In Taylor Swift’s “August,” Augustine loves a male character named James.
The song presents Augustine’s perspective on a brief summer romance with James. She hopes the relationship might become something permanent, but James is already connected to Betty, his former lover. The story therefore centers on longing, uncertainty, and an affection that is not fully returned.
James is also central to the larger Folklore love-triangle narrative. “Cardigan” is told from Betty’s perspective, while “Betty” is told from James’s perspective. “August” was the first of the three songs Swift wrote for this storyline.
Listeners sometimes treat Augustine as the song’s title character, but “August” is not the name of the person she loves. Augustine is the female narrator, James is the boy involved in the romance, and Betty is the person to whom James ultimately returns. Keeping those roles separate makes the connected narrative easier to follow.