Just days after a tragic shooting at Brown University claimed two lives, singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams joined forces with Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver to release a haunting new song, “Sold Out.” The track, which dropped on Monday, confronts the grim reality of school shootings in America.
“We made this song last year in the wake of a school shooting,” Abrams, Dessner, and Vernon wrote on Instagram. “I was reminded of it this week as our hearts were broken yet again. It’s a sad one to share during the holidays, but the world is hurting and we shouldn’t look away.”
The trio emphasised their support for Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization dedicated to reducing gun violence in the US, and encouraged fans to learn more about its work.
Lyrics that hit hard
“Hiding from a gun inside your high school / Just another Tuesday, normal, old news / Someone spilled their blood on Molly’s white shoes / Someone called their mother from the bathroom,” Abrams sings in the opening lines of “Sold Out.”
The song doesn’t shy away from anger either. Abrams addresses the inaction of politicians singing about “the men in suit and ties” offering “empty words and thoughts and prayers while the country burns.”
She continues: “They collect a check in pride and the system works and we all stay terrified.”
In the chorus, her frustration and despair are palpable: “What are we doing here / Think we got sold out / Looks like another year without a way out.”
Turning music into activism
By releasing the song on Bandcamp for $5, Abrams and her collaborators aim not only to express grief and anger. They also want to raise awareness about gun violence. Everytown’s president, John Feinblatt, praised the artists, telling HuffPost:
“When it comes to solving America’s gun violence crisis, changing laws isn’t enough. We also need to change the culture, and that’s exactly what we’re doing with help from artists like Gracie Abrams. Everytown couldn’t be more grateful… for this powerful reminder of the cost we all pay when lawmakers sell out to the gun industry.”
Everytown reports that there have been 159 incidents of gun violence on American campuses this year alone, resulting in 53 deaths and 148 injuries. Abrams’ song seeks to humanise those numbers and remind listeners that behind each statistic is a real story of loss and fear.
A singer unafraid to speak out
Since her rise in 2020, Abrams has never shied away from sharing her political views. “I can’t separate my music from my opinions,” she told the US media. calling her art “a whole that reflects my way of thinking.”
She has openly advocated for abortion rights, called for a ceasefire in Gaza, and even performed at a Kamala Harris presidential rally in 2024.