My older brother, Tom, asked me to write a song about him. He loves the ocean, beaches, and summer, so this is what I came up with. I used Band in a Box for rhythm guitar and drums. Bob Bentley played lead guitars and keyboards. He gave it a Doors (Ray Manzerek) and Carlos Santana feel that I love.

https://www.johnwalradt.com/music/songs/summerday-master2026jan05.mp3

SUMMER DAY Words and music by John Walradt

I miss the wind and the water
The days are getting warmer now
Days of summer,
I’m gonna write you a letter
It’ll never get to you in this kind of weather.

Oh, she has golden hair
And she dances with the sun
Like she doesn’t even care.

Beaches, silver sandy beaches
You know the ocean well and all that it teaches,
Girls gather smiles on the sand
And they make time disappear
With the wave of a hand.

Oh, she has golden hair
And she dances with the sun
Like she doesn’t even care.

Days turn to sleepless nights
Parties and apartments
Blue and yellow basement lights,
And your life is reflected in the bay
And it melts into the morning
Of another summer day.
Summer day, summer day, summer day.