Peak
23
Weeks
2
Score
294
Chart Year
2020
Here, Swift sings of a summer romance that was destined not to last. It is part two of three Folklore tracks about a teenage love triangle between the characters Betty, James and an unnamed girl. This song is from the perspective of the unnamed girl, who Swift imagines being called either Augusta or Augustine; the first part, "Cardigan," is from Betty's, and the third part, "Betty," is from James'. Swift doesn't tell us why Inez's relationship with Augusta/Augustine ended, but on the third part she explains it was because James was also seeing his regular girlfriend, Betty. However, there is a hint in the chorus when Inez admits to James, "'Cause you were never mine." Swift wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff, who is also known for his work with Lorde and Lana Del Rey. A regular Swift collaborator, he has credits on six Folklore tracks. Antonoff tweeted that this song and another Folklore track, "My Tears Ricochet," are his favorite things he's ever done with Swift. The song title comes from it being set in August. According to Swift, it started with imagery of "the sun-drenched month of August, sipped away like a bottle of wine." Swift likely placed it as the eighth track on Folklore's track listing as August is the eighth month of the year. This was the first song Swift wrote of the "Betty" love triangle. She admitted to Entertainment Weekly it's strange this was the first of the three as "it's the song from the other girl's perspective." Swift's original intention was to write a song from the perspective of a girl who was experiencing love for the first time. "And then all of a sudden," said the singer, "she's treated like she's the other girl, because there was another situation that had already been in place, but 'August' girl thought she was really falling in love." Swift added that after Antonoff sent her the instrumental, she "wrote the song pretty much on the spot; it just was an intuitive thing."
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
Wishing I could write my name on it
Will you call when you're back at school?
I remember thinking 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 changing for the better
Wanting was enough
For me, it was enough
To live for the hope of it all
Cancel 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, mine
'Cause you were never mine
Never mine
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 living 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 living 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 living 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| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 8, 2020 | 23 | 103 |
| 2 | Aug 15, 2020 | 73 | 53 |