the folklore love triangle explained: cardigan, august & betty

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 644

  • @kitwrites9345
    @kitwrites9345 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1892

    The best part about the lyrics 'Meet me behind the mall' is if you shift the M it turns into 'Meet me behind them all' implying that she subconsciously knew that it was an affair.

    • @tambouline
      @tambouline 2 ปีที่แล้ว +124

      wow, taylor (and you) are reallyyyyy dedicated to their work huh

    • @felienmusic
      @felienmusic ปีที่แล้ว +31

      OH MY GOSH that amazing

    • @ryanremenap5616
      @ryanremenap5616 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      @@gopikasumith9016 were we not supposed to? i always did... I just now realized it's only three songs not more, like illicit affairs and the 1

    • @firalogi
      @firalogi ปีที่แล้ว +4

      wait WHAT

    • @LucyDaniel6
      @LucyDaniel6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@ryanremenap5616 yea i feel like the 1 and illicit affairs fit it there an make sense but its not

  • @capybara1335
    @capybara1335 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3772

    Have you noticed how James describes his romance with August as “just a summer thing” while she calls it “summer love”? 🥲 Justice for August!!

    • @NenaShelby
      @NenaShelby  2 ปีที่แล้ว +296

      omg so true 😭😭

    • @nesta3348
      @nesta3348 2 ปีที่แล้ว +56

      why? she new he had a girlfriend? she had no business with him

    • @Slightly_Obsessive
      @Slightly_Obsessive 2 ปีที่แล้ว +105

      @@nesta3348 I don’t think she knew. Judging by the lyrics of Betty I think James’s and Betty’s relationship was secret.

    • @nesta3348
      @nesta3348 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@Slightly_Obsessive what makes you think that, I didn't see it in the lyrics

    • @Slightly_Obsessive
      @Slightly_Obsessive 2 ปีที่แล้ว +69

      @@nesta3348 the “kiss me on the front porch in front of your stupid friends” (or something like that) makes it seem like no one knew about them. Like maybe their friends wouldn’t approve of their relationship so they kept it secret, but now James doesn’t give a crap anymore. Also the “meet me behind the mall. That one probably doesn’t mean anything but it’s a secretive place so maybe? This is all speculation though. You can interpret anyway you want to.

  • @vaibhavikulkarni3180
    @vaibhavikulkarni3180 ปีที่แล้ว +513

    few things
    1. betty and cardigan both end like a nicely tied bow but august just fades out...
    2. august repeats the same lyrics bcs augustine only knew james for a summer but cardigan has more lyrics bcs betty knew james and small details about him :((

  • @kassieramsdell622
    @kassieramsdell622 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2623

    MY favorite is that “Get in the car” from August and “James get in” from Betty both happen at the 2:47 time stamp in both songs!!! AND 2+4+7=13 🤯🤯🤯

    • @amrutabapat-t2805
      @amrutabapat-t2805 2 ปีที่แล้ว +294

      THIS WOMAN’S MINNNND!!!! that’s too much for a coincidence tbh

    • @gretchenpratt4080
      @gretchenpratt4080 2 ปีที่แล้ว +159

      no freaking way!!!!!!
      i cant with u taylor

    • @kassieramsdell622
      @kassieramsdell622 2 ปีที่แล้ว +33

      @@amrutabapat-t2805 I KNOW RIGHT

    • @satchelglamz
      @satchelglamz 2 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      what does 13 represent?

    • @gretchenpratt4080
      @gretchenpratt4080 2 ปีที่แล้ว +72

      @@satchelglamz it is taylors lucky number; she was born on the 13th, her first hit "Tim McGraw" had a 13 second intro, and so on

  • @luisaballini
    @luisaballini 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1718

    My opinion: I think Betty and James had a massive fight at the school ball because James saw her dancing with a guy and was super jeoulous. They decide to give a break and Betty thought that in the next day everything would be fine again, but then James meets Augustine in the way home and spends the whole summer ghosting Betty; but in the end he dicides that he wants her again, and they're together for good.

    • @NenaShelby
      @NenaShelby  2 ปีที่แล้ว +231

      ooo this is an interesting perspective!

    • @kosmikpixie
      @kosmikpixie 2 ปีที่แล้ว +104

      I disagree. Once a cheater, always a cheater.

    • @jacksonsnow6901
      @jacksonsnow6901 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I truly one gg

    • @jasminerose6418
      @jasminerose6418 2 ปีที่แล้ว +98

      i agree with this because james says “betty i know where it all went wrong”, meaning this is why i did what i did, then proceeds to
      describe the dance and what he saw and I think the “walking home on broken cobblestones just thinking of you” part is james walking home from the dance with this huge misunderstanding still thinking about betty and this random guy. Once the song says “she said ‘james get in let’s drive’ those days turned into nights”, i believe the whole affair started because he thought betty was being unfaithful or fickle and just wanted something to drown their sorrows in and august just happened to be there at the right time.

    • @tasneem2013
      @tasneem2013 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      my question is how long do we think betty and james were together for before he cheated

  • @nubesvaporosas
    @nubesvaporosas 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1648

    Girl i noticed betty ends with "stopped at a streetlight you know i miss you" and in cardigan betty says "but i knew you, standing in your levy's drunk under a streetlight" GUYS HE WAS DRUNK WHEN HE WENT TO THE PARTY
    Wtf what a toxic boy

    • @NenaShelby
      @NenaShelby  2 ปีที่แล้ว +210

      AHHHH WTH

    • @goldylips5638
      @goldylips5638 2 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      Ohhh yeah I never noticed that

    • @KristineWPhilbin
      @KristineWPhilbin 2 ปีที่แล้ว +69

      ‘to kiss in cars and downtown bars’
      ‘kissin in my car again stopped at a streetlight’
      i think that by streetlight, she meant that it was one of those lamps on the sidewalk that lin manuel miranda cleans in mary poppins returns (random connection lol)

    • @killikate926
      @killikate926 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      @@KristineWPhilbin They're too young to be going to bars. It makes me think it's a memory after the whole HS events.

