Singing Between the Lyrics - Gracie Abrams - "I Love You, I'm Sorry"

“I Love You I’m Sorry” by Gracie Abrams has gained traction and quickly moved to the top of the charts, and is her #2 most popular song on Spotify. Commonly and lovingly referred to as ILYIS, the song made its debut in 2024, part of the singer’s second studio album.

The first time I listened to “I Love You I’m Sorry” I was driving in the car, listening to The Secret of Us as loudly as possible, windows down, trying to take in every word as I squinted through the sun, too short for the visor to pose as anything helpful. With the sun in my eyes, I pulled into the tiny parking lot at my apartment, put the seat back, and turned up the radio. Gracie has a lot to say in this song, and admittingly, it’s the song I love to turn to when life is weighing on me. She handles heavy topics with grace and leaves her audience breathless from her riveting bridge, is classic Gracie Style. Without further ado, let’s get into it. 

“Two Augusts ago, I told the truth, oh, but you didn’t like it, you went home.”

Gracie sets the scene for us, immediately highlighting the passage of time. This interaction that she is referencing happened two years prior, and she is telling both this person, and her audience, that she is not over it. What we can assume is that this relationship meant a lot to her, and that she was left feeling bereft after the loss of her partner. This interaction, this argument, sparked from her “telling the truth” and it ultimately cost her everything. 

While we don’t know exactly what transpired or what “the truth” was, Gracie tells a vibrant story with her lyrics, comparing how the two, though standing together, could not be at more different parts in their lives. She continues to highlight the passage of time again in the second verse, talking about how two years from now, they could be friends, even if it is the kind of friend that you don’t really talk to or see very much. It’s important to her, clearly, that this person remains in her life. This could be why she continuously apologizes throughout the song.

This song is an excellent representation of what it feels like to fall in love with the right person at the wrong time. She loved him, and as the lyrics suggest, maybe even still does, and as themes of other songs on the album suggest, she is implying that there is nothing worse than getting the timing wrong. Even though they were seemingly compatible, Gracie lets us know that they both had their faults in the relationship. She sheds light on her own flaws, keying us in with lines like “I like to slam doors closed,” and “trust me, I know, it’s always about me.” This is something that many of us, myself included, are guilty of. It’s easier to let the anger get the better of us and act out of impulse and self preservation than it is to take a step back and put things in perspective. 

We can infer from this that she felt it was her actions and behaviors that drove the wedge between them in the relationship, and although, even though years have passed, she is still replaying the interaction in her head, the one that ended it all. This song is a beautiful representation of taking accountability and putting pride aside to mend relationships. 

Even though Abrams consistently points out that years have passed, she is still sorry for what happened between them. She reminisces on the good memories that they shared together, something we all find ourselves doing when we are missing someone. Whether on a large or small scale, “I Love You I’m Sorry” is a song that many of us can relate to. Gracie not only tells a story, but also teaches her listeners a lesson, one that, even as adults, we can all need a reminder from time to time. 

We’re not perfect, nobody is, and it’s important to recognize that we are all human, and even when we’re not trying to, we can hurt people and make mistakes. “I Love You I’m Sorry” perfectly demonstrates Gracie’s willingness and ability to take accountability when hurting someone she felt close to. While it isn’t easy, we can definitely applaud Gracie for having what it takes to admit that she was wrong. 

“I Love You I’m Sorry” also explores themes of personal growth, as we see Gracie reflecting on her actions and almost chastising herself. Reflection is also a heavily relevant theme within the lyrics, as nearly everything that Gracie discusses is something that happened and a direct result of it. It’s important to understand that this song is a reflection in itself. We are looking in the mirror at a glimpse of the past and seeing how something that happened years ago can still affect us today. 

Gracie is not an exception. We are all victims of not letting go from time to time. While each person’s experiences are unique, we can agree that sometimes moving on is the hardest thing to do and it can be much easier to get caught up on details, what-if’s, and why’s. 

The theme of not being able to move on is ever present in this song, and in some of Abram’s other songs, especially on The Secret of Us. Stay tuned, because we’ll be talking about some of her other popular songs soon - and some of her not-as-popular songs! 

We love Gracie’s music, and can’t get enough of The Secret of Us! We plan on doing more deep-dives of her music, along with many other popular artists. Don’t forget to follow us on Spotify for our All Things Gracie playlist and subscribe to the mailing list and check back in next week for all things Girly Pop.