The combination of drums, guitar and Gracie’s own voice all work in harmony to bring about the hasty and pleading nature of the song. As the song progresses and Gracie becomes more desperate, the tempo accelerates to emphasize and stress her regret and willingness to do whatever’s needed to fix her relationship. One interesting point to note the addition of the chorus as ad-libs in the outro, which is possibly Gracie’s way of showing that the overwhelming feeling of regret is taking control of her, as she comes to realize that she needs to fix what she has broken.
Mess It Up
Gracie Abrams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Typical, pretty sure I could grow up
Probably chemical
I took up walking to turn it all off
Doesn't feel bearable
Guess I thought when I left it would all stop
Hmm, it would all stop
When I told you, "I'm fine" you were lied to
How could I think that all that I gave you was enough?
'Cause every time I get too close I just go mess it up
Funny that didn't work (didn't work)
I could be anywhere, I'm on your block
Cynical (cynical), terrible (terrible)
Kicking myself with my gut in a knot
'Cause I heard that you're (heard that you're)
Happier (happier)
Hope that you're sleeping well knowing I'm not
I'm doing too much, hmm
Did I fall (did I fall)
Out of line (out of line)
When I called you?
When I told (when I told)
You, "I'm fine" (you, "I'm fine")
You were lied to (I told you I'm lying)
How could I think that all that I gave you was enough?
'Cause every time I get too close I just go mess it up
I keep thinking maybe if you let me back in
We can make it better, breaking every habit
Pull myself together, you could watch it happen
Let it happen
Let it happen
I keep thinking maybe if you let me back in
We can make it better breaking every habit
Pull myself together, you could watch it happen
Let it happen
Let it happen
(Did I fall out of line when I called you?)
I keep thinking maybe if you let me back in
We can make it better breaking every habit
(When I told you "I'm fine" you were lied to)
Pull myself together, you could watch it happen
Let it happen
Let it happen (I told you I'm lying)
(How could I think that all that I gave you was enough?)
I keep thinking maybe if you let me back in
We can make it better breaking every habit
('Cause every time I get too close I just go mess it up)
Pull myself together, you could watch it happen
Let it happen
Let it happen
In the first verse of the song, Gracie Abrams talks about her struggle with mental illness that has been plaguing her since her childhood days. She discusses her efforts to cope with the situation by taking walks while trying to shut everything off. She wanted to make everything stop and believed that leaving could help her achieve that. The chorus reveals her difficulties in maintaining relationships due to her mental state. She expresses that every time she gets close to someone, she screws it up despite giving her all in the relationship. It could be inferred that she is consumed by guilt and self-hatred and is unable to handle the complexity of human connections.
In the second verse, Gracie describes how she regrets lying to her partner that she is alright when she is not. She feels out of line for doing that, and every time she gets close, she messes things up. In the bridge, she pleads to be given another chance to make things right. She is willing to change by breaking every habit and pulling herself together. She wants her partner to watch her transformation happen slowly but steadily, hoping that she would be good for them in the long run.
Line by Line Meaning
Opened two double doors
A metaphorical reference to a new beginning, possibly both metaphorical and physical.
Typical, pretty sure I could grow up
Reflecting on life so far and trying to envisage where it might go in the future.
Probably chemical
The thought that the feelings and emotions are not natural and more of a biochemical response to situations.
I took up walking to turn it all off
To cope with the emotional turmoil, the artist has tried to physically remove themselves from the situation, taking solace in a healthy activity to get away from it all.
Doesn't feel bearable
The thought of not having the other person in their life is just too much to bear
Guess I thought when I left it would all stop
The singer thought that by leaving that things would change and the thoughts and feelings would stop.
Did I fall out of line when I called you?
The singer is questioning whether they crossed a line when they attempted to contact the other person?
When I told you, "I'm fine" you were lied to
The artist is admitting to lying to the other person when they said they were okay.
How could I think that all that I gave you was enough?
The artist is questioning whether or not they gave enough throughout the relationship.
'Cause every time I get too close I just go mess it up
Realizing a pattern that is hard to break: every time the artist gets close to someone they end up ruining the relationship in one way or another.
