Taylor Swift’s “cardigan” presents Betty’s perspective in the three-song story shared by Folklore’s “cardigan,” “august,” and “betty.” The songs portray different viewpoints on the same fictional teenage love triangle.
“august” is narrated by an unnamed girl remembering a summer romance with James. “betty” is told from James’s perspective as he reflects on his actions, while “cardigan” focuses on Betty and her relationship with him. The songs do not form a literal chronological plot in a conventional musical sequence, but their connections are deliberate.
Swift described Folklore as exploring fictional narratives and characters, which helped distinguish these songs from straightforward autobiographical confessionals. Fans frequently debate details of the story, but the central perspective assignments are established in the album’s concept.
The title “cardigan” is also easy to confuse with the album title or with the song “betty.” The answer is the opening track of Folklore, not the song that names James.