How to Write a Young Adult Love Story | Tips From Taylor Swift's Teenage Love Story 

I'm having so many more thoughts as I listen to these again lol... Particularly about Cardigan: - "When you're young, they assume you know nothing" followed immediately by "BUT I knew you" meaning, even amidst all these supposedly cute memories, Betty knew what James was like. "A friend to all is a friend to none," like yeah he's popular but you can't really trust him. Even "hide and seek" could suggest some kind of sneakiness or deception. Then also "to kiss in cars" (more secrecy) and "downtown bars" (sneaking in b/c they're underage) - everything is wrapped in deception GROSS. All in all, just tells me Betty knew or suspected the whole time 👀which definitely changes how I read the song haha. - The grossness of the alternative reading of "you put me on" - like, there she was, feeling like an old cardigan, and he deceived her by saying she was his favorite... Classic popular guy move. BUT she knew all along? - "You drew stars around my scars" - seems like turning something painful into something beautiful, but also kind of like circling something - you're bringing emphasis and focus to it. So he emphasized her scars even if he was trying not to What do you think?

A bit said you missed the greatest parallel: "I'm only 17, I don't know anything" from James' POV and "But I knew everything when I was young" from Berry's POV!

fun fact: when they say "remember when i pulled up and said get in the car" in august and "she said james get in" in betty, both lines are at the same time: 2:47! and "betty i´m here on your doorstep" in betty and "and you´d be standing in my front porch light" in cardigan are also both at the same time: 3:15

Also august calling it a “summer love” and james saying its a “summer thing” is genius!!!

details i absolutely love in august: - the song fades away instead of just ending like a normal song, because augustine's hope for james call slowly faded away with time - the "your back beneath the sun" line can be heard as "You're back beneath the sun", creating a false feeling he's back for her - augustine heard "meet me behind the mall" as a romantic spot for a date, but its most likely that james said "meet me behind them all" because she was just an affair and not a lover

Yes! It's good that you feel conflicted about August. Taylor said she never wanted to portray Augustine as this malicious girl trying to "steal someone's man" but as someone who was genuinely emotionally and romantically invested in James. To subvert the narrative of the "other woman."

August is so devastating to me, like it's so clear that she genuinely liked him and he made her promises too. Not even meet me at the mall.. meet me BEHIND it, so no one can see. You can also kinda hear "meet behind the mall" as "meet me behind them all" which I think adds another layer to the secrecy aspect of their relationship.

I've never thought about the timeline of the story being actually ABC, but it really fits!! genius 🤯

One reason why I think August lack details, any descriptions, or why it’s repetitive is because it was just that, a summer fling. Augustine doesn’t have anything more to say or tell 😢 Anyway, another smart lyrical analysis and I’m here for it!

I've always loved the "Meet me behind the mall" line, you could interpret it literally and as the point-of-view of teenagers hanging out in the mall or you could go deeper and interpret it as "Meet me behind THEM ALL" which gives us a glimpse that this is indeed a secret affair.

I'm not sure if you caught this the first time, or if someone else has already mentioned it, but the double meaning of "put me on" in Cardigan is really powerful. He may not be speaking the entire truth, or he may be saying sweet nothings to her... otherwise "putting her on." UGH. HER MIND.

It always felt like betty was this girl who had to grow up fast due to her father figure being absent, that's how I see it.

This is a typically smart lyrical analysis by Megan. It really enhances a very familiar trio of songs by Taylor.

It's so funny cause when I hear "you put me on and said I was your favorite," all I can think is your favorite, but not your only.

Also, not to double-comment, but betty is probably my favorite out of the trio. I love what Taylor does with "figment of my worst intentions", playing with the idiom "figment of imagination".

This deserves more likes!!!! Progressively gets more insightful as you go through the three songs

19:40 that first part of cardigan is speculated to refer to her eras actually. From debut, to speak now, to red, to reputation, and sensual politics in lover 😉

Sequin smile makes me think she was faking her smiles or that it was a glittering, sparkling smile Chase two girls lose the one is also a reference to the first song on this album The 1 Playing hide and seek could also be a reference to the fact he didn’t like crowds and would hide from them like at the dance The grocery line then being followed up by expired because grocery items expire is crazy good word play Also, while James says he knew nothing because he was only 17, Betty says that she knew everything Loved the reaction!

