“Cardigan” presents Betty’s perspective in the Folklore storyline connected to Taylor Swift’s “august.”
Swift’s three-song narrative links “Cardigan,” “august,” and “Betty.” “august” follows Augustine, the girl involved in a fleeting summer romance with James. “Betty” is told from James’s viewpoint as he reflects on his behavior, while “Cardigan” conveys Betty’s side of the relationship and its emotional aftermath.
The songs do not function as a conventional plot soundtrack with every event explained in order. Instead, Swift uses repeated names, memories, and emotional details to let listeners assemble the triangle. This fictional structure was a major part of Folklore’s departure from the autobiographical interpretation often applied to her earlier work.
“Cardigan” is also the lead single from Folklore and the album’s second track, while “august” is track eight. The shared characters, rather than the songs’ positions on the album, are what connect them.