The tall weeds lay flat down
On the hard flat Kansas ground
And a sad song in her head
Kept going ’round
She barely even knew his name
But she liked the way he played the game
And everybody cheered
When he scored that last touchdown
Indian summer
The wonder
The hunger
And the sound of distant thunder
Indian summer
Tangled in a moment of truth
Bottle of wine in a motel room
Blue haze circled ’round
The cold gray moon
While the wind chased the leaves outside
Passion found a place to hide
Late-September heat
Couldn’t be denied
Oh, Indian summer
The wonder
The hunger
And the sound of distant thunder
Indian summer
She never even finished school
People like to talk, they can be so cruel
Her California was a place
To start brand-new
So, she left that dust-bowl town
Sometimes when the lone wind howls
I wonder where we’d be
If I never scored that last touchdown
Indian summer
The wonder
The hunger
And the sound of distant thunder
Indian summer
Oh, whoa!
Oh, Indian summer
Oh
Reflecting on Fleeting Youth and Longing
“Indian Summer” by Brooks & Dunn paints a vivid portrait of a bittersweet romance set against the backdrop of a rural Kansas town. The lyrics immerse listeners in the sensations of late summer: tall weeds, distant thunder, and restless winds. The song’s characters are swept up in a passionate, yet transient love, marked by high school football games and secret motel room encounters. The narrative captures the nostalgia of youth—moments that burn brightly before fading into memory. As the protagonist reminisces, there is an underlying sense of regret and wonder about what could have been if choices had been different. “Indian Summer” becomes a meditation on the hunger for connection, the impact of small-town expectations, and the ache of missed opportunities.
Song Credits
- Artist: Brooks & Dunn
- Songwriters: Kix Brooks, Bob DiPiero, Ronnie Dunn
- Release Year: 2009
- Label: Arista Nashville