us.
The Secret of Us (Gracie Abrams Album) | 2024
Table of Contents
Background
Gracie Abrams opened for much of Taylor’s “The Eras Tour” in 2023 and would be rejoining the two-year trek as it closed out in fall 2024. Abrams was on “The Today Show” in May of the same year and spoke about her time opening for Taylor:
«I watched every single one of her shows that I was lucky enough to open — I think I did 31 and I watched from every place possible in every stadium, just trying to pick up on how she’s able to do what she does. And she’s such a one-of-a-kind person, friend, artist, all the things.»
Taylor’s features on other artists’ recordings are rare. In the 2020s decade, she showed her continuing affinity for Aaron Dessner and his team by featuring on “The Alcott“, a song by The National (as well as participating in their collaborative Big Red Machine project on “Renegade” and “Birch“). Other features include HAIM’s “Gasoline” remix and “The Joker And The Queen” by Ed Sheeran.
Writing and Recording
«She was such a legend – I don’t know how at this hour or in our state she knew what to do. We both had an insane cough from the fire extinguisher fumes for weeks.»
«Something caught our ear at the same time very hard and fast. So we ran to the piano and started writing this song…I used to fantasize about that kind of a thing as a kid.»
Lyrical Theme
«Taylor’s brilliant at synthesizing a whole story…[That song] just brought everything [about The Secret of Us] into focus in a beautiful way.»
Live Performances
«This song is one that is not technically my song at all. It’s my friend Gracie’s. And man, when I tell you, I just love this girl so much! And I’ve always loved her as an artist, but when you write with someone, it’s like you see the whole thing. You see all the artistry, you see who this person is, really. And writing with her, she’s just so badass, like that’s a writer. And so I was telling her tonight that I would gauge the excitement level for the song here in London. So I’m going to play the song 'us.'»
Accolades
Lyrics
[Verse 1: Gracie Abrams]
I know you know
It felt just like a joke
I’m sure you don’t know we’re talking
I know your ghost
I see her through the smoke
She’ll play her show
And you’ll be watching
[Pre-Chorus 1: Gracie Abrams]
And if history’s clear
Someone always ends up in ruins
And what seemed like fate becomes,
“What the hell was I doing?”
Babylon lovers hanging lifetimes on a vine
Do you miss mine?
[Chorus: Gracie Abrams & Taylor Swift]
Do you miss us?
Us?
I felt it, you held it
Do you miss us?
Us?
Wonder if you regret the secret of us
Us
Us, us, us, us, us, us
[Verse 2: Gracie Abrams, Gracie Abrams & Taylor Swift]
I know you know
It felt like something old
It felt like something holy
Likе souls pleading
So it felt like what I’vе known
You’re twenty-nine years old
So how can you be cold when I open my home?
[Pre-Chorus 2: Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams & Taylor Swift]
And if history’s clear
The flames always end up in ashes
And what seemed like fate
Give it ten months and you’ll be past it
Babylon lovers hanging missed calls on the line
I gave you mine
[Chorus: Gracie Abrams & Taylor Swift]
Do you mind us?
Us?
I felt it, you held it
Do you miss us?
Us?
Wonder if you regret the secret of us
Us
Us, us, us, us, us, us
[Bridge: Gracie Abrams & Taylor Swift]
That night you were talking
False prophets and profits
They making the margins
Of poetry sonnets (Oh)
You never read up on it
Shame, could’ve learned something
Robert Bly on my nightstand
Gifts from you, how ironic
The curse of a miracle, curse of an oracle
You’re incomparable
Fuck you
What’s happened to you? (You?)
Us, us
Me, me
Was
| Artist | Gracie Abrams |
|---|---|
| Feature | Taylor Swift |
| Written | November 14, 2023 |
| Released | June 21, 2024 |
| Genre | Alternative |
| Length | 4:02 |
| Label | Interscope |
| Songwriters | Gracie Abrams Taylor Swift Aaron Dessner |
| Producers | Aaron Dessner Jack Antonoff Gracie Abrams Taylor Swift |
