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.
ROSES
Abra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
petals fall from pink roses
and everything I thought I knew
I suppose is a lie
everything dies
and everything changes
i was never to have a green thumb
and i'm green with envy
and unwise and unknowing
the thorns are showing
but you're taste best you
when you're in full bloom
lay in in my teeth
my sweet love trophy
you can't be killed if i rip from the roots
take it with grace
i'm dumb and i'll chase
i'm young and i'll waste you away
tonight
if you leave me i'll flood out your fire
why don't you love me like I
love you like I want you
like I need you
everything dies
it's always too soon you lose to the moon
and you're freaking them out
and you look like a fool
and you're starting to know it
your thorns are showing
but you taste best you when you're in full bloom
lay in in my teeth
my sweet love trophy
you can't be killed if i rip from the roots
take it with grace
i'm dumb and i chase
i'm young and i'll waste you away
In Abra's song "Roses," the lyrics explore the theme of impermanence and the fact that everything, including love and life itself, is temporary. The tone of the song is melancholic, with Abra painting a picture of falling pink petals, a symbol of beauty fading away. She questions everything she thought she knew, realizing that it was all a lie, and now she is left with the truth that everything dies, and everything changes.
The lyrics reveal Abra's envy towards her younger self, who was unwise and unknowing, as well as her own mortality through the symbolism of the thorns, showing that beauty always comes with a cost. Abra also talks about possession, implying that she wants to keep her love as a trophy that she can show off and keep safe by uprooting it from its natural setting. She acknowledges that she is willing to waste away her youth and chase after something that is fleeting and temporary.
The song ultimately speaks to the fragility of love, the inevitability of death, and the human struggle to come to terms with impermanence. Abra's poignant lyrics and vocals create a haunting effect that will leave listeners reflecting on the fleeting nature of love and life as they pass by.
Line by Line Meaning
tonight
The present moment
petals fall from pink roses
Signifies the beauty and fleeting nature of life
and everything I thought I knew
Highlights the realization that everything we assume in life may not be true or permanent
I suppose is a lie
Acknowledges the illusion of certainty in life
everything dies
Affirms the inevitability of death and impermanence
and everything changes
Emphasizes the inevitability of change in life
i was never to have a green thumb
Admits the lack of knowledge or ability in a particular area
and i'm green with envy
Exhibits a feeling of jealousy or covetousness
of the me that was young
Expresses longing for a time in the past
and unwise and unknowing
Reflects on a period of naivety and inexperience
the thorns are showing
Conveys the idea of inherent flaws or challenges in life
but you're taste best you
Suggests that life is most enjoyable when we are at our best
when you're in full bloom
Signifies a state of flourishing or growth
lay in in my teeth
Metaphor for the acquisition of love as a type of trophy
my sweet love trophy
Reaffirms the idea of love as something to be won or achieved
you can't be killed if i rip from the roots
Suggests that love cannot be destroyed, even if the relationship ends
take it with grace
Encourages acceptance and resilience in the face of adversity
i'm dumb and i'll chase
Acknowledges the foolishness of pursuing something that may not be attainable
i'm young and i'll waste you away
Admits to being inexperienced and potentially causing harm in a relationship
if you leave me i'll flood out your fire
Highlights the intensity of emotions and potential for destruction in a relationship
why don't you love me like I love you like I want you like I need you
Expresses a desire for mutual and equal love in a relationship
it's always too soon you lose to the moon
Suggests that fate or external factors may lead to the end of a relationship
and you're freaking them out
Describes behavior that may cause discomfort or unease in others
and you look like a fool
Acknowledges potential embarrassment or humiliation in a situation
and you're starting to know it
Admits to realizing the negative consequences of one's actions or behavior
your thorns are showing
Reiterates the idea of inherent flaws or imperfections in life
take it with grace
Encourages acceptance and resilience in the face of adversity
i'm dumb and i chase
Acknowledges the foolishness of pursuing something that may not be attainable
i'm young and i'll waste you away
Admits to being inexperienced and potentially causing harm in a relationship
Contributed by Caleb O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hugo
(Verse 1)
Tonight
Petals fall from pink roses
And everything I thought I knew
I suppose is a lie
Everything dies and everything changes
I was never one to have a green thumb
And I’m green with envy
Of the me that was young and unwise and unknowing
The thorns are showing (x4)
(Chorus)
But you taste best when you're in full bloom
Lay in my teeth, my sweet love trophy
You can’t be killed if I rip from the roots
Take it with grace
I’m dumb and I’ll chase
I’m young and I’ll waste you away (x4)
(Verse 2)
Tonight
If you leave me I’ll flood out your fire
Why don’t you love me like I love you like I want you like I need you
Everything dies
It’s always too soon to lose to the moon
And you’re freaking them out
And you look like a fool
And you’re starting to know it
Your thorns are showing
(Alternate Chorus)
But you taste best you when you’re in full bloom
Lay in in my teeth, my sweet love trophy
You can’t be killed if I rip from the roots
Take it with grace
I’m dumb and I chase
I’m young and I’ll waste you away (x4)
Roy Purdy
I like her sound, has that oldschool vibe to it
RETRATOS Y BODAS MÉXICO
You are absolutely wrong. This is the sound of the future!
NoR
@RETRATOS Y BODAS MÉXICO nah it has a 80s vibe
mantisflower_
reminds me of aaliyah~ i loveeee it
Bashirskiy
pure technotronic vibes
jard
She's truly in her own lane. You don't hear anyone making music with this kind of voice, production, and overall vibe. This being 8 years old makes it even more ahead of its time. If someone dropped this today with TikTok, people would go nuts.
Hugo
(Verse 1)
Tonight
Petals fall from pink roses
And everything I thought I knew
I suppose is a lie
Everything dies and everything changes
I was never one to have a green thumb
And I’m green with envy
Of the me that was young and unwise and unknowing
The thorns are showing (x4)
(Chorus)
But you taste best when you're in full bloom
Lay in my teeth, my sweet love trophy
You can’t be killed if I rip from the roots
Take it with grace
I’m dumb and I’ll chase
I’m young and I’ll waste you away (x4)
(Verse 2)
Tonight
If you leave me I’ll flood out your fire
Why don’t you love me like I love you like I want you like I need you
Everything dies
It’s always too soon to lose to the moon
And you’re freaking them out
And you look like a fool
And you’re starting to know it
Your thorns are showing
(Alternate Chorus)
But you taste best you when you’re in full bloom
Lay in in my teeth, my sweet love trophy
You can’t be killed if I rip from the roots
Take it with grace
I’m dumb and I chase
I’m young and I’ll waste you away (x4)
Richard Beck
Thanks, great incite to the song. Great song thanks 😇😉
Ludivina Valle
I can't explain to myself why I love this song so much, it's like a song I've heard in my dreams before---
Nando
All of my music sounds like a trip I had in my dreams then I wake up and it feels to good to be real.