Gothic Summer

Album: Gothic Summer (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Prayers lead singer Rafael Reyes grew up around street gangs in San Diego. This song tells the story of an incident when after he was cut in the face, his cousin took retribution.

    They caught me slippin'
    So they cut me in the face
    Wicked found out
    And he put them in their graves


    "There's people that, obviously, need to be in prison, and there are some that are in there wrongfully," Reyes said in his Songfacts interview. "My cousin, he's been in prison since the age of 16. He's been in Pelican Bay. And that song, 'Gothic Summer,' is about him.

    It's about this summer where him and I were together. Summer represents heat, and for us in the streets when it's hot, it's not temperature-wise. We mean, there's activity. There's violence. There's police on every corner.

    So that's where it comes from. It was during the summer where my cousin killed four men at the age of 16, and he's been in prison since then. So 'Gothic Summer' is dedicated to him."
  • "Gothic" describes the look and sound of Prayers. Self-described Luciferians, they wear dark colors and religious symbols. Their sound is keyboard driven, with elements of rock and hip-hip.
  • The video was directed by Gavin Filpiak. The black-and-white clip takes place at a cemetery, where children play joyfully, in contrast to Reyes, who reflects over a grave.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Joe Jackson

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.