“Cardigan” is the Folklore love-triangle song sung from Betty’s perspective.
Taylor Swift designed “Cardigan,” “august,” and “Betty” as three connected stories about James, Betty, and the unnamed girl involved in a summer romance with James. “Cardigan” follows Betty’s viewpoint, “august” follows the other girl’s experience, and “Betty” follows James as he reflects on what happened.
This structure is one reason “august” has remained so discussable. Its annual August revival is not only about a song title; it also invites listeners back into a larger fictional narrative. The seasonal track represents the fleeting summer affair, while “Cardigan” and “Betty” supply the perspectives of the people connected to it.
The titles can cause confusion because “Betty” sounds like the obvious answer to a question about Betty. However, “Betty” is the song told by James, while “Cardigan” is the track associated with Betty’s perspective. The distinction is central to Folklore’s three-part storytelling design.