Gracie Abrams’ music often depicts mental health struggles like depression, body image, and anxiety. The meanings of these songs are very subtle, so that one may not pick up upon them on the first listen. Such as “Camden,” an allusion to eating disorders may be found within the lines “Most of the girls are getting thinner” and “I’m scared of getting bigger.”
Keeping in mind her music is very much up for interpretation, I feel as if the first verse of “Where do we go now?” represents violence and uncertainty in the relationship. The line “Where you held me, grabbed my arm. What a mental fire alarm” hints at violence in the relationship depicted in the song.
Upon listening to this song for the first time I remember sitting with my headphones turned up to full volume and the lyrics pulled up on my phone so I could fully comprehend and soak up every aspect of the song. It is so beautifully written, Abrams perfectly captures melancholy and hesitation in her lyricism and singing.
The chorus consists of repetition of the phrase “Where do we go now?” with strong emotions and uncertainty vividly present in each line. While the chorus is just a repetition of the same phrase, you can hear each line as distinguishable from the last.
The second verse, oh the second verse. Abrams describes how the hope of saving their relationship is gone, whatever spark they had has burnt out, but her lover still chooses to be hopeful and continues to choose her.
Leading into a vulnerable and soulful bridge, Abrams communicates regret and hope that someday, they would be able to try again. The suffocating swirl of emotions that happens directly after the end of a relationship is perfectly captured in this song: regret, guilt, and oddly a mix of hope.
The accompanying music video captures the emotions behind this song incorporating a beautiful use of light and shadows. The majority of the music video is shot in black and white and a vintage film style.
Something that has resonated with me since my first time watching was that while the majority of the video is black and white, during the bridge, more and more color is incorporated. In the last clip of the video it fades out from black and white into color and I can’t help but wonder what the symbolism of the color and lack of color is throughout the music video and if it could relate to the hope Abrams describes in the bridge.
Abrams’ debut album “Good Riddance” releases February 24, 2023. Personally, I would feel “half of myself” without this new release from Abrams.
