“That’s So True” has been a massive success on social media, but there’s a deeper story behindGracie Abrams' hit than meets the eye. Abrams released her second studio album,The Secret of Us, on June 21st, 2024. The album included the singles “Risk,” “Close To You,” and “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” all of which circled around social media and charted on Billboard’s Hot 100. One of the most talked about songs on the album that wasn’t a single was “Us,” mainly becauseAbrams co-wrote it with Taylor Swift, who also sang on the track.
Abrams was one of several opening acts forSwift’s Eras Tour, and the two even performed “Us” together at Wembley Stadium. However, Abrams has been able to make a name for herself outside of Swift’s influence and her famous parents, Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams. When she released “That’s So True” as a single on November 6th, 2024, it quickly went viral on TikTok and becameher highest-charting Billboard song yet. It currently remains in the Hot 100 charts at #8. While many know the words to “That’s So True,” the story behind the song is lesser known.
Abrams Was Inspired By A Popular Meme
An Old LeBron James Photo Inspired Some Lyrics
Abrams' inspiration for some of the “That’s So True” lyrics came from a very unexpected place. In a June 2024 performance, months before the song’s official release, Abrams and her co-writer Audrey Hobert joked thatbasketball player LeBron James should be listed as a co-writeron the song. Abrams explained that she and Hobert would send a popular LeBron James meme back and forth to each other when they were sad to cheer each other up. Then, during the COVID pandemic, Hobert gifted Abrams a blanket with the meme on it.
The meme originated in 2018 after a Fox News reporter criticized the basketball player for his negative comments about President Donald Trump. The same day, James went on his Instagram story and posted a photo of him smiling in his pool with the caption, “Smiling through it all, can’t believe this my life.” James' story seemed to show he didn’t care about the reporter’s criticism of him because he was too busy enjoying his life.Abrams interpreted the meme into the “That’s So True” lyrics, “smiling through it all, yeah that’s my life.”
Who’s The Alleged Inspiration Behind That’s So True?
Abrams May Have Written About An Actor & Famous Pop Star
In early 2022, Gracie Abrams had a short fling with actor Dylan O’Brien. Later that year, O’Brien was romantically linked to singer Sabrina Carpenter. However, the timeline of both affairs is unclear. While, like a lot of songwriters, Abrams keeps the inspirations behind her songs private, the two seem like the most likely influences. Throughout the song,Abrams sings about a new girl who her ex seems to think is so cool. In verse one, Abrams sings, “looking into big blue eyes,” which, from her ex’s perspective, would match Carpenter’s appearance.
This would also align with Carpenter’s 2023 song “opposite,” in which she sings about a guy who is interested in a girl who looks nothing like her. She even references brown eyes, which suggestsshe could be singing about Abrams. In Carpenter’s song “Taste,” she jokes about being “known to share.” While this seemed like a reference to her love triangles with Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett and later Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes, it also aligns with the Dylan O’Brien and Gracie Abrams affair.
Why Wasn’t That’s So True On The Secret Of Us?
That’s So True Was A Bonus Track
The Secret of Usinitially had thirteen tracks on it, but due to its success, Gracie Abrams released a deluxe edition of the album a few months later.“That’s So True” was one of four new bonus songsthat didn’t make it onto the original album. While there isn’t much information as to why the song didn’t make the initial album, it’s not unusual for songs to get cut for length purposes.
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Also, Abrams may have planned to release the deluxe edition all along and wanted to save the song as a special treat for fans. This has become common among singers, as Olivia Rodrigo also released a deluxe edition of her sophomore album,GUTS, a few months after the initial album was released. This kind of roll-out gives the album extra shelf life and is alsoa great way to say thank you to the fans.In Abrams' case, it also worked in her favor because of how successful “That’s So True” became.
That’s So True Lyrics Explained
What Do The Song Lyrics Mean?
In the first verse, Gracie Abrams looks back on her former relationship, referring to her partner as “dumb.” Abrams sings about knowing him very well but feeling like she’s on the outside looking in as he’s shut her out of his life. Then there’s the blue eyes lyric,Abrams accusing her ex of moving on to someone new to intentionally hurt her,and the LeBron James-inspired line. In the pre-chorus, Abrams refers to her ex as an “idiot” and insists she needs to warn his new girlfriend before he hurts her too.
In the chorus, Abrams mocks her ex’s new relationship and reminds him that whatever he is doing with his new partner is nothing unique. Similar to Rodrigo’s single “deja vu,” Abrams is calling out her ex for reusing the same tricks on his new girl that he used on her. None of it is unique or special; it’s just the same story with a new character taking Abrams' place. By the second verse,Abrams starts mocking her ex’s new girland once again reminding her former partner she’s already been there, done that.
Abrams compares their breakup to death but admits she put up a good fight and made it out alive.
She also grapples with her feelings about his new girlfriend. At first, Abrams says she likes her because she seems like fun, but then she realizes she’s “not that evolved,” and she actually hates her. The feeling is one a lot of her audience can likely relate to. Abrams wants to like this person, knowing that she hasn’t done anything wrong, butshe can’t let go of her envyover her former partner moving on. In the second chorus, Abrams adds an extra stanza; this time, she realizes her ex isn’t anything special.
Calling him “just another dude,” Abrams is reassuring herself that she isn’t missing out on anything and is actually better off without him. Abrams has called the bridge of the song her favorite part and admitted she and her co-writer Hobert have a lot of fun writing bridges for her music.The bridge is the breakdown of the song,where she lets all her emotions out. In the bridge, Abrams compares their breakup to death but admits she put up a good fight and made it out alive.
Abrams has since moved on from the relationship she wrote about in “That’s So True.” However, the story has gone out into the world and touched her fans, who can now relate it to their own lives. It’s a good thingGracie Abramsdecided to release the song after all.
