Track 2 of the album Keep the Porch Light On · 2023
Side B of the Summer Mixtape
by Nina Vale
“I found a tape in a shoebox with your handwriting on the spine. I let the Rhodes do most of the remembering.”
soul · nostalgic soul · rhodes soul · 4:08
Lyrics
I found a tape in a shoebox Your writing on the spine Side B of the summer In blue ballpoint line I pushed it in the old machine And the hiss came rolling through Then the first soft note came ringing And there I was with you Press play, press play on the summer Rewind to the porch and the heat Every song was a letter Every pause was a heartbeat You taped them off the radio Just to say what you could not say Side B of the summer Still plays You left the talking in between The DJ's voice, the rain You caught the whole of that August And you gave it to me plain Track four was our slow dance In the kitchen, bare feet bare Oh, the tape runs thin at the edges But the love is still in there Press play, press play on the summer Rewind to the porch and the heat Every song was a letter Every pause was a heartbeat You taped them off the radio Just to say what you could not say Side B of the summer Still plays Some things you cannot download Some things you cannot send A hand-made song for someone Is a way to say, my friend I thought of you all evening And I made you this Now the tape comes to its ending With a click and a quiet sigh I hold it to the window Where the late light's going by I will not wind it back tonight I'll let the silence stay For the best of every summer Is the part that did not fade away Press play, press play on the summer Rewind to the porch and the heat Every song was a letter Every pause was a heartbeat You taped them off the radio Just to say what you could not say Side B of the summer Still plays Side B of the summer Still plays