Taylor Swift’s Folklore weaves a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and regret through a teenage love triangle. With songs like “Betty,” “August,” and “Cardigan,” Swift dives into the complexities of heartbreak from every angle, leaving listeners contemplating trust, emotional growth, and the power of perspective.
Swift’s eighth album, winning album of the year in 2021, follows the fictional story of three teenagers who struggle through the challenges of love and loss. Many songs on the album detail the nuanced relationship between Betty and James, and how their relationship was forever damaged by the summer fling involving James and Augustine. The story starts with the song “Betty”, an emotional retelling from James’s perspective of how he permanently altered his and Betty’s relationship by engaging in a summer affair with Augustine. He spends countless days seeking to win her back, ending in a climactic moment where he shows up on her doorstep and confesses his love for her while simultaneously apologizing for his wrongdoings. Listeners are left wondering what will come of their relationship, and if they can ever move past this. While fans can feel for Betty, Swift does a phenomenal job capturing the emotions of Augustine—revealing how something Augustine thought was so real slipped away in an instant. In the song “August”, Augustine reminisces about her memories while also realizing that her and James’ relationship was never fully authentic because a part of his heart still beat for Betty. The final central song of this triangle, “Cardigan,” is Betty’s retelling of her past with James. She relays the love and desire that was felt during the beginning of their relationship, while also acknowledging the invisible strings that have been severed as a result of James’ petty actions.
These three songs have a clear cut narrative and listeners can understand who is telling these stories. The other tracks however, are less strictly narrated and are left up for interpretation. “The 1”, another song on Folklore, is often interpreted as Augustine wishing that her and James could have lasted longer than a summer and mourning his choice of Betty. The song “Exile ft. Bon Iver” can be listened to as a heat of the moment fight between Betty and James, both pleading for the other to hear their side of the story. Next, “Illicit Affairs” may capture James’ side of his summer affair, retelling moments that felt good in the present yet had many negative repercussions. At the end of the song it seems to switch to Augustine’s perspective, with her expressing the anger and pain that James put her through. Finally, some of Swift’s fans mark “My Tears Ricochet” as the ending of this story, with Betty painting the picture of a funeral to symbolize the loss of James in her life. In a world full of lying and distrust, she takes agency over her own life and lets go of James for good.
In Folklore‘s love triangle, Taylor Swift masterfully explores the complexities of teenage love, heartbreak, and self-discovery, weaving together a narrative that resonates deeply with listeners. Each character’s perspective—Betty’s heartbreak, James’s regret, and Augustine’s longing—adds layers of nuance, challenging audiences to examine themes of trust, gender roles, and emotional accountability. Through this collection, Swift not only tells a compelling story but also reminds us of the lasting impact of young love and the power of perspective in understanding relationships. By blending vivid storytelling with complex themes, she implores others to consider who is controlling certain narratives in their own lives.
