Taylor Swift’s song “august” appears on the album Folklore.
Swift surprise-released Folklore on July 24, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The album marked a major shift toward fictional storytelling, subdued arrangements, and indie-influenced sounds. “august” is one of its narrative songs and later became especially associated with end-of-summer posts and yearly social-media recaps.
The song belongs to a connected fictional storyline involving James, Betty, and the unnamed narrator of “august.” Its late-summer setting helps explain why listeners repeatedly return to it when August begins, while its wistful lyrics suit photo montages and memory-themed videos.
A common mix-up is confusing Folklore with Evermore, the companion album Swift released later in 2020. “august” is on Folklore, while songs such as “champagne problems” and “willow” belong to Evermore.