    • @onurturekmt1595
      @onurturekmt1595 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      My opinion James bad guy Betty is OK August queen if you don’t agree with me I would love to hear your opinion of the characters❤

  • @secretsanta2368
    @secretsanta2368 2 ปีที่แล้ว +840

    what hurts most about august's pov is that she doesn't even blame james; "you weren't mine to lose." she has no one to blame but her self and she just had to accept the fact that he never really loved her, they were never really together and he wasn't hers to lose :') i also think that the line from illicit affairs, "and you know damn well that for you i would ruin my self a million little times", seems like its written for james from august's perspective.

    • @bremathews8430
      @bremathews8430 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      stop thats what ive beem saying!!!!

    • @addisyn-nq2sx
      @addisyn-nq2sx ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@bremathews8430 Same I always thought that illicit affairs was kind of like a song connecting all three and just showing how much pain it caused all of them.

  • @metagasperlin6219
    @metagasperlin6219 2 ปีที่แล้ว +345

    i really need a short film about this 😫

    • @isabellanielsen1005
      @isabellanielsen1005 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      i need a whole film

    • @charlotte_may3213
      @charlotte_may3213 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      LITERALLY

    • @lokislilproductions6542
      @lokislilproductions6542 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      She's made the perfect trilogy of movies, we just need one more sister album (aka woodvale):
      folklore act i
      evermore act ii
      woodvale act iii

    • @lilaclungs
      @lilaclungs ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@lokislilproductions6542what’s woodvale?

    • @lokislilproductions6542
      @lokislilproductions6542 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @lilaclungs basically when she was testing out the different album covers she put woodvale on one instead of folklore so people started to think that was the next sister album

  • @gtu368
    @gtu368 2 ปีที่แล้ว +373

    also august describes it as a “summer love” while James says it was “just a summer thing”. poor august lol

  • @adelambrus7178
    @adelambrus7178 2 ปีที่แล้ว +568

    in my opinion the paralell between the lyric “i’m only 17, i don’t know anything” in betty and all those lines about being young but still knowing everything in cardigan are not serving the pupose of making james more guilty for doing what he did. i think it just proves how mature betty was at the age of 17 and how immature james was. i like this paralell, because it feels almost like these are inherited personality traits. i like how james was stupid and young and using this as an excuse, because it also gives the story a feeling that this whole plot have happened many times in history. this is just something small, that makes this album more “folkloric” and also timeless in my opinion. the lyrics in cardigan also show that james’ actions were adjustable, and betty’s decision of taking him back was reasonable, but the pain still sort of lives in betty from the experience of being betrayed in that way while being so young. it’s crazy how well-written this whole thing is. taylor swift is truly such a genius.

    • @kikilena8242
      @kikilena8242 2 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      I 100% agree with you, I personally associate the line ‘Peter losing Wendy’ with this too. James being immature and childish like Peter Pan, losing Wendy (Betty) who is so mature and growing up faster than he is

  • @playgames-i1l
    @playgames-i1l ปีที่แล้ว +112

    As a male, even I agree that what James did wasn't forgivable. Oh poor August, she deserved so much better

    • @hooman9554
      @hooman9554 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

      justice for auguust

    • @tehejuliannetehe
      @tehejuliannetehe 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      i'm august in real life, but i didn't know betty existed. so in short i didn't cheat or anything, i was just betrayed

    • @soobindoll9561
      @soobindoll9561 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@tehejuliannetehewait how you didn’t know? 😭

    • @jadeshepherd8627
      @jadeshepherd8627 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Justice for Betty too, she got back with someone who cheated on her! She was in love so it must have hurt even more. I know it happens in real life too, but I think people who get back with people who cheat on them don't respect themselves, BC the one who cheated could do that again

    • @jadeshepherd8627
      @jadeshepherd8627 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@tehejuliannetehe😥 I hope you're okay now

  • @ilyy.jasmia
    @ilyy.jasmia ปีที่แล้ว +40

    petition for taylor to make a folklore love triangle book.

  • @veelat
    @veelat 2 ปีที่แล้ว +566

    Literally james the biggest red flag🚩 he blames august and betty for his mistakes and now he’s APOLOGIZING and only to betty? August deserves better and I REFUSE to believe that betty and james ended up together. Betty should’ve found a better man.

    • @kelleycheek5142
      @kelleycheek5142 ปีที่แล้ว +43

      She should've but she didn't think any better of herself but that she was an old sweater under someone's bed :(

    • @LanceNeedsSleep
      @LanceNeedsSleep ปีที่แล้ว +7

      DID YOU JUST SAY "BETTER MAN"??

    • @TexasVanessa
      @TexasVanessa 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Betty's karma was a guy on the Chiefs coming home to HER.

