Aaron Dessner clears up rumors about Gracie Abrams’ ‘Death Wish’ inspiration

Gracie Abrams’ song “Death Wish” has sparked plenty of fan speculation, but her collaborator Aaron Dessner is setting the record straight.

The songwriter, 50, revealed that the 2025 track was not written about pop superstar Taylor Swift, despite some Swifties believing the lyrics were aimed at her.

Speaking with Billboard, Aaron dismissed the rumours and confirmed the song had a completely different inspiration.

“Yeah, definitely not,” Aaron said when asked if the song was about Taylor.

He explained that Gracie wrote the track while reflecting on a friend’s difficult relationship.

“It was written at a time when [Gracie] was writing about a friend’s ex, being in a bad relationship,” Aaron shared. “So it was kind of about that person, I think. I wouldn’t even actually know who that person was.”

The speculation surrounding the song grew after fans analyzed its lyrics, including lines about someone with “time machines,” “power trips” and “diamond rings,” with some listeners suggesting the track contained references to Taylor’s personal and professional life.

However, Aaron’s comments confirm that the song’s meaning was tied to a friend’s experience rather than the Grammy-winning singer.

Gracie previously addressed the inspiration behind “Death Wish” during a performance in London in March 2025.

Before singing the track, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter explained that the song came from watching someone close to her deal with a toxic relationship.

“This song is about a friend of mine who recently was dating, like, a mega narcissist,” Gracie told the audience.

“A sincere friend of mine was recently dating someone who kind of sucked. And I was listening to them talk about it a lot, and so this song is about that!”

“Death Wish” was released as part of Gracie Abrams’ growing body of emotionally driven songwriting, with the singer often drawing inspiration from personal experiences and stories shared by those around her.