Taylor Swift’s “cardigan” tells Betty’s perspective in the three-song Folklore story that also includes “august” and “betty.” The songs explore a teenage love triangle involving Betty, James, and the unnamed narrator of “august.”
“august” presents the perspective of the girl involved with James during a summer romance. “betty” is told from James’s perspective as he attempts to address the damage he caused. “cardigan” gives Betty’s viewpoint, completing the narrative from another angle.
The songs are not arranged as a conventional plot summary, and the listener must connect recurring names, memories, and events across the tracks. This storytelling approach became one of Folklore’s most discussed features.
A common mistake is treating “betty” as Betty’s own song because her name appears in its title. In the album’s narrative design, however, “betty” is James’s song, while “cardigan” represents Betty’s perspective.