    • @THREEMO0NS
      @THREEMO0NS 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@LanceNeedsSleepyour right it should be better boy beacause James was not mature enough to be considered a man

    • @DivyanshiAggarwal-f7w
      @DivyanshiAggarwal-f7w 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      He was just a boy. He was just in high-school de didn't knew anything

  • @JiaFaFia
    @JiaFaFia 2 ปีที่แล้ว +284

    Taylor is such a good storyteller that its insane

  • @wildestdreams7721
    @wildestdreams7721 ปีที่แล้ว +59

    I think that not only these 3 songs but also the whole folklore album is connected. In my opinion, after that party he still switched back and forth between August and Betty, and in the end he had neither of them.
    “The 1” could be Augustine’s perspective on James and the relationship they had many years later, “if you wanted me, you really should’ve shown; if you never bleed, you’re never gonna grow”, “it would’ve been sweet, if it could’ve been me”.
    “Cardigan” is an older Betty looking back, and it is this song that made me think Betty and James did not end up together, since it’s written all in past tense.
    “Exile” describes the dynamic between Betty and James, she gave him “second, third, and hundreth chances”, but she got tired of hearing his excuse, so she “never hear him out”.
    “Mirrorball” is a sneak peek into August’s mindset and psychology, how she desperately wanted to be loved and needed people’s validation.
    “Seven” is quite a stretch, but it could be little Betty singing about her childhood friend August.
    “Illicit Affair” is the relationship between August and James, suggested that he still continued a secret affair with her, “a drug that only worked for the first few hundreds times”, “it’s born from just one single glance, but it dies a million times”.
    “This is me trying”: Idk maybe it’s just me, but it sounds like James’s perspective. He felt incredibly guilty about what he’s done and who he has become. He’s “here in Betty’s doorway”, just trying.

    • @isabelflann4087
      @isabelflann4087 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Okay I wasn't sure about all of these but I am convinced by the "here in your doorway"!

    • @9tamPlayz
      @9tamPlayz 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      This does make sense,
      The 1 is the perspective of august of moving on
      Exile is perspective of betty(Taylor) and james(Bon Iver)
      "I can see you standin' honey, with his arms around your body" He realised her new boyfriend is much more loving and being loved by her.
      "I think I've seen this film before" as he is seeing her leaving her for the 2nd time.
      "You didn't even hear me out" Betty was fed up of listening of his excuses, after giving him "second, third and hundrenth chances"
      "You're not my homeland anymore" James also realising there is nothing to put efforts on.

  • @Alisha-dr8kg
    @Alisha-dr8kg ปีที่แล้ว +66

    “You weren’t mine to lose”
    Augustine knew James ‘belonged’ to Betty but he let her have the hope that maybe one day that could change. She says “back when we were still changing for the better” so I definitely think the both of them knew what they were doing was wrong but maybe it was that that made them spend the summer together, after all, guilt shared is guilt halved…

  • @deepsikha6096
    @deepsikha6096 2 ปีที่แล้ว +257

    I was 'Augustine' two years ago.
    Every single detail that you mentioned matches with my situation.
    He said to the other girl that it was nothing serious and it never mattered but for me everything was real.
    Two years ago I was that naive, sensitive girl who just wanted to be loved.
    But I've learned a hell lot of lessons from that situation. So, it's fine. I wish him good.

    • @softcoreluvr
      @softcoreluvr ปีที่แล้ว +16

      I was also 'Augustine' back in high school & had a "summer love" with someone who liked someone else. Deluded myself into making him mine, but of course you know how that goes.. I hope that you find the worthy love you deserve

    • @fathiyamultazam1333
      @fathiyamultazam1333 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I can relate to u so muchhh !!!!😭😭😭😭

    • @dishabarode1122
      @dishabarode1122 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Same bestyyy🫂

    • @TheKingT17
      @TheKingT17 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@AirBear250 So did you know of the other woman’s existence?!

    • @indiansubmarine803
      @indiansubmarine803 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@TheKingT17 if she knew.. she is wrong

  • @imanolvalencia8894
    @imanolvalencia8894 2 ปีที่แล้ว +223

    See this, this is what years of being a swifite gives you. You're a good one Nena thank you for explaining this teenage heartbreak

  • @PristineWhens
    @PristineWhens 2 ปีที่แล้ว +140

    I relate so much to the lyric, “I was nowhere to be found, I hate the crowds, you know that. Plus I saw you dance with him.” I just remember hiding in the bathroom or escaping parties and crowds 🥲

  • @jiorixxchii2713
    @jiorixxchii2713 2 ปีที่แล้ว +118

    PLUS in betty the line "It was just a summer thing" parallels with August in the line "So much for summer love"
    Poor Augustine

  • @leilaal-sahli7018
    @leilaal-sahli7018 ปีที่แล้ว +64

    A parallel I think u might have missed is at the end of Betty James says “kissing in my car again” and in cardigan Betty says “kissing in cars and downtown bars was all we needed” so James just really wants to go back to how it was. I rly like that part

  • @bluemingsky
    @bluemingsky ปีที่แล้ว +167

    I think Betty and James didn't get back together. Even though she never mentioned it but when I listened to "Exile " after these three songs it took me back to James and Betty and when he sings"you didn't even hear me out" , I think it kinda gives the idea of how they ended it she gave him "second third and hundredth chances" but she had enough of him excusing his behaviour on being only seventeen rather than actually taking accountability for his behaviour. Also in Betty he sings "saw you dancing with him" corelates with "dancing with his hands around you body". Betty found someone better for her and exile is from the perspective of them when they met again after breaking up. he sings "you're not my homeland anymore" because he lost her when he cheated on her and then tried to give excuses in the song "Betty" as to why he did that.

