Meaning of "Summer's Coming Around Again" by Carly Simon

The lyrics of "Summer's Coming Around Again" speak to the fleeting nature of summer romances and the cyclical patterns of falling in love with the changing of the seasons. The narrator describes the excitement and romance of meeting someone new as summer arrives, only for it to inevitably end as the season changes. The repetition of "Every year it seems to come this way" highlights the predictability of these transient relationships, with the narrator recognizing the pattern but still getting caught up in the emotions each time. The mention of Shanghai adds an element of exoticism and escapism to the narrative, suggesting that summer love can be a temporary reprieve from routine and reality. Overall, the song captures the bittersweet nostalgia of fleeting connections and the hopeful anticipation of new beginnings that come with the arrival of summer.