I can't help but read the line "you drew stars around my scars" as - you saw the damaged worst parts of me and loved me still- because in her other song, Call It What You Want, Taylor has a line that reads "Starry eyes sparkin' up my darkest nights"

I think you’re right about looking back and reflecting. I think the high heels on cobblestones (cobblestones also in James’s song) could indicate an adult back in her hometown. Where as the braces and black lipstick are very teenager vibes

GIRL! I have never thought about "sequin smile" meaning braces but I think you're 100% correct!!!

Even after listening to cardigan for years, this song still makes emotional 😭 ❤️ like I can't explain it, there's just something about it that is so sad and comforting at the same time. Like an old cardigan I guess..

You HAVE to react to No body no crime, Right we’re you left me and It’s time to go by Taylor’s Evermore! the writing is impeccable

I just realized I don’t think you’ve done You’re On Your Own Kid yet and I REAALLLYYY hope you do 🤞🏻 so many metaphors and showing-not-telling and references to other things, I’d love to see your interpretation and breakdown.

If you think about it in august Augustine says "Meet me behind the mall" which can also be heard as "meet me behind them all", and the "cause you were never mine, never mine" can also be interpeted as "nevermind". Also it is really sad that Augustine calls it summer love and James a "summer thing" :(. Plus if you think about it James is writing to Betty and Betty is writing to James but no one writes to Augustine. (sorry for my english, not my first language.

my favourite part of august its how the lyrics have combinations of words that sound like two different things, alluding to both its meanings inside the narrative of the song, and at the same time adding to this image of a "secret summer love", hidden in plain sight. "back when we were still changing for the better, (Wanting was enough/One thing was enough" sounds the same. "back when i was living for the hope of it all, (Meet me behind the mall/Meet me behind them all)"

It's A B C... Oh my god...

Taylor actually did say that James and Betty end up together. She also said that Jame’s song is when he was young, and Betty’s song is from when she was older.

first, I love the cute orange kitty 😻 just adding one little parallel that you didn't mention in the video: "high heels on cobblestones" and "I was walking home on broken cobblestones". I still can't figure out what the parallel means though

A few little parallels: In august, the girl says "remember when i pulled up and said, get in the car" and james says "she said, James get in, let's drive" in betty. In cardigan, Betty repeats "when you are young they assume you know nothing/ i knew everything when i was young", while James says "im only 17, i dont know anything" in betty. In the bridge of betty, james says "i was walking home on broken cobblestones", which could connect to cardigan when betty says "high heels on cobblestones". In august, the girl refers to her and james' relationship as "summer love", while james says "it was just a summer thing". It meant everything to augustine (the girl in august), but nothing to james 😢 I love your videos!!! ❤

OH YES! TAYTAY ONCE MORE. THANK YOU MEGAN

This is going to be wordy, but I had to annotate these songs for a middle school english class so the lyrics have sat with me for a while. I love how the lyricism in Betty comes off as more juvenile than the other two songs, because the lack of nuance backs up James' claim that he "doesn't know anything." I also love how the song Cardigan claps with the "I knew you" repetition at the end, discrediting his excuse. All three of the songs show the hard truths that the narrarators will have to face as well: Augustine's love was unrequited, James made a mistake and he might have to cope with the consequences of losing "the one," and Betty is wrapped up in a relationship that is both loving but devastating (which explains the juxtaposing imagery in the first verse of cardigan). Anywho those are my main takes on the trilogy!

Such a great analysis. I never thought about the ABC thing, and I haven't seen anyone else mention that before. That was an amazing catch. It also lines up with their timelines, since August is the summer, then you move to Betty in the fall and going back to school, and finally you reach Cardigan where Betty is looking back on all of this, possibly years later. I fully believe that was intentional on Taylor's part, especially with the way certain phrases line up in the songs, as others pointed out. The mind of this woman! I never cease to be amazed by her.

