Besides “august,” Taylor Swift’s Folklore song “Betty” tells the love triangle from James’s perspective. The three connected songs are “Cardigan,” “august,” and “Betty,” each presenting a different viewpoint.
“august” follows the unnamed young woman involved in a summer romance with James. “Cardigan” presents Betty’s perspective, while “Betty” presents James’s perspective as he reflects on his actions and attempts to apologize. Swift described the group as a teenage love triangle told through different people and different moments in their lives.
The songs are fictional rather than a straightforward account of Swift’s personal history. James is seventeen in the story, and the narrative concludes with James and Betty returning to each other while the “august” narrator is left remembering the temporary romance. This structure is one reason listeners often discuss the three tracks together rather than treating “august” as an isolated summer song.