    • @a5947
      @a5947 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      i was also thinking it could be from the perspective of the guy she danced with and maybe cheated with from the dance

  • @abigail4297
    @abigail4297 2 ปีที่แล้ว +52

    one thing: “august slipped away into a moment in time” even though Augustine was hoping and hanging on to James, I think that deep down she always knew that he would leave her. But she just didn’t want it to be true. Hence “wanting was enough. For me it was enough “ idk but you but those lyrics are just screaming I’ll love for the time that we have bc you are going to leave me

  • @yourstrulyanshika
    @yourstrulyanshika 2 ปีที่แล้ว +183

    THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THIS. I have been a swiftie for a short time and the augustine betty and james love triangle has been something ive been trying to figure out. Also, kind of a stretch here, but i feel like traitor by olivia rodrigo sounds like something august would sing, because there is a line that goes “guess you didnt cheat but ur still a traitor” and james never cheated on august because they were never together, and he was always gonna go back to betty anyways, so the fact that he played august like that was very traitorous.

    • @aliquioria
      @aliquioria 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Same, I’ve been so confused

    • @yourstrulyanshika
      @yourstrulyanshika 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@aliquioria Heyyy its you!!!

    • @aliquioria
      @aliquioria 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@yourstrulyanshika hey girl😂😂

  • @nashgilbert13
    @nashgilbert13 2 ปีที่แล้ว +107

    I think the best part about folklore is that the 5 characters within folklore (Betty, August, James, and then Rebekah Harkness, and Taylor herself) have their own songs, but then the rest of the songs in the album, fill in all the stories. Like mad woman is Taylor and Rebekah. Illicit affairs is the love triangle, the one (in my opinion) is augustine older.

    • @saltysummer
      @saltysummer 2 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      I like this idea/theory :) what if Seven could be Betty and August when they were very young from Betty perspective. Exile is older Betty and James not working out ( also parallel “arms around your body”/“saw you dance with him” “I’ve seen this film before”). Mirrorball from young August perspective trying/hoping to make James like her.. I haven’t thought about it this way before but feels like yeah they could all fit in a film of sorts

    • @peace5745
      @peace5745 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      i always also thought that there was a bit of augustine singing about betty in mad woman , about how she took james back but refused to be as angry as august and no one likes a mad woman and james has made august like that

    • @glowinqlu
      @glowinqlu ปีที่แล้ว

      I had a theory that the 1 is a much older betty after parting ways with James, I think yours makes a lot more sense tho 😭

    • @SevillaRowan
      @SevillaRowan ปีที่แล้ว

      @@glowinqlusame bahaha

    • @KatieInTheLight
      @KatieInTheLight ปีที่แล้ว

      Wait who's Rebekah Harkness? I missed something

  • @chubbytodoroki2272
    @chubbytodoroki2272 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    i think that "the 1" could also be seen as apart of the trilogy, having been wrote about james from august's perspective about how she wishes it was her and not betty

    • @everest2677
      @everest2677 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yes that’s genius

    • @Lunanoodles
      @Lunanoodles หลายเดือนก่อน

      ‘Chase two girls loss the one’- Betty refers to herself as ‘the one’, August wishes that she were ‘the one’

  • @ana-jv7jg
    @ana-jv7jg 2 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    one thing that breaks my heart is that august called what she had with james "summer love" (in "so much for summer love saying us cause you weren't mine to lose"), while james called it "summer thing" (in "if i told you it was just a summer thing"), showing just how much he cared

  • @kejoko
    @kejoko 2 ปีที่แล้ว +48

    Something different: I really really love the instrumental ending of August. It’s so incredible. And of course this whole love story triangle is so fascinating. Her writing is so strong, so damn deep.

  • @proyojeetapaul4661
    @proyojeetapaul4661 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    It hurts, when you are the August girl in reality but you know badly how wrong it is, how hurtful it is but you can't just leave and waiting for the hope of it all. And keep thinking why it couldn't be you and not her.

    • @sre7180
      @sre7180 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      The sooner you leave this situation..the less it's gonna hurt later.. you deserve better...i deserve better...🤍

