‘august’ by Taylor Swift is the Perfect Embodiment of Teenage Romance
Do you remember… What it felt like being in high school, making plans with your crush over text, then begging your mom to drop you two off at the mall for your first date? Most of us crave that feeling of being young and naïve again, even if it’s just temporarily and through a four minute song.
Taylor Swift nails this sentimental feeling right on the bullseye with her song ‘august.’ A track about a young, summer love has never resonated so well with hopeless romantics everywhere.
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…
The beginning of the bridge had me tumbling through emotions. I remember being 16, an age old enough to know that a high school love would likely fall through, but an age young enough to still have high hopes for that miraculous love. Even though I don’t miss high school itself, I do miss the way I perceived romance and love back then. I miss the rush I would get whenever I passed by my crush in the hallways, or when they would glance over at me in class. I miss going to the homecoming games and dances just in case I’d see them there, spending the entire night building up the courage to walk up to them and simply say “hello.”
I am now in my 20’s and things are drastically different. I spend my free time swiping left and right on dating apps, asking potential contenders the hard hitting questions, such as, “Do you want to get married?” and “Are you willing to move within the next couple of years?” Truthfully, dating as an adult can be stressful, exhausting, and ultimately, boring. It’s almost like a chore–if I have to ask someone what their future plans are one more time, I think I would scream.
There are pros and cons for how dating was then and how it is now. It’s probably for the best to not be so naïve when it comes to searching for a partner for life, but at the same time, going on dates to talk about your occupations and past traumas doesn’t sound like much fun either. Of course, it’s crucial to discuss these types of things with your dates if there’s any potential in a relationship, but when was the last time you genuinely, and I do mean genuinely, felt giddy or like you had butterflies in your stomach? Personally, I haven’t felt like that in years.
Love is something that cannot necessarily be taught, but rather experienced. This is why everyone has their own interpretation on what love really means, at least to them. That being said, what I love most about ‘august’ is that it still resonates with me and so many others, despite us all having differing dating experiences. This track has become one of my favorites because of how it transports me back to simpler times. Although my love life may not ever again be as lighthearted and frivolous as before, one can still daydream about those moments, and absolutely continue to live for the hope of it all.