In the love triangle of Taylor Swift’s “august,” the narrator is drawn to James. The song presents an unnamed young woman remembering a brief summer romance with James, who is already connected to Betty.
“august” is one of three Folklore songs that tell the story from different viewpoints. “Cardigan” centers on Betty, while “Betty” is told from James’s perspective. Swift described the three songs as a teenage love triangle whose characters and story arcs unfold across different moments in their lives.
Fans sometimes call the narrator of “august” Augustine or Augusta, but Swift said she had not settled on a formal name for her. That unnamed status is important to the song’s perspective: the narrator feels deeply involved, while James ultimately returns to Betty. The boy’s name is James, not August; August refers to the season and the song title.