  • @ridiculouslychloe.b
    @ridiculouslychloe.b ปีที่แล้ว +177

    The 1- Betty accepting that their over ( older Betty looking back on a HS relationship with James) “we would’ve made it if you didn’t betray me” “ we got through it because we told ourselves you were the 1
    Cardigan- Betty’s perspective~her knowing James would want her back “ I knew you but not like a thought” “leaving like a father “ ~ James left her (metaphor) “ ya you come back “ ~ her knowing James would come back/ still loving him but needing time to accept what he did to her/ Betty knowing he knew what he was doing because in Betty James says” I’m only 17 I don’t know anything but I know I miss you” but in cardigan Betty says she( James) knew everything when I ( you ) were young
    The last great American dynasty- INEZ point if view- (in betty James mentions someone named Inez the 1 who told betty about the summer thing) Inez telling the story of Betty and James moving on~ ( betty moving on after James death)
    Exile - James and betty to each other ~
    ~James ~seeing betty with another person and getting jealous/wanting betty back so an unreal amount/ thinking Betty never cared about the relationship/ trying to save relationship but sees Betty with someone else ( wondering if he should try to save it)/ thinking their going down the same path again
    ~betty~ seeing him and knowing he wants her back/thinking James didn’t care about the relationship because she gave so many signs and he didn’t see them / giving James many chances
    ~both~ them being each others whole word but then it broke down - always having problems but it working out
    My tears ricochet~ James dying and Betty grieving- James wondering why Betty’s at his funeral when she left him
    Mirrorball~ doing things for other people and not yourself( August doing things only for James)
    Seven~ Betty’s childhood with James and his abusive family
    August- August’s summer with James/ thinking her and James were perfect /thinking she had James~hoping James would stay with her during the year / living for the hope of James and her/ hoping he’ll chose her instead of Betty( NOT HAT8NG BETTY)/(august is rly sensitive and she rly loved James)- could be mad at James because he was never hers , they were never together “you were never mine to lose” thinking she had James / for august James was enough “ for me it was enough to live for the hope of it all”
    This is me trying- betty rejecting James the 1st time he wants her back and James still wanting to try and get her back
    Illicit affairs- august, James , betty love triangle ( august trying to keep James with her )
    Invisible string ~ it’s all fate
    Mad woman~ betty going crazy after moving to another country/ getting with someone else
    Epiphany- James joining the military
    Betty- James perspective/ apology for Betty from James / “Betty I won’t make assumptions about why you switched your home room but I think it’s cuz of me ” James knowing he messed up/ James realizing her really loved Betty “plus I saw you dance with him” James accusing Betty of cheating when that’s what he did (throwing a tantrum)thinking of Betty while with august ( “ well she came and I couldn’t resist so I went in the car but I was thinking for you”) James realizing what he did was wrong- “and I planed it out for weeks now but its finally sinking in” ~ dreaming about what happened when Betty sees him again - “ betty right not is the last Time I can dream about what happened when I ( you )see your face again
    ~ eventually Betty takes him back
    Peace - Betty regretting things she did I’m the past
    Hoax - Betty copping with James death
    Extras thoughts;
    - James calls his summer with august “ just a summer thing
    - will you kiss me in the porch in front of all your stupid friends - I’ll show my love in front of your friends if you take me back
    BETTY- knew James would come back to her- thought august was horrible for stealing her boyfriend but as much as she thought that she knew James was really the problem
    JAMES - blames both girls for his STUPID mistakes- knew betty was the one but still chose august for the summer
    AUGUST- really loved James hoped he would still love her after the summer ended - barely knew who betty was
    Evermore is pt 2 of folklore
    Story:
    James and Betty were in love but over the summer James cheated with august and august thought that they would still be together after the summer but after the summer James realized he really wanted Betty and not august so James goes back to Betty and asks for her back and she says no. Then James asks again and she says yes. But then they break up again and James couldn’t handle the break up so he joins the Military and later dies. Betty has a hard time grieving with his death and eventually moves on. But after moving on she meets someone new they start dating and eventually Betty goes crazy and blames James , august and the new person she was with. Betty’s best friend ( Inez ) told the story in the end ( last great American dynasty) Betty regretted a lot with James and Betty ended up dying because of her grief
    Btw I worked on this forever so I hope y’all like it 😊

  • @liz7064
    @liz7064 2 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    When Betty gets back with James, I always think of the lyrics from all you had to do was stay “people like you always want back he love they gave away, and people like me want to believe you when you say you’ve changed”.
    This is definitely possible since presumably Taylor would put parts of herself into her characters, so its possible that Betty is a hopeless romantic and just hopes it’ll work out

    • @imawakemymindisalive13
      @imawakemymindisalive13 ปีที่แล้ว

      betty is a pathological people pleaser and august is an argumentative antithetical dream girl

  • @milo5271
    @milo5271 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    every time i listen to right where you left me i always think about august and how james just left her and shes waiting for him to come back, “you told me that you met someone” maybe implies that hes moved back on to betty and how she waited and waited for him to come back but he never did

    • @milo5271
      @milo5271 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      just found out the song was about james this is a sad day

    • @rheany-w7g
      @rheany-w7g ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@milo5271 wait rlly?? rwylm is in evermore i didn't realize the story continues to evermore thats so cool

    • @milo5271
      @milo5271 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@rheany-w7g technically it doesnt but i like to think that it does carry on to evermore

  • @mariamonteiro9942
    @mariamonteiro9942 2 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    When she said:"chase 2 girls, lose the one", "The 1" coul'd from agust's pov 'cause she wasn't The one, but she wanted to be

  • @Swiftie4Life-b2i
    @Swiftie4Life-b2i ปีที่แล้ว +20

    I wish she would make a short film about this love triangle it be better than the twilight love triangle

  • @oliviapearson7913
    @oliviapearson7913 2 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    I think Betty saw James get in the car with August!! I think she was leaving the dance trying to contact him on her phone when she looked up and saw James get in...."brand new phone, high heels on cobblestones"

  • @16Sarahxox
    @16Sarahxox 2 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    I feel August 😭 that song hurts. I love these types of videos, it’s so fun diving deep in the lyrics

  • @flynn7314
    @flynn7314 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    cardigan is track 2, august is track 8, and betty is track 14, 2 + 14 + 8 = 24, the album was released on july 24th, august is the 8th track, and the 8th month of the year, 8 days after july 24th is august 1st.... taylor has an insane mind. also you can of look like how i imagine betty

    • @RosieHuff138
      @RosieHuff138 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      OMG I DIDNT KNOW IT WSS RELEASED 7/24? THATS MY BIRTHDAY 😭😭

  • @killikate926
    @killikate926 2 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    There are a lot of comments so maybe someone already said this.
    However, there is good reason to believe that after they got back together James cheated on Betty again (lines from Exile, peace, and more) and then went off to the military where he died (my tears ricochet and epiphany). Betty's lines in Cardigan seem to run deeper than just the high school affair. So then once she's lost the love of her life, she was free to pursue money like Rebecca in The Last Great American Dynasty.
    Also, I also feel for August, I think the song Seven is also about her. Although honestly, this whole triangle gives me Better than Revenge vibes from Speak Now, and I can see Taylors growth about the situation and the people involved. I wonder if her recording Speak Now played a part in this story.

