Cruel Summer

Album: Lover (2019)
Charted: 2 1
Play Video
  • (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

    Fever dream high in the quiet of the night
    You know that I caught it (oh yeah, you're right, I want it)
    Bad, bad boy, shiny toy with a price
    You know that I bought it (oh yeah, you're right, I want it)

    Killing me slow, out the window
    I'm always waiting for you to be waiting below
    Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes
    What doesn't kill me makes me want you more

    And it's new, the shape of your body
    It's blue, the feeling I've got
    And it's ooh-oh-oh
    It's a cruel summer
    It's cool, that's what I tell 'em
    No rules in breakable heaven
    But ooh, oh-oh
    It's a cruel summer
    With you

    Hang your head low in the glow of the vending machine
    I'm not dying (oh yeah, you're right, I want it)
    We say that we'll just screw it up in these trying times
    We're not trying (oh yeah, you're right, I want it)

    So cut the headlights, summer's a knife
    I'm always waiting for you just to cut to the bone
    Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes
    And if I bleed, you'll be the last to know

    Oh, it's new, the shape of your body
    It's blue, the feeling I've got
    And it's ooh-oh-oh
    It's a cruel summer
    It's cool, that's what I tell 'em
    No rules in breakable heaven
    But ooh-oh-oh
    It's a cruel summer
    With you

    I'm drunk in the back of the car
    And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar (oh)
    Said, "I'm fine," but it wasn't true
    I don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you
    And I snuck in through the garden gate
    Every night that summer just to seal my fate (oh)
    And I scream, "For whatever it's worth
    I love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?"
    He looks up, grinning like a devil

    It's new, the shape of your body
    It's blue, the feeling I've got
    And it's ooh-oh-oh
    It's a cruel summer
    It's cool, that's what I tell 'em
    No rules in breakable heaven
    But ooh-oh-oh
    It's a cruel summer
    With you

    I'm drunk in the back of the car
    And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar (oh)
    Said, "I'm fine," but it wasn't true
    I don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you
    And I snuck in through the garden gate
    Every night that summer just to seal my fate (oh)
    And I scream, "For whatever it's worth
    I love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?"

    (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) Writer/s: Annie Clark, Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift
    Publisher: Hipgnosis Songs Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Stella from EarthI love this song. Kanye West sucks
  • AnonymousThis my favorite song by Taylor Swift I JUST love her
see more comments

Editor's Picks

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."