Lyrics
Salt air, and the rust on your door
I never needed anything more
Whispers of “Are you sure?”
“Never have I ever before”
But I can see us lost in the memory
August slipped away into a moment in time
‘Cause it was never mine
And I can see us twisted in bedsheets
August sipped away like a bottle of wine
‘Cause you were never mine
Your back beneath the sun
Wishin’ I could write my name on it
Will you call when you’re back at school?
I remember thinkin’ I had you
But I can see us lost in the memory
August slipped away into a moment in time
‘Cause it was never mine
And I can see us twisted in bedsheets
August sipped away like a bottle of wine
‘Cause you were never mine
Back when we were still changin’ for the better
Wanting was enough
For me, it was enough
To live for the hope of it all
Canceled plans just in case you’d call
And say, “Meet me behind the mall”
So much for summer love and saying “us”
‘Cause you weren’t mine to lose
You weren’t mine to lose, no
But I can see us lost in the memory
August slipped away into a moment in time
‘Cause it was never mine
And I can see us twisted in bedsheets
August sipped away like a bottle of wine
‘Cause you were never mine
‘Cause you were never mine
Never mine
But do you remember?
Remember when I pulled up and said, “Get in the car”
And then canceled my plans just in case you’d call?
Back when I was livin’ for the hope of it all
For the hope of it all
“Meet me behind the mall”
Song & Movie Overview
About the Song: A Hazy Summer Memory
“august” is a dreamy, melancholic track from Taylor Swift’s eighth studio album, folklore. Written by Swift and her long-time collaborator Jack Antonoff, the song stands out for its lush, layered production featuring reverb-heavy guitars and soft vocals, creating a hazy, nostalgic atmosphere. Lyrically, “august” tells the story of a short-lived summer affair from the perspective of an unnamed girl. It is the second song in the ‘Teenage Love Triangle’ fictional narrative on the album, which also includes “cardigan” and “betty.” The song perfectly captures the feeling of looking back on a romance that was intense and real for one person, but ultimately fleeting and unowned—encapsulated in the line, “‘Cause you were never mine.”
The Teenage Love Triangle
One of the most celebrated aspects of the folklore album is the interconnected story told across three songs:
- “cardigan”: Told from the perspective of Betty, looking back on her relationship with James.
- “august”: Told from the perspective of the unnamed ‘other woman’, reminiscing about her summer affair with James.
- “betty”: Told from the perspective of a 17-year-old James, as he apologizes to Betty for his summer mistake.
This narrative device was praised by critics for its depth and clever songwriting, showcasing Swift’s prowess as a fictional storyteller.
Creative Collaboration
The lush sound of “august” was crafted by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. While much of folklore was made with Aaron Dessner, Swift continued her fruitful partnership with Antonoff on several tracks, including this one. Antonoff’s production gives the song its signature dream-pop quality, distinguishing it from the more folk-oriented tracks on the album. Find their credits on IMDb: Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff.
About the Album: folklore (2020)
Released as a surprise during the COVID-19 pandemic, folklore saw Taylor Swift pivot from stadium pop to a more intimate, indie-folk, and alternative sound. The album was co-produced mainly with Aaron Dessner of The National. It was a massive critical and commercial success, praised for its mature songwriting and cohesive aesthetic. It won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, Swift’s third win in that category.
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