I’ve never been on what most people consider a real road trip. Nothing across country, sleeping in my car, or driving through the mountains. I guess I’ve lived a sheltered life.

When we were asked to write a song influenced by summer, however, I started thinking about an experience I had one early summer during college. I knew a girl then who was going through a pretty rough patch, and one night we decided to just start driving. She and I didn’t get very far - which is really funny when I think of it now - but that wasn’t the point.

Anyway, that’s where this tune came from. One of the first nights of summer – the night you roll your windows down for the first time – and the closest thing I ever had to a real road trip.

Oh so young, so young then

Packed our dreams that we left unsaid

I brought my pride, she left her shame

She left her shame

Took to the road, to heal the pain

The pride of youth to light our way

Our time was short, the road was long

The road was long

She said

Give me the open road, give me the skies

Give me the summer breeze, oh it’s all I need

Give me the open road, give me the skies

Oh our redemption lies

Under the summer skies

She said, “Windows down, the summer’s here

Let’s ride this road ‘til she disappears

The dawn will break, it will wash us clean

It will wash us clean”

She said

Give me the open road, give me the skies

Give me the summer breeze, oh it’s all I need

Give me the open road, give me the skies

Oh our redemption lies

Under the summer skies

Oh so young, so young then

Thanks for listening.

RM