Gracie Abrams explores heartbreak, girlhood and falling in love on The Secret of Us Deluxe
Written by: Mikaila Storrs
Gracie Abrams released her second studio album, The Secret of Us, earlier this year, featuring fan-favorite tracks like "Blowing Smoke," "Close to You," and "I Miss You, I'm Sorry." After wrapping up the U.S. leg of her tour, she marked her return to Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour by releasing the deluxe edition of The Secret of Us.
The deluxe edition features live renditions of "I Love You, I'm Sorry," "I Knew It, I Know You," and "Free Now." Of these, "Free Now" stands out as my personal favorite. Having seen the tour in person, there's something truly magical about experiencing "Free Now" live. The cathartic release of screaming "Never been less empty, all I feel is free now" with Gracie and the crowd was unforgettable. Now, with the live version recorded at Vevo, you can get a taste of that same powerful energy.
In addition to the live versions, the deluxe album introduces new tracks, including “Cool,” which Gracie first performed in Chicago during “The Secret of Us Tour.” With each release, she delves even deeper into her emotions, as seen in lyrics like, “Calm down, maybe, baby, calm down // Waited for your walls to close on me, they did // I spun 'round, hate the way I spun 'round // All the way 'til I could barely breathe // Breathe, breathe.” The song explores the turbulent relationship she had with someone who repeated the same harmful patterns with other girls, a realization reflected in the lines, “You stranded Sadie and Sarah when they opened up // A waste of running mascara, you thought we wouldn't talk // Thought wrong.”
Fans have long been eager for Gracie to release her witty and playful track, "That's So True," which she co-wrote with her best friend, Audrey. The song tackles themes of heartbreak, jealousy, and grief, all while feeling like a candid, trash-talking session with your closest friend. The duo performed this track at The Greek Theatre during the tour, bursting with fun and playful energy, which translates perfectly into the studio version. If a song could capture the essence of a girls' night in, this would be it. Lyrics like, "What'd she do to get you off? (Uh-huh) // Taking down her hair like, oh my God // Taking off your shirt, I did that once or twice, uh // No, I know, I know, I'll fuck off (Uh-huh) // But I think I like her, she's so fun // Wait, I think I hate her, I'm not that evolved, I'm sorry," embody that mix of humor, jealousy, and vulnerability.
One of the most vulnerable tracks on the deluxe version is “I Told You Things.” The song captures the painful experience of opening up to someone, sharing your deepest secrets, only for them to leave your life. You’re left trying to hide the hurt they caused, but the heartbreak is undeniable. The emotional weight of the song’s ending reveals the devastation she feels: "I told you things that I never said // To anybody else, I regret them // But I'll pack it up and practice leaving (Mm) // You were all at once 'til the fade to black // 'Til the yellow glow turned a little sad // You were in my hands, but you're good at leaving.”
My personal favorite of the new tracks is “Packing It Up,” which perfectly captures the moment when you’re on the verge of giving up on a relationship—whether it's a friendship or something romantic—and then someone unexpected comes along and changes everything. It reflects that feeling of being too much for others and believing nothing ever works out, only to meet someone who is exactly what you need. “'Cause I swear that I wasn't looking for much // But that’s just when you happened // That's right when you happened // Got so damn close to packing it up // But that's right when you happened.” As someone who loves a heartfelt love song, this one really hits home.
Gracie Abrams continues to dig deeper into her artistry and solidify her place in the music industry. With the success of The Secret of Us, her trajectory is only upward, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
