If you’re a real and true swiftie at heart like me, then you’ve probably tried to decode every secret message or meaning behind every Taylor Swift song. For a little over a decade now, Taylor Swift has been leaving lingering questions and clues in between lyrics that, over the years, have turned into an easter egg hunt for Swifties. It started with her debut album when fans caught a drift of subtly pointed fingers towards Swift’s ex-boyfriends through coded messages in the album’s lyric book. Very early on, fans noticed that there were some letters throughout the lyric book that were capitalized in each song, that when put together spelled out a word or phrase. Her first direct finger pointing towards an ex-boyfriend was in her country break up anthem Should’ve Said No when she wrote out the name of her high school ex, Sam.
The guessing games continued for several albums where Swift decided to get more creative and meticulous with her clues by making them even more mysterious. For example, in RED the clues spelled out phrases like “Maple lattes” and “LA on your break” making them much more specific towards a person or event, leading fans to guess who the songs are about. Sometimes, the clues are so specific and obvious that she never speaks about the situation in public or in interviews, but settles everyone’s question on everyone’s mind by answering specific coded messages. As she did with Back To December, reflecting on her breakup with then ex Taylor Lautner, and making the secret message simply “Tay.”
After the release of her surprise 8th studio album, it was obvious that Taylor Swift switched gears and took a different route for the projection of this album. Making this her first alternative album and an album that isn’t fully autobiographical, Swift started leaving easter eggs in the actual lyrics of the songs and connecting them to other songs on the album. Back in July, when the album came out, Swift stated that there are three songs that she refers to as the “Teenage Love Triangle.” It sees the point of view of three fictional characters recounting their experience at different times of their life. It wasn’t too long after that that fans were able to easily pick up on the love triangle Taylor Swift created in Folklore and the story of these characters.
“Betty”
The first song in this teenage love trio is Betty. The song hits home to old school nostalgic Taylor Swift country roots. This is my personal favorite on the album because it’s so heartfelt and innocent, the kind you want to sing it at the top of your lungs, but it’s also like watching a movie that no matter how many times you watch it, you’re just as shocked and emotional about the plot. The song is told from a male’s perspective, which is something Taylor has never done before. If you’re a hardcore swiftie, you know all about Taylor’s sneaky pseudo names. You’ve probably known for a whole that William Bowery (the songwriter listed in the song credits for Betty and Exile) is not a real person but a pseudonym for her boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, whom she wrote the song with. Betty takes place in a high school-era from the point of view of a regretful teenage boy, James. He just realized he made a big mistake and potentially lost the love of his life, Betty. The song is written as an apology from James to Betty after having a summer affair with another girl. The characters named in the song Betty, James, and Inez are not random picks. They’re the names of her friend Blake Lively’s children. The song follows James preparing to apologize to Betty and reflecting on the mistakes he made and why he made them. The song alludes to several lyrics that connect them to the other two parts of this love triangle. James recalls, “walking home on broken cobblestone,” when the other girl, “pulled up like a figment of my worst intentions,” and said, “James get in let’s drive,” making the first connection to the other girl in this three-part story by alluding to lyrics in Cardigan and August.
“Cardigan”
The second part of this love triangle is from Betty’s point of view. However, in Cardigan, an older Betty years later reflects on her relationship with James and what he put her through when they were younger. She adverts back to the lyrics from Betty by explaining the way she felt about James’ actions. She references his apology and states that she knew he’d come back to her after “the thrill expired” and be standing on her front portlight. It’s a direct reference to the song Betty when James finally shows up on her doorstep to apologize and ask for her back.
The cobblestones at the beginning of the song connect to an image of James walking those same cobblestones before going away with the other girl. The song sheds light on an older, more mature Betty with a stronger mindset through the imagery of an old cardigan that bears the scent of loss 20 years later. In Betty, James lists things about Betty and their relationship that he’s missed: her cardigan and their kisses in cars, which Betty later also goes and reflects on in Cardigan. The song shows that although James did hurt Betty, she ultimately still loves him, and potentially end up together. She references his mistakes with the other girl by stating “chase two girls, lose the one” as a lesson learned. The song is a nostalgic tumultuous bittersweet love story of a relationship that wasn’t perfect, that did endure pain and betrayal, but through a reflection of the experience years later Betty still feels home and loved by James despite his mistakes.
“August”
The final piece of this love triangle is the perspective of the other girl. When most people think of another girl impeding or damaging a relationship, they create this villain of a manipulative meticulous girl. But in August, we hear the point of view from the girl James had this summer fling with, and she’s just this sensitive hopeless romantic girl that really fell for James and genuinely thought they had something real. The song is a dream-like innocent telling of what seems like a romantic summer, but really it’s a reflection of romance turned heartbreak. In August, lyric parallels are made to James’ retelling of the story in Betty, when she describes the car scene. “Remember when I pulled up and said get in the car”, thus the moment that Jame described as “she pulled up like a figment of my worst intentions, she said James get in lets drive”. August was emotionally invested in this relationship and dreaming of a future with James while he dreamt of Betty all summer long. In the song, the girl that James had a short affair with describes it as something that went as quickly as a bottle of wine because what she comes to realize is that he was never hers.
This love triangle is true folklore fashion and embodies the word Folklore in its entirety by sharing one story from three different perspectives and its several truths. Personally, I believe Betty and James end up together in the long run. Proving that people make mistakes, bad ones at that, especially when young, but essentially grow from them, and true love can prevail. Each character created by Taylor is a lesson that we can all learn from and reflect on for ourselves and our own stories. Are you Betty, August, or James? Or maybe a compilation of all three characters.