Meaning of "Summer of Love" by The Fresh & Onlys

The lyrics of "Summer of Love" by The Fresh & Onlys depict a surreal and almost dystopian vision of the summer season. The song seems to be referencing the countercultural movement of the 1960s known as the "Summer of Love," but presents a darker and more ominous interpretation. The invitation to "progress or come with me" and the repeated reference to "the summer of love" suggest a sense of escapism or a desire to experience something beyond the ordinary. The imagery of burning bodies, puddles of blood, and cracked bodies hints at themes of destruction, violence, and struggle. The mention of "bells in the sky" that are "just like us" and the bathing in “the governor’s blood” add to the surreal and unsettling atmosphere of the lyrics. Overall, the song may be commenting on the fleeting and chaotic nature of love, tying it to broader themes of societal unrest and decay.