{"id":2092928,"date":"2026-08-14T08:53:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T05:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2092928"},"modified":"2026-08-14T08:53:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T05:53:57","slug":"fans-think-phoebe-bridgers-the-governors-waltz-is-about-her-relationship-with-paul-mescal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2092928","title":{"rendered":"Fans think Phoebe Bridgers\u2019 \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 is about her relationship with Paul Mescal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PhoebeBridgersPaulMescal-news-story.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Fans think Phoebe Bridgers\u2019 \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 is about her relationship with Paul Mescal<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The singer seemingly makes a reference to Mescal&#8217;s current partner, Gracie Abrams, on the track <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Tom Skinner<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-14T09:53:57+01:00\">14th August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PhoebeBridgersPaulMescal-news-story-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Phoebe Bridgers and Paul Mescal, photo by Taylor Hill\/Getty\" title=\"PhoebeBridgersPaulMescal-news-story\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Phoebe Bridgers and Paul Mescal. CREDIT: Taylor Hill\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Phoebe Bridgers fans are speculating that her new song \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 is about her former relationship with Paul Mescal.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Phoebe Bridgers \u2013 \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019 review: indie\u2019s poet laureate returns with a staggering, strange and stirring opus<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The track appears on the singer-songwriter\u2019s third studio album, \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019, which was released today (Friday August 14).<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Bridgers, who was previously engaged to Mescal, appears to allude to the actor\u2019s current partner Gracie Abrams in \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019. \u201c<em>And she can pretend to be me\/ Since she took my place in my bed on that stage\/ I have not lost any sleep<\/em>,\u201d she sings.<\/p>\n<p>As some fans have pointed out on social media, the \u201c<em>bed on that stage<\/em>\u201d lyric is an apparent nod to the bed that was part of Abrams\u2019 live set on tour. The bed looked similar to the one Bridgers previously recorded videos of herself playing songs from during the pandemic.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-gsDLFA dOXdAH\">\n<div class=\"sc-bdvvNz gfwfNK\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>In 2017 \u2013 before either Bridgers or Abrams had met Mescal \u2013 Abrams shared some photos of her rocket-themed bed sheets online. In response, Bridgers commented: \u201cI HAVE THE SAME SHEETS.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">i am so fucking sad pic.twitter.com\/jVtgcqQHk7<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 zac \u2766 #bb28 era (@sabsfaultline) August 5, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">the unfortunate thing about all of this, is that gracie abrams and phoebe bridgers just happened to have the same expensive ass bed sheets from Garnet Hill in their childhood bedrooms. Diana Silvers also had them, there was was a whole article about it a couple years ago lol https:\/\/t.co\/SEwEM3BIkI<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 zoe (@urstarzoe) August 5, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In the chorus of the song in question, Bridgers sings: \u201c<em>So, let\u2019s see how long we can go without touching\/ Why don\u2019t you sing me to sleep?\/ <\/em><em>I know you\u2019d never actually think about jumping\/ But do it for me<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>[\u2026] So let\u2019s see how long we can go without talking\/ Watch me pretending to sleep\/ I\u2019m next to you, you\u2019re next to nothing\/ You promised that you\u2019d never leave\/ But maybe you\u2019ll do it for me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, Bridgers seemingly looks back on her engagement to Mescal on the \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019 title track: \u201c<em>I\u2019m supposed to be married but I called it off\/ I\u2019ve been known to throw a tantrum\/ When things are not the way I imagine th\u0435m\/ I am restoring the natural order\/ L\u0435arning the same lesson over and over again<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Discussing \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 on Reddit, one fan theorised: \u201cShe means like go ahead and take my place, take my former life. I was never good at living that life, so go do it for me (likely Gracie Abrams).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another user wrote: \u201cWhat a well-written song, a perfectly understated and snide kiss-off to the Paul of it all. As for the \u2018Gracie shade\u2019 stanza in question, I must say in the context of the song I find it more humorous than anything, which I don\u2019t think came across in all the press coverage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The fan went on to suggest that Bridgers was \u201cacknowledging the weirdness of the situation\u201d, adding that \u201cit\u2019s clear she\u2019s quickly moved on and is more glad than anything that the relationship with Paul is over\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s like she\u2019s expressing gratitude to Gracie for \u2018taking her place\u2019 more or less,\u201d they continued, \u201cand allowing her to move on, hence the [line] \u2018<em>being myself wasn\u2019t easy, do it for me<\/em>\u2018.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"min-w-0 col-start-2\" data-hl=\"rounded-ee-[0.5rem] relative pe-sm pb-2xs mb-[1px] bg-neutral-background-highlighted-strong ease-in duration-300 transition\">\n<div class=\"min-h-xl\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col w-100\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center max-h-2xl\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center max-h-2xl shrink\">\n<p>On X, a user noted that Bridgers\u2019 \u201csong about Paul\u201d also contained some \u201cGracie shade\u201d, with someone else writing: \u201cKnowing the context and the song\u2019s basically showing she\u2019s (Phoebe) an outsider in her own life, she\u2019s pertaining to no one but herself here.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"id__dlqjbbjbedp\" class=\"css-g5y9jx r-9aw3ui r-1s2bzr4\" aria-labelledby=\"id__h4bss908o5p id__y5npj3etmx\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx r-9aw3ui\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx r-k200y\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx r-1kqtdi0 r-1phboty r-rs99b7 r-1867qdf r-1udh08x r-o7ynqc r-6416eg r-1ny4l3l\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx r-1adg3ll r-1udh08x\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The singer also refers to her current relationship with Bo Burnham (full name Robert Pickering Burnham) on \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019, most notably on the love song \u2018Bobby\u2019 \u2013 which follows \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 on the tracklist.