Summer Rain is a mixed media piece I created to visually express a song I wrote after visiting Barry and Kay Johnson in Sarasota, Florida.
Kay brought out their photo albums, and we reminisced those early years when we danced together in SITCO, Samaritan Inn Theatre Company, an international performing arts group located in Amsterdam, Holland. The theatre company we traveled with toured Europe and the United States. We performed on the streets, in amphitheaters, and were even filmed in a professional studio.
Sarasota’s summer rain reminded me of those rainy summers in Amsterdam so many years ago, and a season of my life that filled with innocence and delight. Here’s a photo of me dancing in Kay and Barry’s wedding.
As I contemplated the years in between my early twenties and now, the song, Danced in Summer Rain, seeped out of my soul:
Danced in Summer Rain
I’m going back down that lonely road again
Back to those good times before they all turned sad
I’m going back to that place before the shame
When a young girl danced in summer rain
Chorus
Sweet summer rain
Sweet summer rain
Sweet summer rain
I love you but I hate you just the same
Cause I need you to wash away this pain
I’m going back to those times so long ago
Back to the friends who never let me down, down, down
When life was full of hope and everyone could change
And a young girl danced in summer rain
Chorus
Sweet summer rain
Sweet summer rain
Sweet summer rain
I love you but I hate you just the same
Cause I need you to wash away the blame
Bridge
Washing away all that I am today
Until the memories shine through
And teardrops form in prisms of my pain
Cause summer rain you brought me here again
Chorus
Sweet summer rain
Sweet summer rain
Sweet summer rain
I love you but I hate you just the same
Cause I need you to wash away this pain
JoDee Luna Art 