APR 02
GRACIE ABRAMS - "DEATH WISH" | REVIEW
BY LUNA CARDOSO
Gracie Abrams' Death Wish feels like a slow-burning fire that has the potential to spark something far greater. Following the success of The Secret Of Us, the singer-songwriter gifted this emotional powerhouse to her fans, performing it live in London's 02 Arena before releasing it officially. The track, which she co-wrote with Aaron Dessner, delves deep into the haunting aftermath of a relationship that never lived up to its promise, resonating with the emotional depth of her listeners.
With Death Wish, Abrams not only captures the pain of a broken relationship but also the feeling of being quietly consumed by someone else's emotional manipulation. From the first line, listeners are transported to a world of power plays, illusions, and subtle cruelty, shedding light on this often-overlooked aspect of relationships.
The opening verse set the tone with a sharp, almost cynical look at the person who is emotionally involved with her. "Your power trips and diamond rings" depicts a person obsessed with control and status, clinging to past glories and superficial symbols of success. The line "Your words to kill are evergreen" resonates with a quiet, lingering sting, emphasising that this person's cruelty isn't just a one-time lapse—it festers and reshapes the relationship with time.
What follows in the chorus is an anxious, almost defeated admission: "How will it end? How long will you give me / 'Til you twist the knife with a smile while you kill me." The threat of emotional betrayal is constant as if she is already preparing for the inevitable end, knowing full well that her partner will be the one who will deal the final blow. There's an unsettling calm to the way she sings these words—less about the shock of betrayal and more about the haunting knowledge that it's coming.
By the second verse, the veil begins to lift. Abrams makes it clear that the charming front no longer fools her. "I fell for your faux fantasy / You poured the wine, there's poison in it." It's a heartbreaking moment of clarity in which she realises the relationship was nothing more than an illusion of love. The line "Your eggshell floor is splintering now" perfectly captures the situation's fragility, the slow breakdown of the person's carefully built image.
The sentence "I'm old enough to know you as a gateway drug," expresses the realisation that she has been led down a destructive path. Abrams recognises that this person is not an isolated incident; they are part of a bigger pattern that might lead her down an even darker road. And yet, there is this bittersweet understanding; she does not want to be like them. She does not want to carry that loneliness or destructive nature.
Everything comes together during the last chorus. Abrams expands on the metaphor of this person's bright, overwhelming presence, comparing it to a light "of a million suns" that burns through all it touches. What once seemed incredible has become a destructive force that leaves nothing but damage in its wake. "A breath of your air is a death wish" becomes the song's centrepiece, capturing this relationships toxicity. Not only is she going through a breakup, but she also has to get out before it completely ruins her.
Abrams isn't pleading for closure in the outro; she's simply watching from the sidelines, detached. "Oh, look at you now" feels like the last step toward emotional liberty. She is no longer caught in the loop of manipulation. She's just... done.
Death Wish isn't about an explosive, dramatic end; instead, it is a somber reckoning, realising how far a person will go to manipulate and control. Abrams clarifies that she is no longer willing to play by the rules. With this release, it feels like she is moving on from this relationship and prepared to take the next step in her musical journey, marking a significant turning point that leaves us eagerly anticipating what she will create next.