I'm commenting a lot because I absolutely love this trio of songs, but I think the harmonica adds such a layer of boyishness that I love to Betty's country sound. Which is interesting cause I usually connect the harmonica to more bluesy music. And he IS such a goober teenage boy, "slept next to her but I dreamt of you all summer long"??? he's such a GUY lmao. "Will you kiss me on the porch in front of all your STUPID FRIENDS?" LMAO Also my favorite line is "Betty, right now is the last time I can dream about what happens when you see my face again"

I love the play on words in august. Meet me behind the mall. or... Meet me behind THEM all.

Okay, which is your fav of the three? I think mine's a toss-up between Betty and Cardigan 🤔

Betty is an icon, she deserve so much better than James.

It is so interesting you interpreted from Cardigan's lyrics that Betty got back together with James. Taylor mentioned she imagined they ending up together despite everything.

hoping you'd react to cowboy like me & right where you left me next!!! truly some of her best songwritings

i have a new found appreciation for these songs thanks to you.

Love your reactions and reviews.

Unwinding in my bed after a long day. Thanks a bunch for this video ❤

This was a really good reaction. It would mean a lot if could react to My tears ricochet or illicit affairs.❤

I love your content!!! and it reminds me of English Teacher KP 😭 I miss her channel.

I like to think the 'chasing shadows...' line has a dual meaning which is as you stated as well as being a further allusion to Peter Pan and Wendy.

So unrelated. But your cat looks so cozy in the bsckgorund and matches the vibe of the music somehow.

Di ,Thankyou thankyou so much for this❤😭

Loved that you did this for Valentines Day! How cute 🥰 this is one of Taylor’s best works and it’s really fun to dissect each piece. I also like to think of the line ‘When you are young they assume you know nothing’ like everyone says young love is naive and oh you’ll get over it or whatever, but here she is thinking and looking back on it years later. So not only did she know what was happening she also knew it would haunt her for the rest of her life. Also! Beyoncé’s new song 16 Carriages is stunning. It’s a song written about her family and career over decades. It’s a career high for beyonce and a great story with vulnerable writing. It would be so cool for you to react to here!!

It makes me sad that Augustine called it "summer love" while James said "it's just a summer thing". The little details. 😭 And even though it's just on his mind, it's kind of a red flag that James called Betty's friends "stupid" IMO 🙄

You have to react to no body, no crime!!!!!!

My absolute favorite thing about Taylor's writing is the imagery she portrays so effectively in short phrases. The whole bridge and last chorus of Cardigan demonstrates this brilliantly. Also, leaving like a father, running like water???

Hi, I just wanna say I've been enjoying your analysis to theses songs. Keep up the great work 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽.... If I could suggest a song that might interest you: "Braille" by Regina Spektor. I think you'd like it and could make for a fun video.

Your videos are so good and I love watching them to see how you interpret the songs. I would love to see you analise songs from musicals for example Words Fail from Dear Evan Hansen. If you could also maybe react to some Lizzy Mcalpine songs, I think you would really enjoy it she has some really well lyrics

The more I hear Cardigan, the more I think it’s one of her absolute best. I loved how you picked up on Betty’s cool-girl, old soul vibe. The line “Tried to change the ending/ Peter losing Wendy” until the end is just so sad. James used his age as an excuse but she knew better all along. He was perhaps another male who disappointed Betty but she knew they were meant to be from probably a very young age. Incredible storytelling in such a deceptively simple way.

Taylor is a mastermind

Taylor said she doesn’t see Augustine as a bad person or some sort of man stealer. Taylor sees her as someone who wants love which is what everyone wants. James basically has that cheater mentality. If you hadn’t danced with someone else to your favorite song, even though I decided not to dance with you (during your favorite song!) because I don’t like crowds…then I wouldn’t have had cause to cheat on you all summer with Augustine. Oh James, don’t be such a tool!

