October Summer

It’s the first day of October. Here in San Francisco, the temperature was 65 degrees when I woke up and by lunch, it had risen to 90. Tomorrow they predict it might go as high as 100. If the summer months of July and August are Mark Twain’s “coldest winter,” then October is San Francisco’s hottest summer. I kind of love it for the short time it appears— a rare chance to actually get into the Pacific Ocean. But walking around is a different matter. I find myself planning my route according to the shade. 

 

So it’s the perfect time to share my new words to the old Jazz Classic The Sunnyside of the Street. The song is actually about optimism rather than literal weather choices, but these days call for the climate change re-worked version. Not the most inspired new lyrics, but here they are:

 

Leave your coat but grab your hat

Take your sunscreen out your door, cause

Life can still be sweet

On the shady side of the street. 

 

Can’t your hear that splitter-splt? That’s

Eggs fryin’ on the sidewalk.

Better direct your feet

To the shady side of the street.

 

I used to walk in the sun, and it always was fun,

But those days are done, this rover, crossed over.

 

To join the big parade

To the side with all the shade

As we beat the heat

On the shady side of the street. 

 

If you want to hear a version of two great singers performing at SF Jazz with my band, one in the sun and one in the shade, fast forward to 43 minutes and check it out at:

 

• SF Jazz link to October 2023 show: https://youtu.be/GgEcXdvOuBI