Taylor Swift’s “cardigan” gives Betty’s perspective in folklore’s three-song love triangle.
The connected narrative includes “august,” “betty,” and “cardigan.” “august” is told by the unnamed girl who has a summer romance with James, “betty” is told by James as he reflects on what happened, and “cardigan” follows Betty’s viewpoint.
The three songs do not present the story in a simple chronological order. Instead, Swift uses different narrators and memories to show the emotional consequences of the same relationship. This structure is one reason fans often call the songs a teenage love triangle.
The title “cardigan” can also cause confusion because it is sometimes treated only as an independent song about memory and lost love. It is a standalone track, but Swift and commentary around folklore connect it directly to Betty and James. The song’s viewpoint is the key distinction: Betty is the narrator, while James narrates “betty.”