One of my favorite John Denver songs - a rare Paxton-esque song written when he was still a member of the Mitchell Trio. John recorded a bunch of Tom Paxton songs in his career, and this lyrical song, more or less, shows Tom's influence on his songwriting.

Transcribed from the "Denver, Boise & Johnson" performance at 1968's Philadelphia Folk Festival. It's on YouTube.

Sticky Summer Weather
(John Denver)

Sticky summer weather always pains me
It's like livin' beneath a blanket, I can't breathe
The days are like an oven, the nights forever
Nothin' to do, not much else to see

Then again, I can't stand the thought of winter
Ain't got a fire, there's nobody to keep me warm
The night is gray and my coffee tastes so bitter
My memories go ragin' like a storm

Seems like twenty years ago, it was springtime
The rain was sweet, the wind was cool and clean
I had a girl, she was a lady that I could talk to
Now it's almost like she'd never been

I spent a long time lookin' for rainbows
Tryin' to find a way to believe in tomorrow...

There was a time, I think, when I remember dreamin'
There was a reason, I can't find it now
As I recall, it almost made my life worth livin'
It must be hidin' like the sun behind the cloud

I've been a long time lookin' for rainbows
Tryin' to find a way to believe tomorrow...

Sticky summer weather always pains me
It's like livin' beneath a blanket, I can't breathe
The days are like an oven, the nights forever
Nothin' to do, not much else to see

But I'm spendin' a long time lookin' for rainbows...

(1968)