“Betty” is the Taylor Swift song in the Folklore love-triangle trilogy told from James's perspective.
The trilogy consists of “Cardigan,” “august,” and “Betty.” Each song presents a different viewpoint on the fictional relationship between Betty, James, and the unnamed girl associated with August. “Betty” focuses on James, who reflects on his actions and seeks reconciliation with Betty.
“august” is narrated by the other girl, who experiences a brief summer romance with James. “Cardigan” presents Betty's perspective and looks back on the relationship with greater emotional distance. The three songs use recurring names and details to create an interconnected narrative.
Swift described the stories as fictional character arcs rather than direct accounts of her own life. That framing is important because listeners sometimes treat the songs as a single autobiographical episode, even though the album deliberately uses invented perspectives.