Taylor Swift’s Folklore song “cardigan” tells the love triangle from Betty’s perspective.
“cardigan,” “august” and “betty” form an interconnected three-song narrative on Folklore. “cardigan” centers on Betty, “betty” presents James’s perspective, and “august” follows the unnamed girl involved in James’s summer romance.
The songs do not function as a single chronological recording. Instead, they revisit related events through different voices and moments in the characters’ lives. That structure is why listeners often refer to them as Folklore’s teenage love triangle.
A frequent mix-up is choosing “betty” because its title names Betty. However, “betty” is narrated from James’s viewpoint; “cardigan” is the song associated with Betty’s perspective. “august” supplies the third angle, focusing on the summer relationship that ultimately ends.