'tis the damn season
evermore (2020)
Background and Release
Aaron Dessner wrote the music to “’tis the damn season” several years before evermore and described it as one of his favorite works ever. That’s also why it is his favorite song on the album. He compared the background and writing of the song to that of “peace,” his favorite from folklore:
«'‘tis the damn season' is a really special song to me for a number of reasons. When I wrote the music to it, which was a long time ago, I remember thinking that this is one of my favorite things I’ve ever made, even though it’s an incredibly simple musical sketch. But it has this arc to it, and there’s this simplicity in the minimalism of it, and the kind of drum programming in there, and I always loved the tone of that guitar. When Taylor played the track and sang it to me in my kitchen, that was a highlight of this whole time. That track felt like something I have always loved and could have just stayed music, but instead, someone of her incredible storytelling ability and musical ability took it and made something much greater. And it’s something that we can all relate to.»
Lyrics and Theme
Commercial Performance
Critical Reception
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
If I wanted to know who you were hanging with
While I was gone, I would have asked you
It’s the kind of cold, fogs up windshield glass
But I felt it when I passed you
There’s an ache in you, put there by the ache in me
But if it’s all the same to you
It’s the same to me
[Chorus]
So we could call it even
You could call me “babe” for the weekend
’Tis the damn season, write this down
I’m stayin’ at my parents’ house
And the road not taken looks real good now
And it always leads to you and my hometown
[Verse 2]
I parkеd my car right between the Methodist
And thе school that used to be ours
The holidays linger like bad perfume
You can run, but only so far
I escaped it too, remember how you watched me leave
But if it’s okay with you, it’s okay with me
[Chorus]
We could call it even
You could call me “babe” for the weekend
’Tis the damn season, write this down
I’m stayin’ at my parents’ house
And the road not taken looks real good now
Time flies, messy as the mud on your truck tires
Now I’m missing your smile, hear me out
We could just ride around
And the road not taken looks real good now
And it always leads to you and my hometown
[Bridge]
Sleep in half the day just for old times’ sake
I won’t ask you to wait if you don’t ask me to stay
So I’ll go back to L.A. and the so-called friends
Who’ll write books about me, if I ever make it
And wonder about the only soul
Who can tell which smiles I’m fakin’
And the heart I know I’m breakin’ is my own
To leave the warmest bed I’ve ever known
We could call it even
Even though I’m leavin’
And I’ll be yours for the weekend
’Tis the damn season
[Chorus]
We could call it even
You could call me “babe” for the weekend
’Tis the damn season, write this down
I’m stayin’ at my parents’ house
And the road not taken looks real good now
Time flies, messy as the mud on your truck tires
Now I’m missing your smile, hear me out
We could just ride around
And the road not taken looks real good now
And it always leads to you and my hometown
[Outro]
It always leads to you and my hometown
Album | evermore | |||
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Released | December 11, 2020 | |||
Recorded | September 2020 | |||
Studio | Long Pond (Hudson, New York) | |||
Genre | Alternative Adult Contemporary |
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Length | 3:50 | |||
Label | Republic Records | |||
Songwriters | Taylor Swift Aaron Dessner |
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Producers | Aaron Dessner Taylor Swift |
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EVERMORE CHRONOLOGY |
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