Introduction
Brooks & Dunn’s “Indian Summer,” written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, and veteran songwriter Bob DiPiero, was released on May 25, 2009 as the lead single from their compilation album #1s… and Then Some . Emerging late in their illustrious career, the song marked their 49th single, arriving just ahead of the duo’s much‑anticipated greatest‑hits package, which would become their final major release before a hiatus that began in 2010 .
A mid‑tempo country ballad infused with nostalgia, “Indian Summer” paints the poignant tale of fleeting first love. Set against the backdrop of late summer, a high‑school football hero and a small‑town cheerleader ignite a passionate romance. But as autumn arrives, so do the complications: the girl becomes pregnant and, unable to face societal judgment, leaves for California. The emotional climax arrives in the final verse when the narrator—revealed to be the former football player—reflects with regret: “I wonder where we’d be / If I’d never scored that last touchdown.” .
Critics offered mixed reviews. Jim Malec of The 9513 found sincerity in Dunn’s voice but lamented the lyric’s vagueness . Meanwhile, Country Universe praised Ronnie Dunn’s nuanced delivery, likening the arrangement to the Eagles and applauding its creature‑feature storytelling, though noting occasional enunciation issues .
The song’s music video, directed by Shaun Silva, premiered on July 24, 2009, and was filmed at Chowchilla Union High School in California. It earned recognition by GAC, ranking #49 on their Top 50 Videos of the Year .
“Indian Summer” debuted at #48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart (May 23, 2009) . Though it didn’t become one of Brooks & Dunn’s chart-toppers, the song stands out as a reflective, emotionally charged capstone to their first phase, capturing the bittersweet essence of lost youthful love under the glow of a fading season.
Video
Lyrics
The tall weeds laid flat down
On the hard flat Kansas ground
And a sad song in her head kept goin’ ’round
She barely even knew his name
But she liked the way he played the game
Everybody cheered when he scored that last touchdown
Indian summer, the wonder
The hunger and the sound of distant thunder
Indian summer
Tangled in a moment of truth
Bottle of wine in a motel room
Blue haze circled ’round the cold gray moon
While the wind chased the leaves outside
Passion found a place to hide
Late September heat couldn’t be denied
Oh, Indian summer, the wonder
The hunger and the sound of distant thunder
Indian summer
She never even finished school
People like to talk, they can be so cruel
Heard California was a place to start brand new
So she left that dust bowl town
Sometimes when the lone wind howls
I wonder where we’d be if I’d never scored that last touchdown
Summer, the wonder
The hunger and the sound of distant thunder
Indian summer
Oh-oh