Gabrielle Olivia Mirville (born March 30, 1989), known professionally as Ab… Read Full Bio ↴Gabrielle Olivia Mirville (born March 30, 1989), known professionally as Abra, is an American singer and songwriter. She is currently signed to Polo Grounds Music and RCA Records, and was formerly signed to Awful Records.

Born in Queens, New York into a family of missionaries, Abra spent her first eight years in London, where her parents built the church they would ultimately work in. Her introduction to singing came from that church, too, where her father was pastor and her mother oversaw praise and worship. After London, her family settled in the quiet suburb of Lilburn outside Atlanta. At 14, Abra began playing guitar. She attended Parkview Highschool and was an active member of the drama department, graduating in 2007. Later in her teens, she began uploading her acoustic covers of rap songs onto YouTube. This led to her being discovered by Awful Records founder and rapper Father, who encouraged her to make original music. She later joined the label in 2014.

Her first EP, BLQ Velvet, was released in 2015. Her second EP, Princess was released by True Panther Sounds on July 15, 2016. It is her first release on a major label. The song "Fruit" off the album Rose was featured in an article on the best R&B songs of 2016 by The Guardian.

Regarding Abra's style of clothing, Vogue commented in 2016 that "deliberate contrasts are part of her artistic identity on the whole: Abra is a member of the mostly male-dominated Awful Records coterie, an outlier crew swiftly taking over Atlanta with a sound that stands apart from ATL's rap oeuvre".

Abra is one of the stars of the 2018 film Assassination Nation and plays Em.

Pride
Abra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

palms up no crown
you wanna mess around
i wanna hold you down
its not okay
i need you everyday
palms up no crown
you wanna mess around
i wanna hold you down

its not okay
i need you everyday
i lost all the pride
that i thought i could keep
can you see me
say you feel me
its a big world
but i fall at your feet
reach out and touch me
i lost all the pride
that i thought i could keep
can you see me
say you feel me
its a big world
but i fall at your feet
reach out and touch me

the throne that would not break
my heart is for the taking
and i cannot save face
cause i keep rearranging for you babe
the throne that would not break
my heart is for the taking
and i cannot save face
cause i keep rearranging for you babe

fold and fold
in darkness on my knees
is this love or a harness baby
please tell me
fold and fold
in darkness on my knees
is this love or a harness baby
fold and fold
in darkness on my knees
is this love or a harness baby
please tell me
fold and fold
in darkness at your feet
is this love or a harness baby
i lost all the pride
that i thought i could keep
can you see me
say you feel me
its a big world

but i fall at your feet
reach out and touch me

Overall Meaning

In Abra's song, "Pride", she is expressing her vulnerability and dependence on someone she loves. The lines "palms up no crown, you wanna mess around, i wanna hold you down, it's not okay, i need you everyday" highlights her willingness to submit to her lover's desires despite the fact that it is not healthy for her. Abra has lost her self-respect and dignity and is falling at her lover's feet. This is evident in the lines "i lost all the pride that i thought i could keep, can you see me, say you feel me, it's a big world, but i fall at your feet, reach out and touch me."

The theme of power dynamics and control is also prevalent in the song. Abra longs for her lover's attention and love, which makes her feel powerless. The lines "the throne that would not break, my heart is for the taking, and i cannot save face, cause i keep rearranging for you babe" suggests that despite her lover's indifference, Abra is still willing to do anything to ensure they stay together. She is constantly bending to her lover's will and feels trapped in her dependence on them.

In summary, "Pride" is a heart-wrenching confession of Abra's deep love for someone who does not reciprocate her feelings. She is painfully aware of her lack of pride and dignity and is willing to do anything to keep her lover by her side, even if it means sacrificing her own wellbeing.

Line by Line Meaning

palms up no crown
I am humble and without ego or superiority

you wanna mess around
You act carelessly or irresponsibly

i wanna hold you down
I want to protect and support you

its not okay
Your behavior is not acceptable or appropriate

i need you everyday
I depend on you and cannot live without you

i lost all the pride that i thought i could keep
I have given up my self-respect and dignity for you

can you see me
Do you truly understand me and my emotions?

say you feel me
Affirm that you empathize with me and my struggles

its a big world but i fall at your feet
Despite the vastness of the world, I am completely devoted to you

reach out and touch me
Physically connect with me to show your affection

the throne that would not break
My perceived power or control is unyielding