Concluding my countdown of the songs on Taylor Swift’s folklore…
#3. ‘invisible string’
One of the few songs on folklore written about Swift’s current relationship with actor Joe Alwyn, ‘invisible string’ is soul-soothing in its vision of romantic fate. It contains clever references to Swift’s previous work (“Bad was the blood of the song in the cab on your first trip to LA”) and the resolution she has found with former flames (“Now I send their babies presents”). She sounds thrillingly at peace.
#2. ‘seven’
The album’s most gorgeous moment, and depending on my mood, my favorite song on it. Call it #1a rather than #2. Swift sings about a childhood friendship with a girl fleeing from an abusive home, and captures both the innocence and the mythic power of childhood. This song could soundtrack Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are.
#1. ‘betty’
The third song in the teenage love triangle, ‘betty’ is definitive proof that the “old Taylor” isn’t dead, regardless of what you’ve heard in previous singles. This is a song that could have fit on her 2008 breakthrough Fearless, with its plucky acoustic guitar and adolescent lyrical specificity.
The track is perfectly placed late on the album, offering a jolt of OG Taylor after a slew of melancholy tunes. But the unexpected harmonica sprinkles a dash of Springsteen on this teenage melodrama.
‘Betty’ also ties up the album’s “teen trilogy” in thrilling fashion, with its final chorus key change ramping up the suspense around James and Betty’s possible reconciliation.
Filtered through a maturity earned over a dozen jam-packed years, and coming toward the end of this deep, rich record, ‘betty’ is proof that Swift is as great as she ever was, and better than she’s ever been before.
Betty, I won’t make assumptions
About why you switched your homeroom, but
I think it’s ’cause of me
Betty, one time I was riding on my skateboard
When I passed your house
It’s like I couldn’t breathe
[Pre-Chorus]
You heard the rumors from Inez
You can’t believe a word she says
Most times, but this time it was true
The worst thing that I ever did
Was what I did to you
[Chorus]
But if I just showed up at your party
Would you have me? Would you want me?
Would you tell me to go fuck myself
Or lead me to the garden?
In the garden, would you trust me
If I told you it was just a summer thing?
I’m only seventeen, I don’t know anything
But I know I miss you
[Verse 2]
Betty, I know where it all went wrong
Your favorite song was playing
From the far side of the gym
I was nowhere to be found
I hate the crowds, you know that
Plus, I saw you dance with him
[Pre-Chorus]
You heard the rumors from Inez
You can’t believe a word she says
Most times, but this time it was true
The worst thing that I ever did
Was what I did to you
[Chorus]
But if I just showed up at your party
Would you have me? Would you want me?
Would you tell me to go fuck myself
Or lead me to the garden?
In the garden, would you trust me
If I told you it was just a summer thing?
I’m only seventeen, I don’t know anything
But I know I miss you
[Bridge]
I was walking home on broken cobblestones
Just thinking of you when she pulled up like
A figment of my worst intentions
She said “James, get in, let’s drive”
Those days turned into nights
Slept next to her, but
I dreamt of you all summer long
[Verse 3]
Betty, I’m here on your doorstep
And I planned it out for weeks now
But it’s finally sinkin’ in
Betty, right now is the last time
I can dream about what happens when
You see my face again
[Pre-Chorus]
The only thing I wanna do
Is make it up to you
So I showed up at your party
Yeah, I showed up at your party
[Chorus]
Yeah, I showed up at your party
Will you have me? Will you love me?
Will you kiss me on the porch
In 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 anything
But I know I miss you
[Outro]
Standing in your cardigan
Kissin’ in my car again
Stopped at a streetlight
You know I miss you
Meet Me In Montauk 
Great final trio 🙌🏼 I’m going to put together my ranking soon and add it here. 🙂
Of your top 3, I would put “Invisible String” in first position.
Great review of the album! I listened to “Betty” for the first time AFTER seeing it trending on Twitter the morning the album dropped. Lots of raving about it being the best song (but mostly, turns out, in conjunction with the theory it was a gay anthem). Regardless, there’s no doubt that our “expectation theory” effected my appreciation for it, as I liked it just fine but didnt really see what’s all the hype was about. There’s something about the end of “Seven” that hasn’t worked for me, but I’ll listen today thinking of it as that soundtrack 👍🏼 Agree that “Invisible String” is a clever, optimistic take on the way we arrive wherever we arrive, and it’s one of my faves, for sure.
Enjoyed the songs,analysis, and comments on this talented singer/lyricist this past week.
Ok ok. I wholeheartedly agree with “Betty” and “Invisible String”. These two would likely be in my top 3 of the album as well. However, I do not understand the hype over “seven”. My sister has also caught this odd fixation. Though, I guess lyrically it might be interesting and I love the delivery of the lines in the chorus, the melody of the verses alone puts this song towards the bottom of my list. Swift can have a beautiful falsetto but this one verges on opera esque in a bad way. As far as “Invisible String” goes, this was the song I immediately gravitated towards the second I heard and the first song that I wanted to listen to again immediately. I’m a sucker for romantic songs, and this one with just the right amount of specificity and beautiful backing guitar easily earns a place at the top of my list. “Betty” is classic Swift as you said and is incredibly infectious with great lyrics and a well used key change. Overall amazing album. Definitley one of her best!
Alright gonna give this a shot, but my list changes all the time:
16. hoax
15. this is me trying
14. epiphany
13. mirrorball
12. illicit affairs
11. mad woman
10. betty
9. exile
8. cardigan
7. my tears ricochet
6. seven
5. august
4. the 1
3. peace
2. the last great american dynasty
1. invisible string
Truly not a bad song in the bunch, so that was really tough. Also, a TikTok person just brought up the discovery that TS used the exact same time (2:47) in “august” and “betty” to introduce the unnamed woman asking James to get in her car. Her mind!!
Here is my list!
folklore:
1. illicit affairs
2. invisible string
3. peace
4. betty
5. august
6. the 1
7. cardigan
8. my tears ricochet
9. exile
10. the last great american dynasty
11. mad woman
12. seven
13. this is me trying
14. mirrorball
15. epiphany
16. hoax
Having Re-listened today to “Seven” and @Mrrorball,” I have to say I appreciate both more.
I’d never realized that Seven is sung as two different girls/women, and that makes the song much more compelling. As for “Mirrorball,” I think she’s addressing herself, which makes that song far more poignant than I’d considered it before.
Oh, and I think “The 1” could also be about Joe Alwyn. As I listened today, it struck me that this song and “Invisible String” are, in essence, flip sides of the same coin. Either the relationship ends or it doesn’t, but either way the invisible string is viewed through the rear view mirror.