Taylor Swift wrote “august” first among the three linked Folklore love-triangle songs.
The three songs are “Cardigan,” “August,” and “Betty.” They tell related parts of a fictional teenage love triangle involving Betty, James, and the unnamed narrator of “August.” Swift explained that she began with the perspective of the girl involved with James during the summer.
The narrator of “August” is not given a formal name in the lyrics. Swift said she imagined names such as Augusta or Augustine privately, while the other two central characters are explicitly named in their songs.
The writing order is separate from the track order or the order in which listeners may discover the songs. The three tracks are spread across Folklore, but “August” was the first one Swift wrote for this narrative concept.