  • @edenrizzo7621
    @edenrizzo7621 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Another parallel in Betty and cardigan- it says “to kiss in cars and down town bars was all we needed” in cardigan. Then in Betty it says Kissin’ in my car again” therefore insinuating that they did get back together at some point
    But wait there’s more
    in cardigan Betty says “dancing in your Levi’s drunk under a street light” and the next line in Betty says “stopped at a street light”
    I also noticed
    Some lyrics in betty are in the past tense and that kind of makes me think that James perspective is him present day mixed with him looking back

  • @kristinaswift13
    @kristinaswift13 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    yesss I NEED taylor to turn this into a movie!!

  • @momo5006
    @momo5006 2 ปีที่แล้ว +98

    In my mind, I always imagined the relationship between Betty and James as nothing serious before that summer. I think they dated a few times and were attracted to each other but were never in a serious relationship. Then Betty asked James to come to that ball but at first he didn't want to come beacause of the crowds. He ended up there anyways because of her and saw her dancing with that other boy and figured she had someone else now and wasn't interested in him anymore. That's why he chose to hang out more with Augustine that summer. Maybe because he wanted to make Betty jealous as he was jealous of that other boy she was dancing with. But actually, Betty always wanted to be with him and was very upset when she heard that he seemed to have another girl. In the end, I think it was all just a misunderstanding because they never told each other what they were truly feeling. At the end of that summer, he apologized at her party for hurting her feelings maybe because Inez told him that he really upset Betty and that she had in fact feelings for him. But I think Betty takes him back and they figure it out.
    Awesome video Nena! Really liked how you analysed the lyrics and connected all clues :)

    • @thislovecamebacktome1367
      @thislovecamebacktome1367 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      that makes really sense

    • @todeluuee
      @todeluuee 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      I agree. In my mind, they weren't serious at all before the dance. I can't really find any lyrics that supports them even dating to be honest. I'm sure they both liked each other a lot, but then the misunderstandings happened and it snow balled after that. I don't think this excuses James' behaviour, but it gives him more nuances which is a lot more interesting than if he was just an idiot seventeen year old boy lol.

    • @abigail4297
      @abigail4297 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      yessss!!! i totally agree

    • @daliah8883
      @daliah8883 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      this is how it is in my mind

    • @imawakemymindisalive13
      @imawakemymindisalive13 ปีที่แล้ว

      damn poor august REALLY got played

  • @brynn22222
    @brynn22222 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    i just can’t believe that taylor is this creative. she’s a mastermind. this is so amazing and i just love it.

  • @hope-larusso
    @hope-larusso ปีที่แล้ว +3

    omg i love the way you connected things! I see this love triangle so differently now! justice for Augustine!!

  • @Fo1klor3.lover.13
    @Fo1klor3.lover.13 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    There is also the entire folklore story and finally the folklore/evermore story which just opens up the story even more you get more perspective

  • @liza331
    @liza331 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    The contrast between "im only 17 i don't know anything but I know i miss you" and the lines in cardigan about being young and knowing everything to me is that betty knew everything that made their relationship special before she stopped being with james and thats why she wasn't the one that ruined them . James had to lose her to understand that he misses her and that the only thing he knows as a 17 year old is something related to her. However, he also use it as an excuse.

  • @hamgee682
    @hamgee682 2 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    James and betty had their names mentioned in the songs but august doesn't have a proper name cuz she was just a SUMMER THING to james... ALSO ITS JUST SO SAD HOW AUGUST CALLS IT A SUMMER 'LOVE' BUT IT'S JUST A SUMMER 'THING' TO JAMES

  • @adriana-es6tm
    @adriana-es6tm 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    i saw somewhere that "meet me behind the mall" could also have a double meaning as "meet me behind them all"

  • @lydiasadat5927
    @lydiasadat5927 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I interpret the "once in 20 lifetimes" line to mean the connection is extremely rare. It's not just once in a lifetime (the common expression). It's once in 20 lifetimes. Not just one, but 20. And I think that's her way of saying how valuable and rare their connection is. And I think that's part of why she took him back.

  • @movchick
    @movchick 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Damn girl you did such a great job! Always thought that august and cruel summer have the same vibe but in different time. Both songs are full of anxiety, unknown and hope.
    However maybe the next cruel summer will end for august in the best way

  • @jameshawke4542
    @jameshawke4542 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    What a genius, after all this time I was trying to understand the teenage romance drama in the album. This video was really helpful, But now I can't stop thinkin' about it

  • @elinasufiyanova9155
    @elinasufiyanova9155 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I love this type of video so much, omg. I'm just learning English and these videos really help me in learning, thank u sm nena💞

  • @alysonswegles8144
    @alysonswegles8144 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    explained it so good, was listening to all the songs for the first time and didn't find all the parallels between the 3. After watching this video i finally understood it.

