The day Taylor Swift wrote "august", it was official: the month of August was named after this masterpiece, and not the other way around. Of course, the only right thing to do was to stream "august" on repeat on August 1st, and the Swifties really took the assignment seriously. According to @TheSwiftSociety on Twitter, the Spotify streams for "august" had a 113% increase on the first day of August!

The lyrical genius, aka Taylor, created the fictional character of Augustine/Augusta as part of folklore’s infamous love triangle between James, Betty, and "Augustine" (I prefer to call her Augustine). The other songs of the same love triangle are "betty" from James’s perspective and "cardigan" from Betty’s perspective.

"August" quickly became a standout track from the album, and Taylor even performed it at the Grammys this year! The narrative in "august" goes against the cliché idea that ‘the other girl is always the "bad one". In Swift’s lyrics, we get to understand that the mystery "august girl" was actually in love with James, who is in love with Betty, but had a Summer fling with Augustine. But what James thought of as "just a summer thing" was actually a "Summer love" for Augustine, and with Swift’s lyrics, we get to hear the perspective of the girl who secretly met him behind the mall.

Standout lyrics that describe the affair between Augustine and James from Augustine’s perspective: 

‘‘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...’’

The lyrics of "august" are sad and melancholic, as Augustine is dealing with a heartbreak at the end of Summer, after it becomes clear that James will go back to Betty when school starts. And yet, Taylor and Jack Antonoff (who co-wrote and co-produced the song with Swift) created an upbeat, Summery melody that contrasts the sadness of the lyrics and the story being told. 

Towards the end of the song, Swift includes the signature finale bridge of "august":

"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'..."

In Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, an exclusive Disney+ documentary about the making of folklore, Swift reveals that the idea for "august" initially started with the lyrics ‘‘Meet me behind the mall’’ which Taylor had written down in her phone, years ago. 

As Antonoff, Swift, and Aaron Dessner -- the three collaborators of the album -- drink wine and discuss "august" on the patio at night, Swift reveals to Antonoff and Dessner that the girl in "august" ‘‘seems like she’s a bad girl, but really, she’s not a bad girl. She’s really a sensitive person who really fell for [James]’’.

She also makes a remarkable point that ‘‘the idea that there’s some bad, villain girl in any type of situation, who takes your man, is actually a total myth. Everybody has feelings and wants to be seen, and loved’’ -- and that is why we love and respect Taylor Swift forever. 

Here is Taylor performing "august" (2:15-3:40) alongside Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner at the 2021 Grammys -- later in the night, they won Album Of The Year for folklore!

So, will you stream "august" every single day before August slips away like a bottle of wine?