In Taylor Swift’s Folklore love triangle, “Betty” presents James’s perspective.
The connected storyline centers on James, Betty, and the unnamed narrator of “august.” “Betty” is written from James’s point of view as he reflects on his behavior and attempts to reconnect with Betty after the summer events described in “august.”
“august” is therefore not James’s song, even though James is important to its story. The narrator of “august” describes a short romance with him and realizes that he was never truly hers to lose. “Cardigan,” meanwhile, is tied to Betty’s perspective.
This three-song structure is fictional rather than a direct account of Swift’s personal life. Folklore frequently uses imagined characters and story arcs, which is why identifying the viewpoint of each song helps clarify the narrative.