Produced by Aaron Dessner, a frequent collaborator of both artists, the song features on Abrams' latest studio album, The Secret of Us.
According to Taylor Swift's heartbreak survival guide, the safest bet is 10 months to recover from the aftermath of a past relationship. She imparted this wisdom in her 1989 deep cut "Clean," a song she performed one night on the Eras tour at the request of her support act, Gracie Abrams. Now, the two musicians are sharing insights on "Us," their collaboration featured on Abrams’ latest studio album, The Secret of Us.
Abrams takes the lead on the track, laying bare fragments of the past for introspection. "And if history’s clear, someone always ends up in ruins/And what seemed like fate becomes ‘What the hell was I doing?’/Babylon lovers hanging lifetimes on a vine/Do you miss mine?" she questions in the first pre-chorus.
In the second pre-chorus, she trades verses with Swift, who sings, "And if history’s clear, the flames always end up in ashes/And what seemed like fate, give it ten months and you’ll be past it/Babylon lovers hanging missed calls on the line/I gave you mine."
Swift and Abrams co-wrote “Us” with producer and frequent collaborator Aaron Dessner, who also took the helm on production alongside Jack Antonoff.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Abrams expressed her excitement on X (formerly Twitter) when the feature was first announced on her album's tracklist: “All I can tell you for now is that some of the most fun I’ve ever had in my whole entire life was writing this song together. Hands down. I am currently smiling and sweating thinking about it and I’ll never get over the shock of seeing this one on the tracklist. You know how I feel.”
Last year, Abrams joined Swift for several shows on the Eras tour. During the second night in Cincinnati, Swift invited Abrams and Dessner to join her on stage for a special performance of “I Miss You, I’m Sorry,” one of the younger musician’s breakout singles from her debut EP Minor, released in 2020.
Reflecting on her experiences last year, particularly her nomination for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, Abrams spoke to Rolling Stone about her proudest moments. One standout memory was touring with Swift, where she gained invaluable insights. "Watching Taylor’s show as many times as I have and being in close proximity to her, learning from her as a musician, friend, and business person, has been incredibly impactful," Abrams shared. She continued, "She’s been so generous in sharing her audience with me. I feel like I’ve absorbed so much from her and it has significantly broadened my perspective and imagination."