For My Sunday Song #217, we will talk about the song “Last Days of Summer in San Francisco” by Matt Nathanson. The song is off his 2013 album “Last of the Great Pretenders” which went to #16 on the Billboard charts. The song was never released as a single, but most of Matt’s songs aren’t and it is those deep cuts that draw me to his music. Okay that and the incredible song writing.

“Last Days of Summer in San Francisco” is like a lot of songs on this album that seem to be a love letter to San Francisco with shout-outs to locations and landmarks. This particular song seems to be about a powerful Summer love that helped define the person who he became. The person showed them who they were and gave them the strength to do things they didn’t think they could even if some of them were stupid stuff. It sounds like a Summer romance that blew hot and then burned out. But it is that first verse that sums up the song to me perfectly…

We spent July in a Berkeley basement,
Half read books, and bold declarations.
There was so much I didn’t believe in
And then, there was you.
You made me brave,
You made me stupid
Gave me this skin, that I could move in.

It is that kind of writing that makes Matt so special. His word phrasing, his pacing, it is all just brilliance to me. His music connects to the most human of experiences and emotions. He sings of life, love and heartache in ways most people dream they could do.

Musically, the song is a mid-tempo ballad with a piano that sounds restrained like it wants to bust out, a guitar that feels so gentle like a soft touch on the skin and a drum beat that caresses you with both arms without squeezing to tight. Matt’s vocals wash over you like a summer breeze and then the chorus is a strong gust of wind that lifts the song up to soar through the air like a fallen leaf. It is almost magical in its presentation and delivery.

Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. I hope it moves you like the way it does me. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful and Happy Sunday!!

“Last Days Of Summer In San Francisco”

We spent July in a Berkeley basement,
Half read books, and bold declarations.
There was so much I didn’t believe in
And then, there was you.
You made me brave,
You made me stupid
Gave me this skin, that I could move in.
We’re gonna leave them where they stand
Leave them where they

Love, no one cares
About the stories they’re not in.
We’ll fade out to whispers,
It’s the last days of summer in San Francisco.

The kitchens cold and the tea kettle whisles.
The J Church rolls and rattles our windows.
There’s no nostalgia here it’s just now,
Baby now.
I was a fire that you started
For once I knew everything that I wanted.
We’re gonna leave them where they stand,
Leave them where they

Love, no one cares
About the stories they’re not in.
We’ll fade out to whispers,
It’s the last days of summer in San Francisco
It’s the last days of summer in San Francisco

Love, no one cares
About the stories they’re not in.
We’ll fade out to whispers,
It’s the last days of summer in San Francisco

Last days of summer in San Francisco.

Written by Matt Nathanson