The Folklore Love Triangle is a compilation of three songs that tell a love story about three different characters who go by the names of Betty, James, and Augustine. Each song is from the point of view of one of the characters. These songs were created by Taylor Swift, William Bowery, Jack Antonoff, and Aaron Brooking Dessner. These three songs are also sung by Taylor Swift.

Cardigan: Betty’s POV

“Cardigan” is the first song in the folklore love triangle. “Cardigan” is meant to be from the POV of a girl named Betty. Throughout the song, Betty sings about a boy named James. She sings about how she knew him because she loves him while also singing about how he made her feel special. He made her insecurities feel unique and beautiful rather than something to be ashamed of. When she felt she had been forgotten and unloved, he told her she was his favorite person. Then we learn that he cheated on her during the summer because of the lines, “chase two girls, lose one.” and “playing hide-and-seek and giving me your weekends.” Essentially, Betty is saying that he would hang out with her on weekends but then hide from her during the week because he was with the other girl. He’s hiding out with the other girl, cheating on Betty. Finally, throughout the end of the song, Betty sings about how she knew he’d come back to her because she knows him. He wants to come back to her and change the ending of their love story. Betty knew he’d come back once he realized his love for the other girl wasn’t what he wanted. 

August: Augustine’s POV

“August” is set from the point of view of Augustine. Throughout the song, Augustine sings about the summer she had with James. Augustine is known as the other girl. In the song, Augustine sings about how just wanting to be with her was enough for her. She also sings that he was never hers to lose, alluding to how he is in love with Betty. She is trapped in a one-sided love relationship with James, canceling her plans in case he calls. She settled for the bare minimum from James. “August” is also about Augustine feeling nostalgic. In the song, she often sings “remember when” before lines. When he returns to Betty, she asks him if he remembers her and their summer love. “So much for summer love and saying “us” because you weren’t mine to lose,” she says when she realizes he was never hers. She also sings about how she can see them lost in her memory. Summer slipped away from her because the memories were never hers. James was never hers; he was meant to be with Betty. Augustine lived for the hope of it all.

Betty: Jame’s POV

“Betty” is set from the point of view of James, Betty’s lover. In the song “Betty,” James sings about how he had planned to apologize to Betty for cheating on her with Augustine. He goes through what-if scenarios about showing up at her doorstep for her party. He sings about how he planned out his apology to her for weeks, but it’s finally sinking in that he’s about to apologize to the girl he loves. He is risking rejection. Will Betty take him back? Does she still love him? If he finally gets to kiss her again, will it be like what he’s dreamed of? Will it fix everything that he’s done? Eventually, James sings about the moment Augustine appeared in his life and he began to cheat on Betty. Then finally, James arrives at Betty’s doorstep, apologizes, and kisses her on her front porch. Just like Betty knew, James came back to her.

Cardigan and Betty Lyric Parallels

“High heels on cobblestone” —> “I was walking home on broken cobblestones”

“When you are young, they assume you know nothing” —> “I’m only 17, I don’t know anything”

“Stopped at a streetlight” —> “Drunk under a streetlight”

“And when I felt like I was an old cardigan – Under someone’s bed – You put me on and said I was your favorite”       —> “Standing in your cardigan”

“To kiss in cars and downtown bars” —> “Kissin’ in my car again”

“And you’d be standin’ in my front porch light” —> “Will you kiss me on the porch In front of all your stupid friends?”

August and Betty Lyric Parallels 

“Just thinking of you when she pulled up like – A figment of my worst intentions – She said “James, get in, let’s drive”—> “Remember when I pulled up and said, “Get in the car”

“Those days turned into nights – Slept next to her, but” —> “And I can see us twisted in bedsheets”

“Will you call when you’re back at school?” —> “About why you switched your homeroom but”

“So much for summer love and saying “us” —> “If I told you it was just a summer thing?”