Taylor Swift wrote “august” first among Folklore’s connected songs “Cardigan,” “Betty,” and “august.”
The three songs were designed as parts of a fictional teenage love triangle. “august” presents the perspective of the unnamed girl who has a summer relationship with James. “Betty” is narrated by James, while “Cardigan” presents Betty’s perspective. Writing “august” first helped establish the emotional and narrative foundation for the trilogy.
Swift described the song’s central image as a sun-drenched August being consumed like a bottle of wine. That idea shaped the track’s wistful atmosphere and its focus on a romance that feels intense but was never truly secured.
The songs are not a literal account of Swift’s own teenage life. They belong to Folklore’s broader experiment with fictional characters, imagined histories, and stories told through different voices.