Folklore : Album Analysis

Folklore is Taylor Swift's eighth studio album released on July 24, 2020. The album is unique as it tells different stories with different characters, including Rebekah Harkness and Augustine's story. However, the album mainly tells the love story of Betty and James, and it's one of the best works by Taylor Swift. The songs in the album are woven together and tell a complete story that leaves the listener immersed in the narrative.

The love story of Betty and James is a classic teenage romance filled with ups and downs. The song "Exile" explains the end of their relationship, which seems to have been in the pre-relationship phase. Betty and James lived in the same town and went to the same school, and it's assumed they have known each other their whole lives. Folklore picks up their story when they were seventeen, and "Seven" talks about two childhood friends, with one telling the other that their dad is always mad. It's possible that James is the friend telling Betty this, as he was aware of the complicated relationship she had with her father.

One night, James watched Betty dance with another guy, maybe her ex, at the school's gym. He left before Betty could talk to him, believing that she was already back with her ex or had found someone else. James was deeply insecure, and Betty was confident in herself and him and knew him better than he knew himself. James was aware that Betty didn't feel the same way he did, and he felt insulted that he was left behind. Their relationship ended because James didn't see the signs Betty gave him, and he gave up on their relationship, choosing Augustine instead.

Augustine was the safe choice for James, the person who wouldn't hurt him because he didn't have any real feelings for her. However, Augustine loved James deeply, and she was aware that James was never hers; he was always Betty's. Augustine was the third person in every love triangle, and James tried to lie to himself that he was alright, but he wasn't. He always loved Betty, and when summer was over, and they had to face each other again, James didn't know how to talk to Betty, and they drifted apart.

The song "Betty" picks up the story years later from Betty's perspective. She's moved on and is happy with her life, but she wonders what could have been if James had shown up at her party, as he had fantasized about. The song "Hoax" is the continuation of "Betty," and Betty would rather hold onto the what-ifs and remember James and their story than let him go forever and get him out of her heart.

The story continues in "Cardigan," where Betty knows that James will come back, not only to her but to the town as well. Betty talks about leaving, running, and stepping on the last train, not only talking about that cruel summer but also about James leaving for good later on. "This is Me Trying" is James's song, and it's like "Cardigan" for him, his 17-year-old has Betty, but he's 30-something has "This is Me Trying." James didn't know if Betty still loved him, but he still loved her, and he regrets how their relationship ended.

The album's final track, "Hoax," is a heartbreaking ballad that seems to capture the end of Betty and James's story. It's a song about betrayal, regret, and the pain of letting go of someone you love. Taylor sings about the moment when she realizes that the love she had for someone was never really reciprocated, and how hard it is to come to terms with that. It's a hauntingly beautiful song that leaves the listener with a feeling of melancholy and longing.

Overall, "Folklore" is a masterful album that tells a variety of stories with different characters and themes. However, the central focus of the album seems to be on Betty and James's love story, and the different perspectives and emotions that come with it. It's a deeply personal and introspective album that showcases Taylor Swift's songwriting and storytelling abilities. It's an album that you can listen to over and over again, and each time you'll discover something new.