The gentle welcome of spring’s warm air has finally graced us, and I’m reveling in every moment of it. While most days settle into a comfortable mid-60s range, there’s a handful of those rare 70 to 80-degree days that beckon me to roll down my car windows and serenade the world with my favorite Taylor Swift tunes. After all, what better way to celebrate a day of pure beauty?
There’s one song that has seamlessly woven itself into the soundtrack of these sun-kissed days: “August”. It’s a melody that feels like an old friend that I could listen to on an endless loop without ever losing its magic. “August” is pure magic. The first time I heard this song, it was the heart of summer, and it captivated me instantly. The intertwining of Taylor Swift’s vocals with the delicate strumming of the guitar creates an enchanting tapestry that wraps around all my senses.
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But can we talk about that beat drop at 3:09? It’s like a burst of pure serotonin, infusing every fiber of my being with joy. And let’s not forget that pivotal note at 1:31 – a note that demands to be sung with unabashed confidence, a note that encourages me to throw my head back and belt it out without hesitation. Because, why not?
Listening to “August,” I can’t help but reflect on the journey that has led me to this point in my life. The mistakes of the past, the unexpected turns – they have all conspired to bring me here, to this place of bliss and growth. Just like the changing seasons, life’s twists and turns shape us, molding us into who we are meant to be.
So, as the chorus of “August” washes over me, I’m reminded that every stumble and every moment of uncertainty has been a stepping stone on this beautiful path. And while I sing along, windows down with my sidekick toddler in tow, I’m filled with gratitude for the past that brought me here.
August The Time Machine
The lyrics of August act as a time machine, whisking me back to my twenty-two-year-old self – a version of me bathed in the golden glow of summer’s optimism. That season, I led my life with emotions unwittingly abandoned from all logic, believing I found love, only to realize by summer’s end that I embodied the essence of August itself.
Of course, I didn’t word it so eloquently back then, mainly because “August” didn’t exist. This is 2011 we’re flashing back to. Referring to myself now as simply “August” is a lot better than saying “I was the other woman who unknowingly fell for a boy with a girlfriend for whom he inevitably went back with.”
Indefinitely, “August” sounds so much better — a rather poetic way to capture the essence of that season.
Listening to ‘August’ now, it would be easy to extend sympathy to my former self – to that vulnerable and naive girl. Yet, why should sympathy be the sentiment of choice? That so-called “summer love,” played a vital role in shaping the beauty of my life. It marked a pivotal block falling in place, like a domino effect that would redefine my life.
In the wake of that summer, I discovered the true worth of my own being, valuing myself in ways I had not before. So, when August’s melody graces my ears, I’m reminded not of regrets, but of resilience. It’s only a small chapter from my life that paved the way for finding a love that was perfectly aligned with the melody of my soul.
As I listen to August today, I’m transported back to that young woman who clung to the hope of finding love. A girl who yearned for love so fervently that she willingly looked past the warning signs, even when her best friend was throwing them at her face. Sometimes, you have to learn the lessons firsthand, even if it means stumbling through the hard way.
A Moment In Time
It’s funny how a song can encapsulate a moment, a feeling, a season of life. August, for me, stands out as the crown jewel of Folklore. Its haunting beauty resonates with me in ways I didn’t anticipate. But what’s even more surprising is how this song has struck a chord with so many others.
This realization hit me during the recent Grammys performance when Taylor sang those enchanting opening words, “salt air.” The social media storm that followed was remarkable, and I realized that the fanbase for this song runs deep – a sentiment that resonated strongly with me too.
It led me to wonder: is it just the captivating melody that draws everyone in, or do have we all been August at some point in our lives?
Oh, Red
Fast forward two months after my own August realization, Taylor’s Red album was released. Taylor’s songs became my lifelines, as I belted out the likes of “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “Red,” and the poignant “All Too Well.” And let’s not forget the feeling of liberation dancing to “22” with my girlfriends – an anthem that felt custom-made for my 22-year-old self.
Two years later during the Red concert, my best friend (the one who basically smacked me in the face to try and see the red flags) leaned over and shared that “Begin Again” reminded her of my current boyfriend (now my husband) and the transition from the “August fling.”
You pull my chair out and help me in
And you don’t know how nice that is
But I doAnd you throw your head back laughing
“begin again” by taylor swift
Like a little kid
I think it’s strange that you think I’m funny, ’cause
He never did
Since then I have never been able to listen to “Begin Again” without thinking of me and my husband’s early days of dating. And I have yet to successfully sing the following lines without becoming teary-eyed, thinking of my extended family that immediately felt like home to me.
But you start to talk about the movies
That your family watches every single ChristmasAnd I want to talk about that
“begin again” by taylor swift
And for the first time
What’s past is past
To my former August self: thank you. Thank you for never giving up on love, even when you were burned. Your pain became the catalyst for something so profound.
And to Taylor, thank you, too. Your creation of this hauntingly beautiful song evokes not sorrow, but a fond smile towards my past. It’s a past that played a pivotal role in leading me to where I stand today – surrounded by a loving and vibrant family that radiates my life with unwavering joy. “I never needed anything more.“
