August
Eric Clapton; Greg Phillinganes; Nathan East; Phil Collins; Tina Turner Lyrics
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Before the old one fades
It reminds me of those things that past
And quickly passed away
But it comes on in the early night
Creeping up on you
Those scenes of devastation
Crushing down on cue
The light is growing dim
August was a heavy month
And now the nights are drawing in
Poor Baby Blue's wrapped up again
Inside her final pain
I'd help her if I could I say
She puts us all to shame
Alright, alright I know I've got a lot
Left to answer for
But am I the only one to blame
And anyway who's keeping score
But the grass seems so much brighter now
She's spilled her blood again
August was a heavy month
Wash it down September rain
Baby Blue picks up her life tonight
And rushes for the Chelsea train
All the stars shine down on her tonight
And August was a heavy month
The photograph is cracked and torn
From being picked up, put down
Like some holy relic
Whose worshippers are found
Searching through their sacred books
For the holy grail of "why"
But the total sum of knowledge
Knows no more than you or I
Alright, alright says Baby Blue
Who doesn't really understand
August was a heavy month
But winter came at last.
*written by Bob Geldof
*taken from the album "Deep In the Heart of Knowhere"
The song August by Tina Turner is a powerful reflection on the transience of life and how quickly memories and moments can fade away. The opening lines speak about taking another photograph before the old one fades, emphasizing the fleeting nature of time and memories. The lyrics then delve into the experiences of devastation and pain that can accompany life, and how these experiences can leave lasting scars. The reference to August being a heavy month also speaks to the weight of these experiences, which can make it difficult to move forward.
The song continues with a focus on the character Baby Blue, who is struggling with her own pain and grief. The singer expresses a desire to help her, but ultimately feels powerless in the face of her suffering. The final lines of the song suggest that even though the photograph may be cracked and torn, and our knowledge limited, we can still strive to understand the world around us.
Overall, August is a poignant and introspective song that encourages the listener to reflect on the fleeting nature of life and the enduring impact of painful experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll take another photograph
I'll capture another moment in time
Before the old one fades
Before that moment is forgotten
It reminds me of those things that past
It brings back memories of the past
And quickly passed away
And moments that were fleeting
But it comes on in the early night
Memories come back at unexpected times
Creeping up on you
Slowly, but surely appearing in your mind
Those scenes of devastation
Those painful moments of loss
Crushing down on cue
Overwhelming you just when you thought you were okay
These days are growing colder now
The present moments are becoming more melancholic
The light is growing dim
The brightness of life is sputtering out
August was a heavy month
August was a difficult time
And now the nights are drawing in
And now the days are becoming shorter
Poor Baby Blue's wrapped up again
She is in physical and emotional pain
Inside her final pain
Inside of her terminal illness
I'd help her if I could I say
I wish I could relieve her of her suffering
She puts us all to shame
She is resilient in the face of immense difficulty
Alright, alright I know I've got a lot
I understand that I am responsible for many things
Left to answer for
And I must face the consequences of my actions
But am I the only one to blame
But perhaps I am not the only one at fault
And anyway who's keeping score
And who cares who is at fault?
But the grass seems so much brighter now
But the world seems more vibrant in the present
She's spilled her blood again
She has faced pain again
August was a heavy month
August was full of challenges
Wash it down September rain
Let the rain wash away the hardships of August
Baby Blue picks up her life tonight
Baby Blue begins anew
And rushes for the Chelsea train
And sets off to a new destination
All the stars shine down on her tonight
The world feels brighter and more hopeful for her
And August was a heavy month
And August was a difficult time
The photograph is cracked and torn
The memory is worn and fragile
From being picked up, put down
From being revisited many times
Like some holy relic
Like a precious artifact
Whose worshippers are found
Whose significance is revered
Searching through their sacred books
Searching for answers in their most treasured resources
For the holy grail of "why"
For the answer to the most elusive question
But the total sum of knowledge
But the entirety of what is known
Knows no more than you or I
Does not have all the answers
Alright, alright says Baby Blue
Baby Blue acknowledges the situation
Who doesn't really understand
Who is struggling to make sense of it all
August was a heavy month
August was a difficult and trying time
But winter came at last.
But the hard times eventually came to an end.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind