeting process in corporate America. Oh, and Congress returns from its self-imposed exile in their districts.

First up, The White Stripes “We are gonna be friends” takes you back to grammar school days when it was time to get back to school. It was the opening song in the movie, Napoleon Dynamite.

Here is a sample of their lyrics:

fall is here, hear the yell
back to school, ring the bell
brand new shoes, walkin’ blues
climb the fence, books and pens
I can tell that we are gonna be friends
yes I can tell that we are gonna be friends

Next up, a new band, Echosmith. They are 4 California siblings who make music that critics call alt-pop. Whatever. The songs are lightweight and summery, the ideal indie pop jams for when you’re a teen, cruising around, or getting ready to go out with your friends. This one shows teen angst about not being one of the cool kids. It’s called “Cool Kids”.

Here is the lyric:

I wish that I could be like the cool kids cuz all the cool kids, they seem to get it

Summer doesn’t end without the Wrongologist thinking about “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart, since we all have to get back to something at the end of summer. Here is an acoustic version by the Rodster. Note Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones and formerly of Faces along with Stewart, is playing guitar:

Apparently, Stewart wrote this about the first woman he had sex with. It is unclear whether her name was Maggie. Here is the Wrongologist’s favorite stanza:

I suppose I could collect my books and get on back to school
Or steal my daddy’s cue and make a living out of playing pool
Or find myself a rock and roll band that needs a helping’ hand
Oh Maggie I wish I’d never seen your face

While we usually have a set of 3 songs, today it is 4. Can’t close without “Summer Skin” by Death Cab for Cutie. The song is about more than just a summer romance ending, it’s about youth and carefree days ending, and how subtle those endings can be. It is from their album, “Plans”.

Here are the lyrics:

Squeaky swings and tall grass
The longest shadows ever cast
The water’s warm and children swim
And we frolicked about in our summer skin

I don’t recall a single care
Just greenery and humid air
Then Labor day came and went
And we shed what was left of our summer skin

On the night you left I came over
And we peeled the freckles from our shoulders
Our brand new coats so flushed and pink
And I knew your heart I couldn’t win
Cause the season’s change was a conduit
And we’d left our love in our summer skin