Peter Nero - Theme from "Summer of '42" (Columbia Records 1971) video free download

Michel Legrand's theme song for the film, "The Summer Knows," has since become a pop standard, being recorded by such artists as Peter Nero (who had a charting hit with his 1971 version), Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Jonny Fair, and Barbra Streisand. The 1973 song "Summer (The First Time)" by Bobby Goldsboro has almost exactly the same subject and apparent setting, although there is no direct credited link. Bryan Adams has, however, credited the film as being a partial inspiration for his 1985 hit "Summer of '69."

Peter Nero (born Bernard Nierow) is an American pianist and pops conductor.

The summer smiles the summer knows

And unashamed, she sheds her clothes

The summer smooths the restless sky

And lovingly she warms the sand on which you lie

The summer knows the summer's wise

She sees the doubts within your eyes

And so she takes here summer time

Tell the moon to wait and the sun to linger

Twists the world round her summer finger

Let you see the wonder of it all

And if you've learned your lesson well

There's little more for her to tell

One last cares it's time to dress for fall