“Cardigan” tells Betty’s viewpoint in Folklore’s three-song love triangle. The connected songs are “Cardigan,” “august,” and “Betty,” with each presenting a different perspective on James, Betty, and the unnamed summer-romance narrator.
“august” is told from the perspective of the girl who becomes involved with James during the summer. “Betty” is narrated by James, while “Cardigan” looks back from Betty’s perspective. Together, the songs create a fictional, overlapping story rather than a literal account of Swift’s personal life.
Listeners sometimes reverse “Cardigan” and “Betty” because both songs focus on the relationship’s aftermath. The key distinction is that “Cardigan” belongs to Betty, while “Betty” belongs to James. This narrative structure is one reason fans revisit “august” each August and connect it with the other two tracks.