cardigan

"cardigan" explores the complexities of young love, memory, and the lasting impact of formative relationships. It is one of three songs on the album folklore that detail a fictional “Teenage Love Triangle” from different perspectives, with "cardigan" being from the viewpoint of a character named Betty. The song tells the story of her relationship with a boy named James, their painful separation due to his summer affair (chronicled in the song "august"), and his eventual return (detailed in the song "betty").

The central theme is the idea of being known and cherished. The cardigan itself is a powerful metaphor for this feeling. Betty feels like a forgotten, “old cardigan under someone’s bed” — insignificant and out of sight — until James “put me on and said I was your favorite.” This act of being chosen and valued forms the crux of her emotional bond to him. The cardigan symbolizes comfort, warmth, security, and a sense of belonging that she loses and then regains.

The song also delves into the pain of betrayal and the wisdom that comes with it. The line, “When you are young, they assume you know nothing,” is a recurring motif that challenges the adult tendency to dismiss the depth of youthful emotions. Betty asserts that she knew a great deal: she knew James intimately, she knew he would stray (“Chase two girls, lose the one”), and ultimately, she knew he would return. The song validates the intensity and seriousness of first heartbreak, presenting it as a profound and shaping experience. It captures a mixture of confidence and bitterness, acknowledging the hurt while also holding onto the hope of reconciliation.

The narrative unfolds from the perspective of a woman named Betty, reflecting on a formative youthful romance. She begins by setting a scene rich with the textures of youth: a vintage t-shirt, the novelty of a new phone, the precariousness of high heels on old cobblestone streets. There’s an immediate assertion against the dismissiveness of adults, a recurring refrain that “When you are young, they assume you know nothing.” This line serves as a quiet defiance, insisting on the depth and validity of her feelings and experiences, from the coded social interactions she calls “sensual politics” to the pain of heartbreak.

The chorus introduces the central, defining metaphor of the song. Betty recalls a time when she felt lost and insignificant, like an “old cardigan under someone’s bed.” This image of being forgotten and discarded is powerfully contrasted by the actions of her lover, James. He “put me on and said I was your favorite,” a simple act that transformed her sense of self-worth, making her feel cherished and seen. This feeling of being chosen is the emotional core of their connection.

The story then touches upon the relationship's fracture. Betty acknowledges James's flaws and indiscretions, referencing his tendency to be a “friend to all,” which she wisely notes makes him a “friend to none.” This leads to the painful consequence: “Chase two girls, lose the one.” This line directly addresses his infidelity, the affair that is explored from other perspectives in the songs “august” and “betty.” She knew she would be haunted by what-ifs and would curse him for the pain he caused, picturing herself as a lingering ghost in his life, “chasin’ shadows in the grocery line.”

Despite the betrayal, the bridge reveals the profound intimacy they once shared. She reminisces about innocent moments of “playing hide-and-seek and giving me your weekends,” and the profound connection felt in a heartbeat shared “on the High Line once in twenty lifetimes.” This section is laced with a deep, almost spiritual sense of knowing him. A key line, “You drew stars around my scars,” illustrates how he didn't just accept her imperfections but made them feel beautiful, a tender act of love that makes his betrayal all the more cutting. This memory, however, is now tinged with the current pain, as she sings, “but now I’m bleeding.”

The narrative culminates in a moment of return. After the affair and the fallout, James comes back to her, standing on her porch. Betty, despite all the hurt, had an unshakeable premonition: “I knew you’d come back to me.” The final repetition of the chorus feels different; it’s not just a memory but a present reality. His return reaffirms the beginning, the feeling of being his “favorite.” The song ends on this bittersweet and hopeful note, where a lost love is rediscovered, and the comfort of the old cardigan is felt once more, suggesting a reconciliation and the enduring power of their initial bond.

"cardigan" was written by Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner and was the very first song created for the album folklore. The album was a surprise project, conceived and recorded in isolation during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Swift worked remotely with producers Aaron Dessner (of the band The National) and Jack Antonoff.

The collaboration with Dessner began when he, unaware she was looking for collaborators, sent her a folder of instrumental tracks he had been working on. Swift was immediately drawn to one of the tracks, which Dessner had titled "Maple." She told Dessner that upon hearing the instrumental, she instantly saw “high heels on cobblestones,” which set the narrative tone for the song. Within about five hours of receiving the track, Swift had written the full lyrics and melody for "cardigan" and sent a voice memo back to him. This rapid and fruitful exchange marked the beginning of their intensive collaboration for the rest of the album. The song was primarily recorded at Dessner's Long Pond Studio in Hudson Valley, New York, and Swift's Kitty Committee Studio in Los Angeles, with the collaborators sending files back and forth digitally. The lead single, "cardigan," was released alongside the album on July 24, 2020.

"cardigan" employs a fluid and conversational rhyme scheme rather than a rigid, predictable pattern, which contributes to its storyteller, folk-like quality. The song often uses slant rhymes (e.g., "phone" and "cobblestones") and internal rhymes within lines, which adds a subtle musicality without feeling forced. This free-verse feel allows the narrative to unfold naturally.

The rhythm of the song is characterized by a slow, steady tempo, creating a melancholic and reflective mood that mirrors the act of reminiscing. The piano provides a consistent, gentle rhythmic pulse throughout the track. The lyrical rhythm is carefully crafted to feel like natural speech or thought, with phrases of varying lengths that flow seamlessly over the musical backing. This interplay between the musical and lyrical rhythms enhances the song's intimacy, making it feel as though the listener is being confided in. The pacing is unhurried, allowing the emotional weight of the lyrics and the richness of the imagery to fully land.

