We are in the era of pop princesses, and Gracie Abrams’s new album, Daughter from Hell, which dropped July 17, the reign of these queens continues. The 56-minute album is written with an overall undertone of angst and heartache, full of new contenders for my sad music playlist with lyrics perfect for screaming out of car windows on the freeway. However, the 26-year-old’s third studio album isn’t only about the throes of youth — the 13th track, “Afflictions,” is a pure love song, which has many fans wondering: Is “Afflictions” about Paul Mescal?
Abrams and the Irish heartthrob actor have been together for about two years, and Mescal even contributed to Abrams’s album, composing and co-writing the song “Imaginary Friend.” Ironically, the song they co-wrote together isn’t a love song, and is instead about the haunting linger of someone from Abrams’s past.
“Afflictions,” on the other hand, is a romantic ode to someone special, with many fans assuming it’s about Mescal. Let’s look at the lyrics: One line goes, “I thought you lived for suffering / But thank God I was wrong,” which could be seen as a sort of playful reference to Mescal’s penchant for playing depressed characters. Right after that, Abrams sings, “Your family feels like family,” which could be about Mescal’s sister, Nell, who used to cover Abrams’s songs online and is now one of the singer’s close friends.
The most romantic lyrics are definitely in the bridge. “It’s the shape of your hands / Made me brave once again / You became where I land / Now you hold all of it.” This seems to be a direct reference to the safety Abrams feels with Mescal. Abrams previously told Vogue that the reliability of her relationship with Mescal intimidated her: “I was worried feeling secure and stable was threatening my drive to write music.”
I’m no maestro, but based on what I’ve heard of the album so far, I don’t think Abrams has anything to worry about.