  • @oscarlopez1162
    @oscarlopez1162 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    There's also a theory that says that apart of explaining betty's pov of the story, the first verses of the song cardigan define every previous era of Taylor:
    Vintage tee--> Taylor Swift (Debut) this i don't really know how to explain it.
    Brand new phone--> Fearless, with the whole Joe Jonas 27s phonecall breaking up with Taylor.
    High heels on cobblestones--> Speak Now, an era defined by fairytales, castles with maybe cobblestone floors...
    When you are young they assume you know nothing--> RED, she experimented a very hard and real love with Jake Gyllenhaal but people didn't take her seariously. They only defined her as a crazy exgirlfriend who wrote heartbreak songs.
    Sequin smile-->1989, in this era she became a worldwide superstar, and she had to fake a lot of smiles in pictures, also the sequins are very particular of the 1989 tour.
    Black lipstick--> reputation, not much to explain.
    Sensual politics--> Lover, she started commenting politics and defining her ideological matters.
    And also that the whole cardigan song is dedicated to us, her fans. This is shown in lyrics for example: giving me your weekends (assisting to her concerts), playing hide and seek (decoding her easter eggs), you drews around my scars (in some way, we saved her because we are always for her) but now im bleeding (due 5o the matter of the selling of her original masters)...

  • @emilyblossom28
    @emilyblossom28 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    YES NENAAA THANK YOU SM FOR A NEW VID, THIS IS SO AMAZING I LOVED IT SO MUCH, NOW I REALLY UNDERSTAND ALL THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE SONGS!!!

  • @kamsandwichhh
    @kamsandwichhh 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    i totally agree with your opinions on when it takes place. i've always pictured it sometime in the 50s or 60s.

  • @isabelhllk
    @isabelhllk 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    tysm nena, i've been trying to explain this to my non-swiftie friends, and they just don't get it, i hope they understand it now

  • @amrutabapat-t2805
    @amrutabapat-t2805 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    love when u talk about these masterpieces in the Taylor universe! I always get a new perspective 💗

  • @shanewilliams3469
    @shanewilliams3469 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Finally we get an explanation for folklore

  • @cherryhewrtts
    @cherryhewrtts 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I absolutely love your channel you are one of the swiftness that isn’t toxic !!

  • @mafer__reis7716
    @mafer__reis7716 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    we need a folklore love triangle short film version right now!!

  • @daniella5405
    @daniella5405 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    This is awesome and thank you for explaining this teenage heartbreak so clearly🥰🥰

  • @sarafayad7835
    @sarafayad7835 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    been waiting for its explanation for a while ! yayyy ❤️❤️

  • @brindisjimena
    @brindisjimena 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    My opinion: Betty and August are just poor girls who suffered because of James (the most toxic boy I've ever heard about)

  • @llifewcami
    @llifewcami 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you Nena I will never think about the folklore love triangle the same again you have such amazing theories and JUSTICE FOR AUGUST

  • @mizzpenguin7169
    @mizzpenguin7169 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    This is REALLY late but in cardigan Betty says “Peter losing Wendy” in the fairytale Peter loses Wendy because he never grew up.
    In the second second verse of cardigan it says “your heartbeat on the highline” high line is something strung between two points.
    This maybe clownery but in August it says “I can see us twisted in bedsheets” and then in cardigan it says “underneath someone’s bed” a little parallel.
    And also in August it says “will you call when you’re back at school?” To August it was real, she describes it as a summer love, and in the next line “I remember thinking I had you” to me this means that James ghosted August to get Betty back. What also points to James ghosting August is that augusts songs repeats the same line and eventually fades. Signifying that August got nothing but living for the hope of it all but eventually fading. She faded.

  • @jasmeenbrar1739
    @jasmeenbrar1739 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Loved the video, i can go on and on about explaining this to anyone who asks me too loll, also you should do an August play along!! It’s the perfect time, you have tooo

  • @ellaalvarez2597
    @ellaalvarez2597 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Another parallel i noticed was that in cardigan, betty says “to kiss in cars and downtown bars was all we needed” and then in betty, james says “standing in your cardigan, kissing in my car again” so thats one thing and the next is that the song august seems a little more disconnected from the other 2 songs because its almost like james and betty were communicating to each other in their songs but since august was just ‘the cheat girl’ shes talking to herself wondering if he’s listening at all

  • @_Taylor_Smith_
    @_Taylor_Smith_ ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I almost feel like Cardigan is Betty's reaction to seeing James on the porch because of how both songs end almost with a question. I WOULD LOVE A MOVIE!!! My personal favorite song is betty just bc its so catchy but im team august!!

  • @valentudor5815
    @valentudor5815 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I am a new Swiftie, so thank you for this video ! It helped so much!💕

  • @Swiftiehorselover
    @Swiftiehorselover 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Wow!! Didn't know they were this connected!! I knew they were connected but didn't know they this connected!! Thanks so much for posting nena!! You are amazing with dedication!! Thanks for everything you did!! ❤️

  • @juliaaaaaaa16
    @juliaaaaaaa16 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    i loved this video, taylor is such a great song writer

  • @medico5078
    @medico5078 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I think just like cardigan some lyrics of illicit affairs are from older August’s view. Like the clandestine meeting and the main bridge like when she puts up everything and realises that he was a toxic boy who was just having fun

  • @bookishspirit662
    @bookishspirit662 ปีที่แล้ว

    you mentioning that august gives "summer I turned pretty" vibes towards the end ABSOLUTELY PREDICTED the prime show

  • @kirchb
    @kirchb ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The trilogy is Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Taylor. Ever Since New York (Harry), Cardigan/Hoax (Taylor) and Don’t Let It Break Your Heart (Louis Tomlinson) all have lyrics matching up. Something happened in NYC. This all after Taylor publicly dissed Harry at the VMA’s in Brooklyn “Brooklyn saw me…empty at the news, there’s no water inside this swimming pool.” Louis looked pissed off and guilty after that diss. Louis:”I know you left a part of you in New York under your bed” and Taylor:”You know I left a part of me back in New York” and “and when I felt like a cardigan under someone’s bed, you put me on and said I was your favorite”. There are other references too in other songs like Louis’ “Lucky Again” and Tay’s “Hoax” . She talks about A Hero and the cinema. Louis replies with “if you think that guy is Superman ….they’re selling tickets at the cinema”.. to me it points to the film My Policeman where there is a love triangle. Louis and Taylor fought over Harry’s affections. No doubt. Taylor said “what you did was just as dark”….to me that’s s message to Louis. Maybe this is why Harry felt so compelled to do the MP film because he saw himself in the story. It’s just my analysis, but I’m really wondering about those NY lines. Louis’ song came out first before Taylor’s.

