On February 24, 2023, the track was released as track nine on the highly anticipated debut album, Good Riddance, by Gracie Abrams. The track was teased on TikTok in 2021, and in 2023, by Gracie posting a photo of this title to her Tumblr.
This Is What The Drugs Are For
Gracie Abrams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn the lights off on the come down
I still get emotional
When I think about your old house
Hopefully the high
Works to change my mind
Now I feel you in my room
Haven't seen you in a lifetime
What am I supposed to do
When you used to be my lifeline?
I've counted all the days
Since you walked away
Look, now I'm alone again
I've gotten used to sleeping here without you
Though I've tried I can't pretend
That I don't sit around and think about you
When all I ever do is think about you
In the middle of the night
I got caught inside a fever
Almost called a hundred times
Just to ask if you might leave her
She appears in dreams
Chasing after me
Look, now I'm alone again
I've gotten used to sleeping here without you
Though I've tried I can't pretend
That I don't sit around and think about you
Look how I just lost a friend
I'm burying your things inside my bedroom
All distractions in the end
Don't work, I'm left to sit and think about you
Like all I ever do is think about you
I'm still waiting by the phone
You painted my life indigo
A kind of blue I hate to know
Where everything turns kind of cold
Look, now I'm alone again
I've gotten used to sleeping here without you
Though I've tried I can't pretend
That I don't sit around and think about you
Look how I just lost a friend
I'm burying your things inside my bedroom
All distractions in the end
Don't work, I'm left to sit and think about you
Like all I ever do is think about you
Gracie Abrams’s song “This Is What The Drugs Are For” expresses the depth of emotions that come with the end of a relationship. The lyrics talk about the singer’s struggle to get over a past lover, and how the only way to cope with the pain is by turning to drugs. The line “This is what the drugs are for” highlights the singer’s attempt to numb the pain of heartbreak by using drugs.
The repeated phrase “Now I'm alone again” emphasizes the loneliness the singer feels. Although the singer has gotten used to being alone, the pain of losing the loved one is still very fresh. The lyrics also touch on the idea of unfinished business and unresolved feelings of love. The chorus featuring the line “That I don't sit around and think about you” brings to light the fact that even though the singer has tried to forget about the past lover, she cannot seem to move on from those memories. The narration of the vivid dreams featuring the past lover suggests that the singer desires to reconcile with the ex-lover.
Overall, the song highlights the pain, hopelessness, and loneliness of unrequited love and how the singer copes with those emotions. Although the song is heart-wrenching, it’s also an anthem of hope for anyone going through the same emotion that things could get better with time.
Line by Line Meaning
This is what the drugs are for
Using drugs to cope with the aftermath of a relationship.
Turn the lights off on the come down
Reacting to the feeling of coming down from a high.
I still get emotional
Being unable to let go emotionally.
When I think about your old house
Fond memories of times past.
Hopefully the high
Wishing for the drugs to help change their mindset.
Works to change my mind
Desiring a change in perspective or emotional state.
Now I feel you in my room
Longing for the presence of a past lover.
Haven't seen you in a lifetime
Being separated from a former partner for an extended period of time.
What am I supposed to do
Feeling lost and unsure of how to cope with the situation.
When you used to be my lifeline?
Feeling abandoned and bereft without a former partner.
I've counted all the days
Keeping track of how much time has passed since the breakup.
Since you walked away
Feeling left behind or abandoned.
Look, now I'm alone again
Facing the reality of being without a former partner.
I've gotten used to sleeping here without you
Adjusting to the absence of a former partner.
Though I've tried I can't pretend
Being unable to hide or suppress feelings about a former partner.
That I don't sit around and think about you
Continuing to think about a former partner on a regular basis.
In the middle of the night
Being struck by thoughts or emotions without warning.
I got caught inside a fever
Feeling overwhelmed by strong emotions.
Almost called a hundred times
Being strongly tempted to reach out to a former partner.
Just to ask if you might leave her
Wanting to know if there is any possibility of a reunion.
She appears in dreams
Being haunted by the presence of a former partner in dreams.
Chasing after me
Feeling pursued by the memory of a former partner.
Look how I just lost a friend
Feeling the loss of a former partner as a major life change.
I'm burying your things inside my bedroom
Trying to move on by packing away reminders of a former partner.
All distractions in the end
Finding that nothing really helps to distract from thoughts of a former partner.
Don't work, I'm left to sit and think about you
Unable to shake thoughts or emotions about a former partner.
You painted my life indigo
Feeling like a former partner had a major impact on personal growth or identity.
A kind of blue I hate to know
Feeling negatively about the impact of a former partner on personal growth or identity.
Where everything turns kind of cold
Experiencing a sense of emotional numbness or detachment.
I'm still waiting by the phone
Desperately holding onto hope for a reunion.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Dessner, Gracie Madigan Abrams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@catherinebalquin4226
Lyrics
This is what the drugs are for
Turn the lights off on the come down
I still get emotional
When I think about your old house
Hopefully, the high
Works to change my mind
Now, I feel you in my room
Haven't seen you in a lifetime
What am I supposed to do
When you used to be my lifeline?
I've counted all the days
Since you walked away
Look now I'm alone again
I've gotten used to sleeping here without you
Though I've tried I can't pretend
That I don't sit around and think about you
When all I ever do is think about you
In the middle of the night
I got caught inside a fever
Almost called a hundred times
Just to ask if you might leave her
She appears in dreams
Chasing after me
Look now I'm alone again
I've gotten used to sleeping here without you
Though I've tried I can't pretend
That I don't sit around and think about you
Look how I just lost a friend
I'm burying your things inside my bedroom
All distractions in the end
Don't work, I'm left to sit and think about you
Like all I ever do is think about you
I'm still waiting by the phone
You painted my life indigo
A kind of blue I hate to know
Where everything turns kind of cold
Look now I'm alone again
I've gotten used to sleeping here without you
Though I've tried I can't pretend
That I don't sit around and think about you
Look how I just lost a friend
I'm burying your things inside my bedroom
All distractions in the end
Don't work, I'm left to sit and think about you
Like all I ever do is think about you
@mariaysabelraciles-me1wd
This girl deserves more recognition, as much as I want to gatekeep her i want her also to be known worldwide especially in music industry. I want the world to know that someone like her who produce and write masterpiece does exist
@majorendain4044
FACTS
@SR-ql9he
I mean, she'll go on tour with Taylor Swift, I'm sure she'll get a lot more attention after that. But I agree, she DOES deserve more recognition.
@Cassies_Critter_Circus
She's gonna be in Houston tx soon with Taylor swift! I had never heard of her till seeing that! I can't wait to hear her in person her voice is magical
@MatthewHoyle-bt9pp
U can't gate keep a fuckin goat much less her
@MasterPenguin__
Look at her now
@mallorisonae
this song is literally how I’ve been feeling about our past today. I hate bc I cut the ties for the best bc you wouldn’t stop that cycle, and I couldn’t do it anymore. But I miss the good in it so bad. Any little thing from the past makes me think about you. I just want to move on and stop loving you bc it’s so painful.
@-xnyctophilia27x-
this song is not really about the drugs but about how much you want to forget someone that you'd agree to be high all the time if you could just forget them for a few moments
@sooszn
I love how every track on the album is 3-4 minutes long or more. What a really beautiful album. So proud of you, Gracie. I love you and I love this. This is a masterpiece. 🖤🖤🖤
@redpandawukart5170
Same more beautiful lyrics for us to cherish in each song😊