"Betty" runs for four minutes and 54 seconds. An
Americana-influenced song, it features a production that critics described as reminiscent of Swift's early
country-music albums. They pointed to the use of guitars, a
pedal steel, and an interlacing
harmonica. Hannah Mylrea of
NME commented the track combines country with
folk rock, the genre that Taila Lee from
the Recording Academy also associated "Betty" with. Other reviewers described the genre as
guitar pop, and 1990s
alternative pop. The song incorporates a
key change after the
bridge. Critics likened "Betty" to the songs of other musicians.
Vulture's Justin Curto said it harkens back to the guitar-pop sound of the
alternative rock band
Sixpence None the Richer in the 1990s, As with other
Folklore tracks, "Betty" features vivid storytelling. "Betty" is narrated from the perspective of James, who cheated on the titular character Betty, as he involves himself in a "summer fling" with the unnamed female narrator of "August". Therefore, James "show[s] up" at Betty's party to reconcile with her. He apologizes about his past mistakes but does not fully own up to them, citing his
disdain of crowds and Betty's "wandering eye" as excuses. Swift explained that James "has lost the love of his life basically and doesn't understand how to get it back". The lyrical structure of "Betty" is characterized by a dramatic shift from the
conditional ("If I just showed up at your party/Would you have me?") to the
present ("I showed up at your party/Will you have me?"). References to a porch and a cardigan at the end of "Betty" echo the imagery in "Cardigan". due to the lack of mention of James's gender anywhere in the album, some audience interpreted "Betty" in a
queer context. When Dessner was asked about the song's potential queerness, he replied: "I can't speak to what it's about. I have my own ideas. I also know where Taylor's heart is, and I think that's great anytime a song takes on greater meaning for anyone." == Critical reception ==