Taylor Swift wrote “august” first among the three Folklore love-triangle songs. The trio consists of “august,” “cardigan,” and “betty.”
Swift developed the songs as connected fictional narratives about James, Betty, and an unnamed girl involved in a summer romance. “august” became the starting point for that storytelling experiment, even though the tracks appear as separate songs on the album.
Listeners sometimes assume “cardigan” came first because it was released as Folklore’s lead single and received an official music video. That release history is different from the order in which Swift wrote the three songs. “betty” likewise occupies a later narrative viewpoint despite its character being central to the story.
The writing order adds context to the annual August phenomenon. The song that began the fictional triangle later became the seasonal centerpiece, returning to charts and streaming services when fans revisit summer memories each year.