The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Say a prayer
The summer nights are dead
The fall is coming
We were careless hearts
Who got caught up in this
You were shy
To the night you drove me wild
And you crashed into me
And I won't lie
I wish it lasted a lifetime
Please stay-ay-ay
Won't you stay-ay-ay
Tonight
Breathe in deep
And say goodbye
The saddest song
I'll ever write
For anyone, anytime
Breathe in deep
Before I say
I can feel us slip away
You're almost gone
You're good as gone
August is over
No wait
Cause August had to end
All our bags are packed
Just two broken hearts
That got caught up in this
I deny
That tomorrow you'll be gone
And so far from me
It's something strange
Never love the same way
Please stay-ay-ay
Won't you stay-ay-ay
Tonight
Breathe in deep
And say goodbye
The saddest song
I'll ever write
For anyone, anytime
Breathe in deep
Before I say
I can feel us slip away
You're almost gone
You're good as gone
We can try to drown it out
But it never stops breathing
We can take it all in
But it never slows down
We've come down from that cloud
Well say-ay-ay
What you gotta say-ay-ay
Please say-ay-ay
What you gotta say
Whoa-a-oh-oh
Whoa-a-oh-oh
Breathe in deep
And say goodbye
The saddest song
I'll ever write
For anyone, anytime
Breathe in deep
Before I say
I can feel us slip away
You're almost gone
You're good as gone
August is over
We're not the reason
August is over
The summer nights are dead
The fall is coming
We were careless hearts
Who got caught up in this
You were shy
To the night you drove me wild
And you crashed into me
And I won't lie
I wish it lasted a lifetime
Please stay-ay-ay
Won't you stay-ay-ay
Tonight
Breathe in deep
And say goodbye
The saddest song
I'll ever write
For anyone, anytime
Breathe in deep
Before I say
I can feel us slip away
You're almost gone
You're good as gone
August is over
No wait
Cause August had to end
All our bags are packed
Just two broken hearts
That got caught up in this
I deny
That tomorrow you'll be gone
And so far from me
It's something strange
Never love the same way
Please stay-ay-ay
Won't you stay-ay-ay
Tonight
Breathe in deep
And say goodbye
The saddest song
I'll ever write
For anyone, anytime
Breathe in deep
Before I say
I can feel us slip away
You're almost gone
You're good as gone
We can try to drown it out
But it never stops breathing
We can take it all in
But it never slows down
We've come down from that cloud
Well say-ay-ay
What you gotta say-ay-ay
Please say-ay-ay
What you gotta say
Whoa-a-oh-oh
Whoa-a-oh-oh
Breathe in deep
And say goodbye
The saddest song
I'll ever write
For anyone, anytime
Breathe in deep
Before I say
I can feel us slip away
You're almost gone
You're good as gone
August is over
We're not the reason
August is over
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
August Is Over Lyrics as written by Sam Hollander Travis Clarke
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This reminds me of the notebook, for obvious reasons. Even how it's called "August is over", there's a part when fin says "summer's over it's time to go home". It reminds me of that.