'tis the damn season

Mood

Production Style

Background

Produced by Aaron Dessner, ''tis the damn season' is one of evermore's narrative character pieces, telling the story of someone who returns to their hometown for the holidays and falls back into an old relationship. It is a companion piece to 'dorothea,' telling the same story from the other perspective.

Meaning & Interpretation

The song captures the specific melancholy of holiday hookups with an ex — the way going home can transport you back to a version of yourself you thought you had outgrown. The narrator knows this is temporary, that she will leave again after the holidays, but the pull of familiarity and comfort is too strong to resist. The 'damn' in the title carries all the frustration of someone who knows better but does it anyway.

Personal Connection

The track's companion relationship with 'dorothea' showcased the narrative ambition of the folklore/evermore era, building interconnected fictional worlds across songs.