  • @bethany105
    @bethany105 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    im so convinced that you are like the most underrated youtuber out there. i love ur channel so much; it feeds my swiftie soul just right: ))

  • @clairemontague5922
    @clairemontague5922 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Taylor is a mastermind omg

  • @rheany-w7g
    @rheany-w7g ปีที่แล้ว

    hahah nice one w the "august gives tsitp vibes" bc ITS THE SONG FOR THE TRAILER FOR THE NEXT SEASON!!!

  • @imasillylittleboy
    @imasillylittleboy 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I literally found out 'bout the connection between these three lyrics a few days ago and u explained a lot
    thank u for the analysis It was so interesting🤍

  • @saeftuh
    @saeftuh 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I love how you made this analysis because every time I listen to Betty I’m just like “Taylor the closet is glass sweetie” lol

    • @dani_gyl
      @dani_gyl ปีที่แล้ว +2

      SAME hahahah. But I love her either ways. 😂🥰

  • @jteihdoehd
    @jteihdoehd 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    my fav swiftie! Thank you so much for making tutorials, you’ve helped me so much 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

  • @sarafayad7835
    @sarafayad7835 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    yesterday.i was connecting the lyrical parallels omg

  • @hannaheve1119
    @hannaheve1119 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    this love triangle is my literal obsession. i’ve already spent days trying to figure out this story, and it’s probably not the best way to spend my time but oh well

  • @je_suis_calme_13
    @je_suis_calme_13 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    OMG! This is so much new info! tysm!! Love these.

  • @rithikavijay4667
    @rithikavijay4667 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    i loved your video! Also in cardigan it says "kissing in cars and downtown bars was all we needed" and in the end of betty they end up kissing in the car as well

  • @amandaleebee98
    @amandaleebee98 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I personally don’t think Betty was making James jealous, I think maybe they both knew they were something real but he didn’t ask her to dance and make it official because of his social anxiety. So basically to me it seems like Betty was asked to dance and said ok to be nice to someone else which upset James. This prompted him to run away with August because he was sad thinking he lost the shot with the love of his life. I think this is why August says you weren’t mine to lose because she would never be the one who had his heart because he was still longing for Betty. I think it is a love triangle but not a cheating scandal lol

  • @Abby-em8dh
    @Abby-em8dh ปีที่แล้ว +4

    something that i like to think about is Augustine being the one singing the 1. i feel like it really shows how she would feel :)

  • @abrilaquistapace6264
    @abrilaquistapace6264 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I loved how you explained it!! I'm a new swiftie, so this was sooo useful for me to understand better ❤️❤️❤️

  • @miyamizukiworks
    @miyamizukiworks ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm not the one to make theories or anything but listening to how the songs are connected and maybe there could be more others under different themes but yeah listening to how you are explaining them one by one its just makes a lot more sense and it touches my emotions a little more stronger!

  • @Bunnysailormoontv
    @Bunnysailormoontv 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you so much for the explanation! I was confused lol now imma go back and re-listen understand it more and listen to story line

  • @Missputhimintherepy
    @Missputhimintherepy 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    also we need folklore pt2 lol 😅 but TAYLOR PLS!

  • @alixrizzo6855
    @alixrizzo6855 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    i just need a folklore love triangle short film!!!

  • @peace5745
    @peace5745 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    i always also thought that there was a bit of augustine singing about betty in mad woman , about how she took james back but refused to be as angry as august and no one likes a mad woman and james has made august like that ( also its amazing how augustine never blames james per se , but blames herself more for this clandestine affair)

    • @a5947
      @a5947 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      i can definitely see this. i almost see august saying that james is going to keep cheating on her but betty is trying to be the good wife and not a mad woman.

    • @glittertearss
      @glittertearss ปีที่แล้ว

      wait i see that

  • @justinheiss6060
    @justinheiss6060 ปีที่แล้ว

    Also the back to December Taylor’s version thing I got to see put me in tears

  • @yeojiherrscherofdepression3645
    @yeojiherrscherofdepression3645 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Waiting for a Dear John lyric breakdown and analysis hehe💜💜💜

  • @angeta
    @angeta 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I’m so happy you talk about this love triangle !! love your videos, keep going :))

  • @Swiftiehorselover
    @Swiftiehorselover 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Yes nena we need a short film of folklore!! 15:13

  • @Cifer19
    @Cifer19 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yk what at this point I want any song and I bet all us lynnies do too so I look forward to ALLL MUSIC FROM U!

  • @msweirdo713
    @msweirdo713 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I loved this video! and your sister at the end HAHAH

  • @derendlbsbazmos
    @derendlbsbazmos ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Miss Taylor Alison Swift:YOU HAVE TO PRODUCE A FILM ABT THIS SITUATION!!!!

  • @KittenPeso
    @KittenPeso 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This is one of my fav videos of all time I actually love this!!!