In a poignant musical response to ongoing national tragedy, singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, alongside collaborators Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, released a powerful new track titled "Sold Out" this Monday. The song directly addresses the epidemic of school shootings in the United States, arriving just one week after a shooter killed two people at Brown University.
A Song Born from Tragedy and Frustration
The artists explained the song's origins in a heartfelt Instagram post. They revealed "Sold Out" was created last year following a school shooting, but felt compelled to share it now as hearts were "broken yet again." Acknowledging the somber timing during the holiday season, they stated, "the world is hurting and we shouldn’t look away." The post prominently announced their support for @everytown, the organization Everytown for Gun Safety, which is dedicated to ending gun violence in America.
The release is explicitly intended to raise awareness and funds for the group's mission. All proceeds from the song, available for purchase on Bandcamp for $5, are being directed to support Everytown's work. The artists encouraged their followers to visit the organization's website to learn more about its critical efforts.
Lyrics Paint a Vivid and Harrowing Picture
The song's lyrics offer a stark, first-person narrative of a school shooting's terrifying reality. Abrams sings, "Hiding from a gun inside your high school / Just another Tuesday, normal, old news." The verses include chilling, specific details like "Someone spilled their blood on Molly’s white shoes" and "Someone called their mother from the bathroom."
The track also delivers a pointed critique of political inaction. Abrams takes aim at "the men in suit and ties" and their "empty words and thoughts and prayers while the country burns," accusing them of collecting checks while a broken system leaves the public terrified. The chorus resonates with a feeling of betrayal and hopelessness: "What are we doing here / Think we got sold out / Looks like another year without a way out."
Aligning Music with Advocacy and Action
John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, expressed profound gratitude to the artists in a comment to HuffPost. "When it comes to solving America’s gun violence crisis, changing laws isn’t enough — we also need to change the culture," Feinblatt said. He emphasized the power of art in this mission, calling the song a "powerful reminder of the cost we all pay when lawmakers sell out to the gun industry."
The grim statistics underscore the urgency of the message. According to data from Everytown, there have been 159 incidents of gun violence on school campuses in America this year alone, resulting in 53 deaths and 148 injuries.
For Gracie Abrams, this advocacy is a consistent part of her artistic identity. Since her emergence in 2020, she has been politically outspoken, once telling a publication, "I can’t separate my music from my opinions." She has used her platform to speak on issues including abortion rights, called for a ceasefire in Gaza, and performed at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign. "You shouldn’t be afraid to talk about what you believe in," Abrams has stated. "I find that very important." With "Sold Out," she and her collaborators transform that belief into a haunting call for change.
