
Western Song: Summer Wages
Summer Wages is a song in Ian & Sylvia’s 1967 album, So Much for Dreaming, and Ian Tyson’s 1986 album, Cowboyography. It was under the Folk and Country genre, depicting a workingman’s tale. Sources also noted the song as Tyson’s ode to B.C. and possibly the best song written about the place.
So Much For Dreaming demonstrates the Folk and Pop Rock genre, released during the singing duo’s folk and country-rock phase in the late 1960s. It was their sixth album issued on Vanguard Records during the 60s.
Ian & Sylvia gained recognition as one of the top folk and country music duos in North America. Members of Western Writers of America included two of their songs, “Summer Wages” and “Someday Soon,” in the Top 100 Western songs of all time. Aside from these, Ian Tyson also wrote “Navajo Rug,” another of his Western compositions that made it to the list.
Table of Contents
Popular Recordings
Various artists recorded/released their versions of the song written by Ian Tyson. These artists were:
- Ian & Sylvia
- George Hamilton IV
- The New south
- David Bromberg Band
- Bobby Bare
- Ian Tyson
- Tony Rice
- Bill Morrissey & Greg Brown
- Chesapeake
- Nanci Griffith
- The Good Brothers
- Jim Wilson
- Owen Moore
- Bruce Dewar
Ian & Sylvia’s version of this song includes the western elements
So Much For Dreaming Tracklist
Here’s the complete list of songs in So Much For Dreaming, Ian & Sylvia’s album in 1967:
- Circle Game
- So Much For Dreaming
- Wild Geese
- Child Apart
- Summer Wages
- Hold Tight
- Cutty Wren
- Si Les Bateaux
- Catfish Blues
- Come All Ye Fair And Tender Ladies
- January Morning
- Grey Morning
Listen to Summer Wages (Ian & Sylvia Version)
Ian & Sylvia’s version of this beloved Western song begins with the strum of a rugged steel string guitar, followed by a classic bass line and drums. Ian Tyson’s vocals add much to the duo’s cover of this song.
You can listen to this classic Western song below.
Summer Wages Lyrics
Never hit seventeen When you play against the dealer For you know that the odds Won't ride with you. Never leave your woman alone When your friends are out to steal her Years are gambled and lost Like summer wages. And we'll keep rolling on 'Til we get to Vancouver And the woman that I love Who's living there. It's been six long months And more since I've seen her Made a gamble and gone Like summer wages. In all the beer parlors All down along Main Street The dreams of the seasons Are all spilled out on the floor. Of the big stands of timber Just waitin' for fallin' And the hustlers sittin' watchfully As they wait there by the door. So I'll work on the towboats With my slippery city shoes Which I swore I would never do again. Through the gray fogbound straits Where the cedars stand watchin' I'll be far off and gone Like summer wages. Ah, she's a woman so fine I may never try to find her For good memories of what we had before. They should never be changed For they're all that I'll take with me Now, I've gambled and lost My summer wages. Son, never hit seventeen When you play against the dealer For you know that the odds Won't ride with you. Never leave your woman alone When your friends are out to steal her Years are gambled and lost Like summer wages. Oh, years are gambled and lost Like summer wages.