Funny that didn't work (didn't work)
Reflecting on the previous attempts at a relationship.
I could be anywhere, I'm on your block
The artist could be doing anything, anywhere, but instead is close by.
Cynical (cynical), terrible (terrible)
The singer is feeling really low and negative about the situation.
Kicking myself with my gut in a knot
Regretting past behavior which may have brought about the current situation.
'Cause I heard that you're (heard that you're)
Happier (happier)
Suspecting that the other person is doing better now that they are no longer together.
Hope that you're sleeping well knowing I'm not
The artist hopes that the other person is doing well but they themselves are not able to sleep.
I'm doing too much, hmm
The artist is overanalyzing and overthinking everything, resulting in unnecessary stress.
I keep thinking maybe if you let me back in
We can make it better, breaking every habit
Pull myself together, you could watch it happen
Let it happen
Let it happen
Believing that by trying again, they can break any bad habits and improve their relationship.
(Did I fall out of line when I called you?)
Bringing back the question if the singer crossed a line.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Blake Slatkin, Gracie Abrams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nurm6100
Lyrics:
Opened two double doors
Typical, pretty sure I could grow up
Probably chemical
I took up walking to turn it all off
Doesn't feel bearable
Guess I thought when I left it would all stop
Hmm, it would all stop
Did I fall out of line when I called you?
When I told you "I'm fine", you were lied to
How could I think that all that I gave you was enough?
'Cause every time I get too close, I just go mess it up
Funny that (funny that) didn't work (didn't work)
I could be anywhere, I'm on your block
Cynical (cynical), terrible (terrible)
Kicking myself with my gut in a knot
'Cause I heard that you're (heard that you're) happier (happier)
Hope that you're sleeping well knowing I'm not
I'm doing too much, hmm
Did I fall (did I fall) out of line (out of line) when I called you?
When I told (when I told) you "I'm fine" (you "I'm fine")
You were lied to (I told you I'm lying)
How could I think that all that I gave you was enough?
'Cause every time I get too close, I just go mess it up
I keep thinking maybe if you let me back in
We can make it better, breaking every habit
Pull myself together, you could watch it happen
Let it happen, let it happen
I keep thinking maybe if you let me back in
We can make it better, breaking every habit
Pull myself together, you could watch it happen
Let it happen, let it happen
I keep thinking maybe if you let me back in
We can make it better, breaking every habit
Pull myself together, you could watch it happen
Let it happen, let it happen
I keep thinking maybe if you let me back in
We can make it better, breaking every habit
Pull myself together, you could watch it happen
Let it happen, let it happen
@nadiadoingthings
i love how she drops the cake and immediately makes another one, i would've just cried and then gone to bed
@basedandbiasedkakampink
I would've set the entire goddamn kitchen on fire like Gowon
@imnotangryimlonely9930
@@basedandbiasedkakampink lmaooo same
@imnotangryimlonely9930
This reminded me of that scene in Friends, when Chandler and Rachel cut the cake in half and each one took a half. Rachel started saying that she's not gonna share her half and they made a deal or smthn. Then her cake just fell on the ground and Chandler refused to share his cake. So she dropped his plate. They both sat on the floor and started eating it normally like nothing happened. Sorry this has nothing to do with your comment but it was hilarious 🤣
@nadiadoingthings
@@imnotangryimlonely9930 looool I was literally watching that episode the other day
@renosephiroth316
Because she really loves this person, she messes up becoz she wanted to be perfect and rushing it and unintentionally spoiled it but at last she got shrunk in the process she didnt care
@hollywelch5168
In my mind, the cakes represents her giving the best pieces of herself to someone, just trying to please them but eventually she runs out these perfect things about herself (the ingredients) because she thinks she keeps messing up everything she's giving to this person where in reality, it's the person (her tripping over the steps) that's messing it up. But she only sees it as her making a mistake so she keeps trying and eventually she gives up and just gives the person all she has left, hoping it'll be enough for them.
@raivanalvaroghazzi7543
I couldn't say it better
@sirCharon
That's a great way to view it
@farhananiaz6877
My lady, that was deep,🙏✌️😘🌹