"Missing Summers" is a song recorded by Rina Sawayama, who reportedly wrote it during the Hold the Girl sessions between 2020 and 2021. However, the song didn't make it in the album for unknown reasons; a demo of the song was leaked on December 26, 2021, and was later uploaded on YouTube.[1]
In the song, Sawayama explores class envy and childhood trauma, contrasting her childhood with the privileged life of a wealthy friend. She also references her parents' separation when she was just 10 years old.
Song analysis
The lyrics of "Missing Summers" address class envy and the pain of a privileged childhood the singer never experienced. The song sees Rina spending time with a friend from a higher social class, who doesn't need to worry about anything since "Richard will clean that up," referring to their's family's butler. Throughout the song, Rina describes images of a luxurious and carefree life: "Two white towels and a crisp white gown at the bottom of each sun-lounger / Fresh fruit, cupped flowers / Year-round on the kitchen counter".
In the chorus, Rina sings "You smell like my missin' summers / All the fun I woulda had / If your daddy was my dad, yeah," starkly highlighting that she didn't have access to the same opportunities or emotional security due to her family and economic circumstances.
Sawayama becomes even more personal in the song's bridge, where she reflects on her friend's stable family and references her parents separation when she was only ten years old: "God, you look so happy / With your nuclear family that hasn't exploded / I was ten when mine blew open, yeah / I just hope you know you're lucky."
Lyrics
Huh, I know, it's so ridiculous
Oh, no-no, Richard will clean that up
Huh, don't worry
Two white towels and a crisp white gown at the bottom of each sun-lounger
Fresh fruit, cupped flowers
Year-round on the kitchen counter
Long limbs, gold skin, take a rinse in the outdoor shower, she said: (You've gotta try it)
"Time is money, so let's
Waste a couple hours"
So I try to pretend, I play along
But I can't stop thinkin'
You smell like my missin' summers
All the fun I woulda had
If your daddy was my dad, yeah
You smell like my missing summers
I woulda had what you had
If your daddy was my dad
It's you, ooo-woah
Yeah, you smell like my missing summers, it's true, ooo
Yeah, you smell likе my missing summers
Ice cream boat in thе middle of the sea
No thanks I already ate (I'm so full)
The novelty is gone for me but, honey
You should try the crème-brûlée
Lily-Rose, Mary-Kate
Now why do, all the names hyphenate?
'Cause I don't have a middle name
Doesn't mean I'm plain
So I try to pretend, I play along
But it's bothering me
You smell like my missin' summers
All the fun I woulda had
If your daddy was my dad, yeah
You smell like my missin' summers
I woulda had what you had
If your daddy was my dad
It's true
I just wanna be like you
I know you'd never wanna be me
God, you look so happy
With your nuclear family
That hasn't exploded
I was ten when mine blew open, yeah
I just hope you know you're lucky
Ooo
You smell like my missing summers, it's true, ooo
You smell like my missing summers
See also
References
- ↑ "Missing Summers - Rina Sawayama". YouTube (4 December 2022). Retrieved on 19 October 2025.
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| Dirty Hit • 2022 |
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