“Boys of Summer” — The Ataris | SOUND Summer Playlist

Of all the songs on all of these summer playlists, no other track better encapsulates the season than The Ataris’ cover of this Don Henley classic. Released in Fall of 2003, the track became an instant radio favorite, and with good reason — the entire structure of the tune, from melody to hook to chorus to solo, is timeless.

Back in those days of careless high school euphoria, neither myself nor any of my peers seemed much concerned with the deeper lyrical message — all we knew was it was about summer, Wayfarers (whatever those were) and love. Now, in my later years, I can better appreciate the deeper meanings. And what I think I really missed the first time around was that, instead of being a song about everything that will happen in summer, the message is that everything already did, and the season draws to a close.

I miss it already.