Musically, "cardigan" represents a significant shift for Swift, embracing an indie-folk and soft rock aesthetic. The song features a stripped-down arrangement centered on a gentle, melancholic piano melody played by producer Aaron Dessner, complemented by swooning strings, and a subtle drum machine. Swift's vocal delivery is soft, breathy, and emotive, enhancing the song's intimate and nostalgic atmosphere.

Lyrically, the song is a prime example of Swift's narrative songwriting. Key literary techniques include:

• First-Person Narrative: The story is told from the distinct perspective of a fictional character, Betty, which allows for deep character development and emotional exploration within a specific story arc.
• Sensory Imagery: Swift uses vivid, specific details to ground the listener in the memories, such as “Vintage tee, brand new phone / High heels on cobblestones” and the “smell of smoke.” These images appeal to multiple senses and create a tangible sense of place and time.
• Metaphor and Simile: The song is built around the central metaphor of the cardigan. Other notable examples include comparing a complicated romance to “sensual politics” and James's infidelity to a game where you “chase two girls, lose the one.”
• Repetition: The recurring line, “When you are young, they assume you know nothing,” acts as a powerful refrain that reinforces the song's central theme of youthful wisdom and the validity of young emotions. The repetition of “I knew you” emphasizes the deep, intuitive connection between the characters.
• Irony: There's a satirical irony in the line, “‘Cause I knew everything when I was young,” which reverses the earlier refrain to comment on the deceptive confidence of youth.

"cardigan" had a significant cultural impact upon its release, marking a pivotal moment in Taylor Swift's career. As the lead single from the surprise album folklore, it debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Swift the first artist in history to debut atop both the Billboard 200 album chart and the Hot 100 singles chart simultaneously. The song also broke the record for the biggest opening day for a song on Spotify in 2020.

The song was critically acclaimed for its mature, poetic songwriting and its sonic shift towards an indie-folk aesthetic, a departure from her previous pop-oriented albums. It earned two Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. The music video, which Swift wrote and directed, was praised for its "cottagecore" aesthetic, a visual style that became very popular during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns. The actual cardigan sweater worn by Swift in the video was sold as merchandise and quickly became an iconic piece of fan apparel, further cementing the song's place in the pop culture of the era. "cardigan" is seen as a defining track of Swift's discography, showcasing her evolution as a storyteller and her ability to successfully pivot genres, solidifying her status as a versatile and critically respected songwriter.

"cardigan" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that weave together its narrative of love and memory.

• The Cardigan: The central and most significant symbol, the cardigan represents comfort, warmth, protection, and the feeling of being cherished and uniquely valued. When Betty feels like an "old cardigan / Under someone's bed," it symbolizes feelings of being forgotten, discarded, and insignificant. When James puts her on and calls her his "favorite," she is transformed, feeling seen and loved. In the end, when she puts the cardigan on herself, it signifies a return to a sense of self and the comfort of that enduring connection.
• Peter Pan Imagery: The lyric "Tried to change the ending / Peter losing Wendy" is a direct literary allusion to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. This metaphor equates James to Peter Pan, who refuses to grow up, and Betty to Wendy, who must eventually leave Neverland to face adulthood. It symbolizes the end of a relationship due to immaturity and the painful realization that some loves are bound by the limitations of youth.
• Stars and Scars: The line "You drew stars around my scars" is a powerful metaphor for how a loved one can help heal past wounds. Instead of erasing the scars (past traumas or insecurities), James made them beautiful by drawing stars around them, signifying acceptance and adoration of her whole self, flaws included. This makes his subsequent betrayal, which causes new pain ("but now I'm bleeding"), even more poignant.
• Water Imagery: The music video uses water to symbolize different stages of the relationship. The magical forest with its glowing waterfall represents the beautiful, idyllic beginning. The turbulent, stormy ocean where Swift clings to her piano represents the chaos, fear, and isolation of the relationship's breakdown.
• The Piano: The piano acts as a magical portal in the music video, transporting the narrator through memories and emotions. It symbolizes her art and music as a vehicle for escapism, processing experiences, and ultimately, as a lifeline that brings her back to herself.

Several recurring phrases and motifs anchor the narrative and themes of "cardigan":

• The Cardigan: This is the central motif of the entire song. It appears first as a metaphor for feeling forgotten ("an old cardigan under someone's bed") and then as a symbol of being cherished ("you put me on and said I was your favorite"). Its physical appearance at the end of the music video signifies comfort and a return to self. The repetition of this idea solidifies the song's core message about self-worth and the value found in a loving relationship.
• "When you are young, they assume you know nothing": This phrase is repeated multiple times, acting as the song's thematic thesis. It serves as a direct address to a skeptical world, validating the profound emotions and insights of youth. Its repetition gives the narrator's voice a quiet strength and defiance.
• "I knew you": This phrase is also repeated, emphasizing the deep, intuitive, and almost fateful connection Betty feels with James. It's repeated in different contexts—remembering their intimate moments and predicting his eventual return—to show the enduring and unbreakable nature of their bond in her mind.
• Youthful Imagery: Motifs of youth, such as "vintage tee," "high heels on cobblestones," "dancin' in your Levi's," and "playing hide-and-seek," are woven throughout the song to firmly establish the setting and the nostalgic tone of looking back on a first love.