Is Phoebe Bridgers’ Song ‘The Governor’s Waltz’ About Gracie Abrams? Let’s Dive In
The moment fans have been waiting for has finally arrived: Phoebe Bridgers has released her long-awaited new album. From planetarium listening experiences and intimate release shows to fan events across the globe, excitement surrounding her first solo record since 2020’s Punisher has been impossible to ignore. In the years between albums, Bridgers turned her focus to boygenius alongside Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus, something many fans are still mourning following the band’s hiatus. (Please come back!).
A lot has changed in Bridgers’ personal life since Punisher. She began dating Irish actor Paul Mescal in 2020 after the pair connected on Twitter over her love of Normal People. Their relationship quickly became one of the internet’s favorite romances, with engagement rumors swirling before they split in late 2022.
Since then, Bridgers has found love again with comedian Bo Burnham, who also contributed to the new album, while Mescal began dating pop star Gracie Abrams in 2024. Abrams had previously opened for Bridgers and has long cited her as one of her biggest influences.
Against that backdrop, it’s no surprise fans have zeroed in on one particular track: “The Governor’s Waltz.” Packed with lyrics that many listeners believe reference Bridgers’ past relationship, Abrams, and the aftermath of both, the song has quickly become one of the album’s most dissected — and controversial — moments. Let’s talk about it.
What is ‘The Governor’s Waltz’ about?
The title of this track is a reference to the Governors Ball Music Festival, the annual New York City festival where Bridgers has performed several times, alongside another major pop star.
Lyrically, the song explores the quiet unraveling of a relationship. Rather than portraying a dramatic cycle of highs and lows, it focuses on emotional distance, sleepless nights, and deep-rooted insecurity. There’s a lingering sense of monotony, with both partners recognizing that something is broken but lacking a clear catalyst to walk away.
The track also appears to reference an ex’s new partner stepping into the narrator’s place, leading many fans to interpret it as a subtle diss track.
Is ‘The Governor’s Waltz’ about Gracie Abrams?
Time to get more specific and dig into some internet sleuthing.
The song opens with the line, “I was the belle of the Governors Ball.” As mentioned, this references the Governors Ball Music Festival, where both Bridgers and Abrams have performed. But the lyric appears to carry a second meaning. Being the “belle of the ball” suggests being the new, exciting face in the room —perhaps hinting that Bridgers once occupied that position before being replaced by a younger artist. It echoes themes from “Nothing New,” her collaboration with Taylor Swift, which explores the fear of women in the music industry being replaced by the next generation.
Then there’s the lyric that sent fans into overdrive: “She can pretend to be me since she took my place in my bed, on that stage.” (Screaming.)
One fan theory points to a small but intriguing detail. In 2017, Abrams bought the now-iconic rocket-print sheets that Bridgers had previously shared on Instagram. Because Abrams’ first tour took place virtually during lockdown, her bedroom effectively became her stage. Later, on her The Secret of Us Deluxe Tour, the B-stage was designed to recreate that bedroom, complete with the same rocket sheets.
Abrams has also been open about her admiration for Bridgers over the years. The two both opened for Swift on The Eras Tour, and Abrams has repeatedly cited Bridgers as one of her biggest songwriting influences. More recently, following the release of Daughter From Hell, Abrams described Bridgers as “the writer of our generation” during an appearance on The New York Times’ Popcast.
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Of course, many listeners believe the lyric has an even more personal meaning, interpreting “she took my place in my bed” as a reference to Bridgers’ former relationship with Mescal and his romance with Abrams.
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The “she can pretend to be me” line has also sparked debate. Some fans see it as Bridgers suggesting Abrams has stepped into her place, both professionally and personally. Others interpret it as a tongue-in-cheek nod to Abrams adopting elements of Bridgers’ aesthetic and artistic influence, right down to the rocket sheets.
The closing lyric, “Being myself wasn’t easy, do it for me,” could reinforce that reading. Rather than expressing bitterness, it may suggest Bridgers is acknowledging how difficult it was to inhabit that version of herself, almost passing the torch to someone else. As with much of Bridgers’ songwriting, the meaning remains open to interpretation.
Which lyrics in ‘The Governor’s Waltz’ could be about Paul Mescal?
Bridgers and Mescal dated for around two years and were widely rumored to be engaged. Many fans believe that speculation is all but confirmed on the album’s title track, where she sings, “I’m supposed to be married, but I called it off.” While Bridgers has never publicly confirmed an engagement, the lyric is suggesting we were right to assume.
Elsewhere, Bridgers describes the pair as “two kids in a trenchcoat living alone.” The image plays on the classic trope of children disguising themselves as adults, capturing the feeling of two young people trying to navigate a serious, grown-up relationship while battling imposter syndrome. It’s an apt metaphor for a romance that may have looked stable from the outside while feeling uncertain behind closed doors. It also reminds us heavily of Vincent Adultman from Bojack Horseman.
Another revealing lyric comes with “I was too happy to feel at home.” It hints at a relationship built around maintaining happiness or keeping the peace, rather than creating a genuine sense of stability. Instead of putting down roots, Bridgers seems to suggest she was constantly performing contentment without ever feeling fully settled.
Her insecurities surface repeatedly throughout the song. With “deserved better, you wanted me,” she appears to question why someone she viewed as deserving more would choose her, exposing feelings of inadequacy. That self-doubt is echoed in the devastating line, “I’m next to you, you’re next to nothing,” which paints a picture of emotional distance despite physical closeness.
Bridgers also sings, “You promised that you’d never leave, but maybe you’ll do it for me.” The lyric suggests she was repeatedly reassured throughout the relationship, yet still anticipated its end. It speaks to the anxiety of expecting abandonment, even when given every reason to believe otherwise. Fear of abandonment girlies, unite.
Finally, there’s one lyric that we can interpret a little more playfully. “Let’s see how far I can run without stopping” has prompted jokes online, due to a long-running meme about Mescal’s habit of suddenly breaking into a run while out walking with partners. It’s almost certainly reading too much into the lyric, but it’s a theory that has nevertheless made the rounds on social media.
