Is Gracie Abrams' "Death Wish" About Taylor Swift? Aaron Dessner Weighs In

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Even before its official release on Daughter From Hell, Gracie Abrams’ song “Death Wish” has been a hot topic among Taylor Swift fans. In the ferocious power ballad, Abrams takes aim at an impossibly charismatic manipulator, describing how they made themselves “bulletproof” in the eyes of the public, but it’s just a “faux fantasy” hiding a “evil” truth. Listeners have been going back and forth about the possible inspiration for the cutting lyrics since Abrams debuted the song live over a year before its official release, and now, her producer and Swift’s collaborator Aaron Dessner has clarified the true meaning.

Way back in March 2025, Abrams surprised her fans by performing a heartbreaking new song at a London concert. Before launching into “Death Wish” for the first time, Abrams explained that it was inspired by “a mega narcissist” that her friend had dated: ...