Taylor Swift’s “Betty” Is All About How Complicated Teenage Love Triangles Can Be

Yes, 2020 has absolutely been the shittiest year ever, but there is one event coming up to provide a *bit* of a silver lining: Taylor Swift is performing at this year’s American Country Music Awards, and it’ll be her first performance on a country show in seven (7) years!!!

Despite the fact that Taylor has approximately zero ACM nominations this year, she’s going to be performing a track from her recent album—the unexpected summer smash that is folklore, duh—at the virtual ceremony. Fans might’ve expected “Cardigan” or the heartbreaking track that is “Exile” featuring Bon Iver, but Taylor chose “Betty” instead. (You know, the track where she publicly revealed the name of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynold’s third child.) But like…exactly what is the song about? Don’t worry—I am here to tell you!

During a live chat on folklore’s release night, Taylor told fans: “There’s a collection of three songs I refer to as The Teenage Love Triangle. These three love songs explore a love triangle from all three people’s perspectives at different times in their lives.”

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The first two songs in the trio are “Cardigan,” and “August.” “Betty” is the third song to complete the teenage love triangle, and the lyrics are from the perspective of James, a 17-year-old boy who cheated on the title character Betty with another girl. ~Drama~ ensues once the teenagers all return to school, and James tries to apologize to Betty by using his immaturity as an excuse for his behavior.

Taylor went into more detail about the track on country radio, and said:

“[James] has lost the love of his life basically and doesn’t understand how to get it back. I think we all have these situations in our lives where we learn to really, really give a heartfelt apology for the first time. Everybody makes mistakes, everybody really messes up sometimes, and this is a song that I wrote from the perspective of a 17-year-old boy. I’ve always loved that in music you can kinda slip into different identities and you can sing from other people’s perspectives. So that’s what I did on this one. I named all the characters in this story after my friends’ kids…and I hope you like it!”

Without further ado, listen and learn the lyrics to “Betty” (ahead of Taylor’s ACM performance) below.

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[Verse 1]Betty, I won’t make assumptionsAbout why you switched your homeroom, butI think it’s ’cause of meBetty, one time I was riding on my skateboardWhen I passed your houseIt’s like I couldn’t breathe

[Pre-Chorus]You heard the rumors from InezYou can’t believe a word she saysMost times, but this time it was trueThe worst thing that I ever didWas what I did to you

[Chorus]But if I just showed up at your partyWould you have me? Would you want me?Would you tell me to go fuck myselfOr lead me to the garden?In the garden, would you trust meIf I told you it was just a summer thing?I’m only seventeen, I don’t know anythingBut I know I miss you

[Verse 2]Betty, I know where it all went wrongYour favorite song was playingFrom the far side of the gymI was nowhere to be foundI hate the crowds, you know thatPlus, I saw you dance with him

[Pre-Chorus]You heard the rumors from InezYou can’t believe a word she saysMost times, but this time it was trueThe worst thing that I ever didWas what I did to you

[Chorus]But if I just showed up at your partyWould you have me? Would you want me?Would you tell me to go fuck myselfOr lead me to the garden?In the garden, would you trust meIf I told you it was just a summer thing?I’m only seventeen, I don’t know anythingBut I know I miss you

[Bridge]I was walking home on broken cobblestonesJust thinking of you when she pulled up likeA figment of my worst intentionsShe said “James, get in, let’s drive”Those days turned into nightsSlept next to her, butI dreamt of you all summer long

[Verse 3]Betty, I’m here on your doorstepAnd I planned it out for weeks nowBut it’s finally sinkin’ inBetty, right now is the last timeI can dream about what happens whenYou see my face again

[Pre-Chorus]The only thing I wanna doIs make it up to youSo I showed up at your partyYeah, I showed up at your party

[Chorus]Yeah, I showed up at your partyWill you have me? Will you love me?Will you kiss me on the porchIn front of all your stupid friends?If you kiss me, will it be just like I dreamed it?Will it patch your broken wings?I’m only seventeen, I don’t know anythingBut I know I miss you

[Outro]Standing in your cardiganKissin’ in my car againStopped at a streetlightYou know I miss you

Starr Bowenbank Editorial Assistant Starr Bowenbank is the editorial assistant who writes about all things pertaining to news, pop culture, and entertainment—you can follow her here.

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