Love, loss and the films that reflect it

Image C/O Gracie Ambrams

When I listen to Gracie Abrams' “I Love You, I'm Sorry,” I hear layers of regret, love, and self-realization—each line pulling on familiar emotional threads woven into so many films. Because of my background in creative writing, I have always found it useful to draw on other art forms to get to the deeper meaning of a song.

By looking at these lyrics through the lens of film storytelling, we can delve even deeper into what gives this song such deep resonance. These are my own findings, but I hope this analysis sheds light on the broader, timeless themes Abrams explores.

This song gives us the perfect opportunity to explore what art likes in all media – films Eternal sunshine of the flawless mind, 500 days of summerAnd La La Land– can reveal about the song's themes: flawed love, regret and acceptance of life's imperfections. Using pop culture and film as a lens, we reveal the diverse facets of the song and show how art can help us discover new perspectives.

For readers who want to go even further, I invite you to download my free e-book. The Art of Interpretation: Discovering the Personal Meaning of Music. In it, you'll learn techniques for delving deeper into the texts, uncovering personal connections, and seeing how your own experiences can influence your interpretations. So let’s delve into Abrams’ writing through the power of art and film – and feel free to download the eBook to further explore what you personally find

Gracie Abrams I love you, I'm sorry

“Two Augusts ago I told the truth”

The song starts with “Two Augusts ago I told the truth, oh, but you didn't like it, you went home.” Right at the beginning we deal with the topic that honesty backfires. The narrator wanted to be real and lay it all out, but it ends up pushing his partner away.

This moment is very similar Eternal sunshine of the flawless mindwhere Joel and Clementine try to be brutally honest with each other, only to find that it creates distance instead of closeness. In one scene, Joel tells Clementine that she is impulsive and careless, and she hits back, calling him withdrawn and boring. They are just being honest, but these words hurt each other. Honesty here doesn't heal – it hurts, and this song shows that.

The line “You’re in your Benz, I’m at the gate” indicates a separation. One person is physically sitting in a car and may be ready to drive off while the other person remains standing outside. It's an image of one person moving on and the other feeling left behind, similar to how Joel realizes that trying to erase memories of Clementine doesn't erase his feelings for her. The emotions remain even in the face of separation, just like here in the song.

“You were the best, but you were the worst” – 500 days of summer

We hear on the bridge “You were the best, but you were the worst.” It's a line that captures the highs and lows of a complicated love.

This line is very similar 500 days of summerin which Tom remembers Summer as both the woman of his dreams and the source of his heartbreak. Tom idealizes summer and remembers all the beautiful moments – like singing in the park or holding hands at IKEA – only to later realize that the reality didn't match reality. In a famous scene, there is a split screen between Tom's “expectations” and the “reality” of seeing Summer again at a party. What he hoped would be a happy reunion becomes a painful reminder that they don't see eye to eye. The lyrics here reflect the same idea: love can feel perfect one moment and painful the next.

Then we have the line “I was an idiot, that’s it.” This blunt self-criticism is like when Tom came in 500 days of summer finally admits that he ignored all the warning signs in his relationship with Summer. He didn't want to see the signs that they weren't compatible. He idealized them instead of accepting reality, and when everything falls apart, he has to come to terms with the fact that he contributed to the downfall by not being honest with himself. In the song, the narrator seems to be doing the same thing – accepting that they played a role in the end of the relationship.

“The way life goes” – La La Land

The chorus gets us there “How life goes” A line that conveys a feeling of acceptance. Life doesn't always turn out the way we planned, and sometimes relationships end without a clear resolution. That reminds me of that La La Landespecially the scene towards the end when Mia and Sebastian meet again years after their separation.

They take a look across the room together and we see a dreamy look back at what could have been – a life together, a family, shared moments of love. But then it comes back to reality: they now live in different lives, with different partners, and accept that their love was real, but just wasn't meant to last.

When the narrator in the song says: “Lie on the horn to prove it’s following me.” It's like a reminder of the impact their love had and reflects Mia and Sebastian's enduring feelings for each other. Even though they are in different places, they cannot completely get rid of the memory. They can move on, but that past love stays with them, just as the narrator in the song is still haunted by their relationship.

“In two summers” – Eternal sunshine And 500 days of summer

Verse 2 shifts the song's perspective into the future with the line: “In two summers we’ll talk, but not as often, we’re cool now.” Here the narrator imagines a future in which things are a little further away, even if the connection remains. That's similar Eternal sunshine of the flawless mindwhere Joel and Clementine, after erasing each other from their memories, meet again, almost as strangers but with a sense of enduring familiarity. They have let go of their past anger and pain, but the “what ifs” still hang in the air. It's the idea that sometimes, even after a breakup, people don't completely leave our lives or our minds.

This line also feels like the end of 500 days of summer when Tom encounters Summer again after both have moved on. They're polite, they're “cool,” but there's still some weight to their interaction, an unspoken understanding that they had something real, even if it didn't last. In the song, the narrator's idea of ​​”Now we're cool” seems like a resigned acceptance. They will have some sort of connection, but it just isn't the same.

“That’s just how life works” – La La Land

The final chorus brings us back to “That’s just how life goes.” This repeated line feels like the narrator is coming full circle, acknowledging that life doesn't always follow a perfect path. Similar to Mia and Sebastian La La Landwho accept that their love was both powerful and imperfect, the narrator here has come to terms with the fact that the meaningful relationship was not meant to last. Mia and Sebastian had their moment, but ultimately they pursue their dreams separately. There is a feeling of bittersweet closure.

The final line of the song, “Grateful you didn’t send anyone to kill me.” is a bit of dark humor. It's as if the narrator knows they caused pain, but is relieved that the other person doesn't hold a grudge. It's a line that feels like the last laugh in a breakup scene, a nod to the fact that despite all the regret and heartache, they both move on without hatred.

It's a bit like Mia and Sebastian sharing a final, knowing smile – there's no resentment, just understanding.

Gracie Abrams I Love You I'm Sorry Lyrics

Two Augusts ago
I told the truth, oh, but you didn't like it, you went home
You're in your Benz, I'm at the gate
Now you go alone
Charm all the people you train for, you mean well but your goals are low
And I'm going to make it known like I'm getting paid

That's just how life goes
I like slamming doors
Trust me, I know it's always about me
I love you, I'm sorry

In two summers
We talked, but not that often, now we're cool
I'll be on a boat, you'll be on a plane
Go somewhere sensible
And I'll have a drink
I lean wistfully out of my window and watch the sun set over the lake
It may not feel real, but it's okay, meh

Because that's just how life works
I'm trying my luck, you can tell
I'm grateful you didn't send anyone to kill me
I love you, I'm sorry

You were the best, but you were the worst
As sick as it may sound, I loved you first
I was an idiot, that's it
A habit that must be broken, the ancient curse
I tend to laugh when I'm sad
Look at the crash, it actually works
Make amends, this shit never ends
I'm wrong again, wrong again

The way life goes
A joyride on our street
Lie on the horn to prove it's following me
I love you, I'm sorry
How life goes (you were the best, but you were the worst)
(As sick as it sounds, I loved you first)
I want to speak in code (I was an idiot, it is what it is)
(A habit of kicking, the ancient curse)
I hope I don't, I won't let it talk about me (I tend to laugh when I'm sad)
(Stare at the crash, it actually works)
I love you, I'm sorry