"August" (stylized as "august") is the eighth track from American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift's eighth studio album, folklore, released on July 24, 2020, through Republic Records.
Background[]
Swift confirmed the existence of this song through social media on July 23, 2020, with the announcement of folklore.[1] This song is part of the Teenage Love Triangle, making it a sister to "cardigan" and "betty".
The song is told from the perspective of the third person involved in the Teenage Love Triangle, nicknamed "Augustine" by Swifties, who James, the central character in the story, cheats on his girlfriend Betty with. In the song, listeners learn that Augustine and James's relationship was not just a "summer thing" to Augustine, as James describes it in "betty".
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Salt air and the rust on your door
I never needed anything more
Whispers of, "Are you sure?"
"Never have I ever before"
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 2]
Your back beneath the sun
Wishing I could write my name on it
Will you call when you're back at school?
I remember thinking I had you
[Chorus]
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
[Bridge]
Back when we were still changing 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, oh
[Chorus]
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
[Outro]
'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"
(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")
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)
For the hope of it all, for the hope of it all
(For the hope of it all, for the hope of it all)
Live performances[]
Swift performed "august" for the first time in a mash-up with "cardigan" and "willow" at the 63rd Grammy Awards in 2021.
"august" is performed during the folklore section of The Eras Tour. Part of the song was also performed mashed-up with "The Other Side Of The Door" and "Getaway Car" as a surprise song in Melbourne, Australia, on February 17, 2024.
References[]
| folklore | ||
|---|---|---|
| "the 1" • "cardigan" • "the last great american dynasty" • "exile" • "my tears ricochet" • "mirrorball" • "seven" • "august" • "this is me trying" • "illicit affairs" • "invisible string" • "mad woman" • "epiphany" • "betty" • "peace" • "hoax" | ||
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