Here I am with my 28 tattoos being the most not edgy person ever. But to be honest 6 of them are Taylor related. And august has a special place ❤️ I'm team Augustine all the way. And Betty waste her potencial on a Boy Like That;) I'm not a hopeless romatic like T Swizzle but I'm greatful that she is. Thank You for Your time( as always)! Great video and analysis❤

the cat in back😂❤

For me when she said " and when I felt like I was an old cardigan, under someone's bed, you put me on and said I was your favourite" that means when she felt down after his affair, he came back after "forgetting her" and said that she is the one for him . Like "how dareee u ?!!"

i know i should be focusing on the lyric analysis but the cat back there....🤣

So James was a player and betty knew it and still loved him even after all the things he did. Damn. Great video, I feel like I have a third eye which sees things in a more literary way now.

Ive heard these songs hundreds of times but im hormonal and listening to them in a deeper sense has me actually sobbing for some reason lmao

I LOVE Cardigan and August, but as separated entities, Betty reminds so much of Piano Man i can't take it seriously lmao

y'know this has made me appreciate betty a bit more (still in my bottom 5 tho)

Another fun fact is Betty is the name of Blake and Ryan Reynolds child. Up to that point they had not told anyone outside of close family and friends the name of their child. They let Taylor share her name with the world in her song. People pieced it together because their other two kids names are James and Inez. It was late confirmed Betty was their third child’s name.

Another great detail for me is how Augustine calls it "summer love" while James refers to it as "just a summer thing" heartbreaking 😢

I really love the double meaning of "you put me on". Maybe James is the reason Betty feels like an old cardigan because he betrayed her. He just added another scar to scars he once drew stars with. Betty already felt like an old cardigan and James gave her the feeling she isn't because she is someone's favorite. However, he put her on because he had Augstine. Or he put on his favorite cardigan which refers to Betty because he apologized for his mistake and tries to make her feel worthy again. I really love this one because you don't actually know if they came back together. Its up to your interpretation :D

The first verse of Cardigan is full of descriptions that match her albums: Sequin smile - 1989 Black lipstick - Reputation Sensual politics - Lover I assume vintage tee, brand new phone, high heels on cobblestones, when you are young they assume you know nothing refer to her first 4 albums but I’m less sure of the connections. I don’t know if this is just an Easter egg or if Betty is Taylor and the love triangle is a metaphor for something. Either way it’s genius.

I have a theory that in the end Betty and James got back together, and right where you left me is Augustine’s pov of James leaving her. In right where you left me it says the narrator is 23, and I think that also makes sense because in august it says ‘ will you call when you’re back at school’ as if she doesn’t go to school anymore. I also read somewhere that Taylor said that in her mind, Betty and James got back together. This might not be true, and feel free to correct me :)

i was wondering if you noticed that "meet me behind the mall" sounds like "meet me behind THEM all"

I heard "to put somebody on" alao means lying. Is it true? I'm not a native

Loved your reaction! I'm also a songwriter and I was wondering if it is possible to ask you to react to one of my songs?

ok you need to react to evermore

One thing I've literally just realised while watching this is that there might be a connection too in James saying "I was walking home on broken cobblestones" and Betty mentioning "High heels on cobblestones". Augustine (I'll call the girl in August that just because) pulls up when James was walking home on broken cobblestones, and in cardigan, the lines go "High heels on cobblestones, when you are young, they assume you know nothing". James thought Betty found out from Inez but what if Betty already knew or suspected because she saw James and Augustine after the prom. Maybe she was chasing James, on the path with broken cobblestones and of course she was on heels because of the prom, when she saw him leaving the prom and then she saw James and Augustine. Just a random thought.

I have zero sympathy for James. He made the decision of sleeping with Ines. Betty, run.

Did you know that folklore won album of the year at the 2021 Grammys? 😊

love when i get these notifications 🫶🏻 only 4 min in and already can tell: another solid amazing vid, megan!!

“meet me behind the mall” “meet me behind them all” 🥹