Lyrics: I Know It Won’t Work by Gracie Abrams
I left you here Heard you keep the extra closet empty In case this year I come back and stay throughout my twenties What if I won't? How am I supposed to put that gently? And down the road You will love me until you resent me I've had the thought Tried to work it out through anxious pacing What if I'm not Worth the time and breath I know you're saving? But it's a lot All the shine of half a decade fading The whole facade Seemed to fall apart, it's complicated And part of me wants to walk away till you really listen I hate to look at your face and know that we're feeling different 'Cause part of me wants you back, but I know it won't work like that, huh? Why won't you try moving on for once? That might make it easy I know we cut all the ties but you're never really leaving And part of me wants you back, but I know it won't work like that, huh? I know it won't work like that I'll open up I'm thinking everything you wish I wasn't The call was tough But you're better off, I'm being honest So won't you stop Holding out for me when I don't want it Just brush me off 'Cause I'm your ghost right now, your house is haunted And part of me wants to walk away till you really listen I hate to look at your face and know that we're feeling different 'Cause part of me wants you back, but I know it won't work like that, huh? Why won't you try moving on for once? That might make it easy I know we cut all the ties but you're never really leaving And part of me wants you back, but I know it won't work like that, huh? I know it won't work like that, huh? I know it won't work like that, huh? And part of me wants to walk away till you really listen I hate to look at your face and know that we're feeling different 'Cause part of me wants you back, but I know it won't work like that, huh? Why won't you try moving on for once? That might make it easy I know we cut all the ties but you're never really leaving And part of me wants you back, but I know it won't work like that, huh?
Lyric Analysis: Navigating Heartbreak and Emotional Honesty
I Know It Won’t Work by Gracie Abrams is a poignant exploration of the aftermath of a breakup, capturing the internal tug-of-war between longing and acceptance. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of two people unable to fully let go, haunted by shared memories and unspoken hopes. The recurring image of an “extra closet empty” symbolizes lingering hope, while lines like “I know we cut all the ties but you’re never really leaving” highlight the difficulty of moving on.
The song’s vulnerability shines through as the narrator questions their own worth and the impact of their absence on the other person. Abrams’ writing delves into the complexities of love that has run its course—where desire for reconciliation is overshadowed by the knowledge that it can’t succeed. The refrain, “part of me wants you back, but I know it won’t work like that,” encapsulates the heartbreak of loving someone yet recognizing that rekindling the relationship would only lead to more pain. Through honest introspection and evocative imagery, Abrams captures the universal struggle of letting go when the heart still lingers.
Song Credits
- Songwriters: Gracie Abrams, Aaron Dessner
- Release Year: 2023
- Label: Interscope Records