Original and clean Cruel Summer Taylor Swift lyrics with Karaoke, download Cruel Summer Taylor Swift lyrics pdf file update 2025.
“Cruel Summer” is Taylor Swift at her lyrical best—intense, poetic, and full of heart. Whether you’re in love, out of love, or somewhere in between, it’s a song that hits hard… and stays with you long after the summer ends.
Cruel Summer Taylor Swift lyrics clean
Fever dream high in the quiet of the night
You know that I caught it
Bad, bad boy
Shiny toy with a price
You know that I bought 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, whoa, oh
It’s a cruel summer
It’s cool, that’s what I tell ’em
No rules in breakable heaven
But ooh, whoa oh
It’s a cruel summer
With you
Hang your head low
In the glow of the vending machine
I’m not dying
You say that we’ll just screw it up in these trying times
We’re not trying
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, whoa, oh
It’s a cruel summer
It’s cool, that’s what I tell ’em
No rules in breakable heaven
But ooh, whoa, 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 screamed 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, whoa, oh
It’s a cruel summer
It’s cool, that’s what I tell ’em
No rules, in breakable heaven
But ooh, whoa, 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 screamed for whatever it’s worth
“I love you, ” ain’t that the worst thing you ever heard?
Cruel Summer Taylor Swift Lyrics: A Fever Dream of Passion, Pain, and Secret Love
“Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift is a song that burns bright with urgency. Released as part of her Lover album in 2019 and later given a well-deserved single release in 2023, the track quickly became a fan favorite—and for good reason. With explosive synth-pop energy, chaotic summer-night vibes, and some of Taylor’s most iconic lyrics, “Cruel Summer” perfectly captures the messy beauty of a love that feels both euphoric and doomed.
It’s not just a song—it’s a feeling. One you’ve likely lived through at some point: late-night drives, forbidden kisses, screaming into the night, and praying the other person feels the same way.
A Deep Dive Into the Lyrics
The song kicks off in full swing:
“Fever dream high in the quiet of the night / You know that I caught it.”
Right away, we’re pulled into a whirlwind romance. It’s intense, a little reckless, and absolutely addictive. The lyrics feel like the emotional snapshot of a summer fling that’s too good to be true—and might fall apart at any moment.
Then, the chorus punches in:
“It’s a cruel summer / With you.”
The phrase “cruel summer” isn’t about sunshine and fun. It’s about the emotional toll of a secret relationship. The heat isn’t just in the air—it’s in the tension, the longing, the not knowing if you’re going to get your heart broken.
One of the most iconic lines in Taylor’s entire discography is in the bridge:
“I love you, ain’t that the worst thing you ever heard?”
It’s dramatic, bold, and achingly honest. It encapsulates that terrifying moment of vulnerability—admitting love before knowing it’s safe to do so. The lyrics throughout “Cruel Summer” are sharp, clever, and dripping with emotional conflict. It’s love at its most dangerous and delicious.
The Sound of Wild, Youthful Romance
Musically, “Cruel Summer” is bright, electric, and full of contrasts. Synths shimmer, drums pulse, and Taylor’s voice rises and falls with the story. The production (by Swift, Jack Antonoff, and St. Vincent) is the perfect backdrop for a narrative that feels part fairy tale, part breakdown.
It’s a pop masterpiece that manages to sound like a dream and a nightmare all at once—which is exactly what being in love can feel like.
Why It Resonates So Deeply
“Cruel Summer” taps into a very real, very raw emotional space. It’s the kind of song you scream at midnight, windows down, heart pounding. It’s about the giddy highs and gut-punching lows of a relationship that feels both right and wrong.
Taylor Swift has always had a gift for capturing the emotional details most of us don’t even know how to put into words. And in “Cruel Summer,” she distills the feeling of desperate hope into three breathless minutes.
FAQ: Cruel Summer Taylor Swift Lyrics
Q: What is “Cruel Summer” about?
A: The song is about a passionate but secret summer romance filled with emotional highs and lows. It’s about falling hard, keeping it hidden, and fearing it might all come crashing down.
Q: Why is it called “Cruel Summer”?
A: The title reflects the emotional cruelty of being in a thrilling relationship that’s full of uncertainty, secrecy, and longing—even during a season typically associated with fun and freedom.
Q: Who wrote “Cruel Summer”?
A: Taylor Swift co-wrote the song with Jack Antonoff and Annie Clark (St. Vincent).
Q: What album is it from?
A: “Cruel Summer” is track two on Taylor Swift’s Lover album (2019).
Q: Why did the song become more popular years after its release?
A: Despite being a fan favorite since 2019, it wasn’t officially released as a single until 2023—when it finally received the radio attention and chart success many felt it always deserved.
Source: genius.com
