Dive into Taylor Swift’s “Folklore” as we explore the emotional intricacies of the “Teenage Love Triangle” trilogy—“Cardigan,” “Betty,” and “August.” Join us for a deep and insightful journey into the perspectives of Betty, James, and Augustine. Uncover how their stories intertwine through love, betrayal, and self-discovery, and feel the raw emotions conveyed through Taylor’s masterful lyricism. Whether you’re a longtime Swiftie or a casual listener, this episode offers a fresh look at how music narrates complex human experiences. Tune in to discover the deeper connections and hidden layers behind these hit songs.

TRANSCRIPTION:

Alejandra (Ale): Welcome to Swift Notes, where we tune into the heart and soul of Taylor Swift’s music, exploring the layers and stories she puts into each note. I’m Alejandra Urbano, your host on this journey through her discography. So grab your headphones and join me as we delve into the intricate world of Taylor Swift’s songs, analyzing her lyrics one at a time.

News Clip: Taylor Swift sold out ERA’s tour now in its fourth night at SoFi. It is pouring money into our local economy and every city she visits. The Federal Reserve reporting the tour has injected 5 billion. A 

News Clip: US pop star, Taylor Swift, has been named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. American News Magazine described her as a musical force of nature and praised her as both the writer and the hero of her own story.

Swift is the first woman to be awarded the Time Magazine Award. Title twice. She also won in  2017.

Alejandra (Ale): Hello everyone. Today we’re diving into a very special episode where we explore the storytelling of Taylor Swift through three of her standout tracks from the Folklore album Betty, Cardigan and August.

These tracks were written through a fictitious love story to tell the story of a teenage love triangle from all the different perspectives. Joining me today are two good friends, Alessia and Tata, who are just as passionate about Taylor’s music as I am. 

Alesia: Welcome guys! Hi Ale, hi everyone. Thanks for having me.

I’m really excited to be here and finally be able to discuss these songs. 

Tata: Hi everyone, it’s great to be here. I can’t wait to get into today’s episode because I can really finally talk about my favorite album songs.

Alejandra (Ale): You know, it’s really special for us to come together for this [00:02:00] episode. We all come from Venezuela and moved to D. C. the same year for college, three years ago. We’ve lived through everything together, heartbreaks, crazy parties, exams, late night study sessions, you name it. What would you guys say was the most memorable moment for us during all these years?

Alesia: Oh, definitely our endless car rides to classes. We spent those trips singing along to our favorite songs or just gossiping. And let’s not forget our culinary adventures, trying every new restaurant we could find and giving our ratings. There was something about singing along to our favorite songs and then debating which restaurants to go to next that really made our college days memorable.

What do you think was the best restaurant that we discovered during those adventures? 

Tata: It’s tough to just pick one, but I’d say that little Thai place by campus was on the top of my list. Remember how we went there to celebrate every time we finished our exams?

Alejandra (Ale): That place was a real find. It’s funny how feudal music can bring people together and create such lasting memories.

Speaking of music, let’s get into today’s episode. Each of us has a personal favorite among these three songs, and today we’re each going to dive into our favorite, sharing why it resonates with us and how it fits into the broader narrative of the album. Tata will start us off with her favorite, Cardigan.

Can you share why this song stands out to you? 

Tata: Sure. Cardigan is such a powerful song because it’s from the perspective of Betty, one of the characters in the love triangle. There’s Betty, James, and Augustine. Betty and James were in love until one mistake with Augustine made him lose her. In this song, Betty brings us into the past with James, painting a picture of both the sweet moments and the sharp pains.

She opens up a vivid memory, almost wistful, But then she drops a reality check on us, with the line Music Clip: A friend to all, is a friend to none, chase two girls, lose the one

Tata: Here Betty is not just reminiscing. She’s pointing out James’ indecision and the pain it caused. It’s a powerful callout showing how his actions left deep marks.

Then we move to that chorus. Which really hits home. 

Music Clip: And when I felt like I was an old cardigan under someone’s bed You put me on and said I was your favorite

Tata: This metaphor is beautiful and sad. It’s about feeling forgotten and then suddenly cherished. Like an old sweater you rediscover and realize how much you love it.

