Taylor Swift’s song “Betty” gives James’s viewpoint in the Folklore story connected to “august.”
Swift designed “Betty,” “Cardigan,” and “august” as three songs about the same fictional teenage love triangle. James is the character whose actions connect Betty with the unnamed girl who narrates “august.” His song centers on his attempt to address the consequences of his behavior and reconnect with Betty.
The three perspectives are deliberately different. Betty’s experience appears in “Cardigan,” the summer romance appears in “august,” and James’s account appears in “Betty.” This arrangement encourages listeners to compare memory, regret, and romantic expectation rather than treating any one song as a complete objective account.
The song title can make the answer seem obvious, but “Betty” is not the narrator of “august.” “august” is the seasonal song in the trilogy, while “Betty” is the track named for the character whose relationship with James anchors the story.