cardigan

Mood

Production Style

Background

The lead single from folklore, 'cardigan' was produced by Aaron Dessner and anchors the album's central love triangle alongside 'august' and 'betty.' Released with a music video directed by Taylor herself, filmed during COVID-19 with a skeleton crew, the song introduced the fictional characters of Betty, James, and the unnamed girl.

Meaning & Interpretation

Told from Betty's perspective, the song is about feeling like a forgotten item rediscovered — put aside carelessly and then returned to with new appreciation. The cardigan is a metaphor for being taken for granted and then valued again. Betty remembers the relationship with a mix of tenderness and clear-eyed understanding of what happened, and the song's magic is that it makes forgiveness feel like strength rather than weakness.

Personal Connection

Taylor has described 'cardigan' as a song about the universal experience of being underestimated when you are young and the particular power of finally being seen for who you truly are.