That line perfectly captures the rollercoaster of feelings valued and then overlooked. The way Taylor Swift crafts this song is not just about a trip down memory lane. It’s a deep dive into complexities of young love and the lingering feeling that comes with it. Betty’s journey through these emotions reflected in the lyrics really makes us feel every high and low along with her.

Alesia: You really captured that well, Tata. Switching over to Betty, my favorite, we see a totally different side of the story. Here, James is full of regrets and really hoping for Betty’s forgiveness. There’s this raw moment where he tells us

Music Clip: I was walking home on broken cobblestones, just thinking of you when she pulled up like a figment of my wildest dreams

It’s like he’s caught off guard by this encounter with Augustine that leads him into the summer fling. It’s unexpected and changes everything for him. And the song, it’s woven with the feeling of him wanting to turn things around with Betty. Like when he sings

Music Clip: Will it patch your broken wings? I’m only seventeen, I don’t know anything but I know I miss you.

It’s such a heartfelt confession, he’s admitting he made mistakes, he’s still young and figuring things out, but above all, he knows he wants Betty back. It’s the mix of innocence and longing that really shows he struggles to make things right. Acknowledging his part in the hurt while clinging to the hope of reconciliation.

Alejandra (Ale): And then there’s August, where we hear from Augustine, the other woman in this complicated triangle. She gives us this bittersweet glimpse into her summer with James, not knowing the full story behind his past with Betty. It’s poignant. Augustine captures the essence of the fleeting romance with

Music Clip: August sipped away like a bottle of wine ’cause you were never mine.

It’s such a vivid metaphor, isn’t it? The days are just slipping by, much like their short-lived relationship, destined to end as the summer fades. She goes on to say,

Music Clip: To live for the hope of it all, Cancel plans just in case you call, And say meet me by the mall, So much for summer love, And saying us, cause you weren’t mine to lose

Alejandra (Ale): Augustine is really coming to terms with the fact that what they had was always temporary, never really solid or meant to last. And amid all this, she was unaware of Betty’s existence, which adds another layer of sadness to her realization. She too was hurt, caught up in a situation she didn’t fully understand.

It highlights the transient nature of their connection built on moments that were as brief as they were intense. It’s really intriguing to see how these songs intertwine. Like when Betty describes feeling forgotten, using the cardigan as a metaphor, and Augustine laments that the summer romance was never really hers, echoing that sense of being temporary.

It highlights a profound theme of neglect and fleeting connections that Taylor captures so perfectly. 

Alesia: I agree, and it’s fascinating how James and Betty is caught in this turmoil. He’s reflecting on Betty even in his moments with Augustine. Showing his struggles with his choices and desires. This conflict is something both Betty and Augustine experience intensely.

Betty feels betrayed and Augustine realizes she was just a temporary comfort. It’s a raw and honest look at the complexities of relationships. 

Alejandra (Ale): Yes, her storytelling is nothing short of masterful. She layers these narratives in such a way that we get a multi faceted view of each character’s emotional journey.

The connections between their experiences show the complexities about young love and how each scar can stick with us for a long time, errors in judgment and personal growth. As we’re about to conclude, let’s reflect a bit more. How do these stories resonate [00:09:00] with you personally? 

Tata: Every discussion brings something new to light.

The way Taylor delves into these emotional landscapes and with such truth is remarkable. It’s not just about the mistakes or the heartache. It’s about how these moments shape us. Each lyric, each line resonates deeply, reminding us of our own stories of love and loss. 

Alesia: And I always enjoy unpacking these layers with you both.

There’s something incredibly compelling about Taylor’s lyricism, how she paints these intricate emotional pictures that draws in over and over again. We always find new meanings, new connections that perhaps we didn’t see before. I would even dare to say she’s my favorite storyteller. 

Alejandra (Ale): Thank you Ale and Tata for this amazing discussion.

And thanks to everyone listening to Swift Notes. We hope you continue to explore and connect with music on a deep level. Join us next week where we’ll be analyzing her new album, The Tortured Poet’s Department. Until then, let the music play on and keep those stories [00:10:00] close to your heart.

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SHOW NOTES

Alesia Simon – Graphic design student at American University

Alexandra Gil (Tata) – Finance and Marketing student at American University

Folklore Album – 8th Studio Album