“August” was the first song Taylor Swift wrote in Folklore’s love-triangle storyline.
The three connected songs are “August,” “Cardigan,” and “Betty.” Together, they present different viewpoints surrounding James, Betty, and the unnamed girl whose summer relationship with James forms the emotional center of “August.” Swift wrote “August” first, then developed the broader narrative around the characters and their differing perspectives.
The songs are not presented as a conventional chronological story with every event explained directly. Instead, each track supplies clues through voice, memory, and implication. “August” focuses on the temporary romance and the narrator’s realization that James was never truly hers. “Cardigan” is associated with Betty’s perspective, while “Betty” gives James a chance to address his actions.
Swift has described the album’s stories as fictional rather than direct accounts of her own life. That distinction is important because some listeners initially interpreted the triangle as autobiographical, even though Folklore deliberately emphasizes imagined characters and story arcs.