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>So you followed me home like you\u2019d done it before\/ And you had to bend over to get through the door\/ And if you didn\u2019t like either one of my friends\/ I\u2019d kill them, I\u2019d kill them<\/em>,\u201d Bridgers sings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Bridgers and Mescal were reported to be engaged in late 2022, but broke up shortly afterwards. Mescal then said\u00a0he intended to keep his relationship status private in future, owing to interest around the split.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"post-content-read-more\">\n<li><strong>READ MORE:\u00a0Phoebe Bridgers on The Cover: \u201cI definitely feel a lot less apologetic than I did before\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The actor later shared the advice his <em>All Of Us Strangers<\/em> co-star Andrew Scott gave him after his break-up with Bridgers. Quoting Scott, Mescal said: \u201cThe only thing you\u2019re left with after love is grief. Which is, like, a bleak thing, but I think it\u2019s just a fact.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Last autumn, Mescal opened up about feeling protective over his relationship with Abrams, describing it as \u201cdeeply precious\u201d to him. Abrams recently said she \u201cfeels lucky to be generally inspired\u201d by the actor for songwriting, explaining that their romance \u201cheld a mirror\u201d up to her past relationships.<\/p>\n<p>In a glowing five-star review of \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019, <em>NME<\/em> hailed \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 as one of the album\u2019s \u201cmost poignant moments\u201d where Bridgers \u201cwades in the dark underbelly of love\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It adds: \u201cShe acknowledges the similarity of herself and her ex\u2019s new partner with a deprecating slight,\u201d it adds [\u2026] Despite shying away from the public, she\u2019s unafraid to bare the details in her songs.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Meanwhile, there is speculation that Geese frontman Cameron Winter sings under an alias on two \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019 songs.<\/p>\n<p>In other news, Bridgers has announced some intimate phone-free shows in the UK for next week. She\u2019ll then head out on\u00a0\u2018The Lost Tour\u2019, kicking off in North America next month before heading to the UK and Europe in November and December.<\/p>\n<p>The UK and Ireland dates include shows at Dublin\u2019s 3Arena, Manchester\u2019s Co-op Live and London\u2019s The O2.\u00a0Find any remaining tickets here\u00a0(UK and Ireland) and\u00a0here\u00a0(North America).<\/p>\n<p>Phoebe Bridgers premiered \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019 by playing the record in planetariums worldwide, accompanied by some custom-made visual displays.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Gracie Abrams<\/li>\n<li>Indie<\/li>\n<li>Paul Mescal<\/li>\n<li>Phoebe Bridgers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Phoebe-Bridgers-Credit-Olof-Grind-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Phoebe-Bridgers-Credit-Olof-Grind-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Phoebe Bridgers \u2013 \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019 review: indie\u2019s poet laureate returns with a staggering, strange and stirring opus<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/this-is-lorelei-credit-gabe-long-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/this-is-lorelei-credit-gabe-long-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">This Is Lorelei was only meant to be a side project. 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data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/elliott-smith@2000x1270-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/elliott-smith@2000x1270-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Fan receives response to letter from Elliott Smith 23 years later<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Westside-Cowboy-Credit-Clementine-Schneidermann-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Westside-Cowboy-Credit-Clementine-Schneidermann-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Album Reviews<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Westside Cowboy \u2013 \u2018It Goes On\u2019 review: Manchester\u2019s newest guitar heroes put an arm around your shoulder<\/h3>\n<div class=\"td-editor-date\">\n<p>                                                            <span class=\"td-author-date\"><br \/>\n                                                                                                                                                <span class=\"entry-review-stars\"><i class=\"td-icon-star\"><\/i><i class=\"td-icon-star\"><\/i><i class=\"td-icon-star\"><\/i><i class=\"td-icon-star\"><\/i><i class=\"td-icon-star-empty\"><\/i><\/span>                                                                    <\/span>\n                                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GurrierssharenewsingleNothingHappensTwice-listen-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GurrierssharenewsingleNothingHappensTwice-listen-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Gurriers share bruising new single \u2018Nothing Happens Twice\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Marton_Monus_REVOLUT_Ashnikko_20-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Marton_Monus_REVOLUT_Ashnikko_20-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Festivals Blog<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Twenty One Pilots and Ashnikko conjured their own worlds on day two at Sziget Festival 2026<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Kathleen-Hanna-and-Ad-Rock-CREDIT_-Rabbani-and-Solimene-Photography_Getty-Images-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Kathleen-Hanna-and-Ad-Rock-CREDIT_-Rabbani-and-Solimene-Photography_Getty-Images-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Check out Kathleen Hanna and Ad-Rock\u2019s breezy cover of Justin Bieber\u2019s \u2018Let Me Love You\u2019 for ICE OUT benefit album<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026_mani_getty_2000x1270-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026_mani_getty_2000x1270-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Mani\u2019s family say tribute gigs without consent are \u201cincredibly upsetting and disrespectful\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Phoebe Bridgers fans are speculating that her new song \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 is about her former relationship with Paul Mescal.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Phoebe Bridgers \u2013 \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019 review: indie\u2019s poet laureate returns with a staggering, strange and stirring opus<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The track appears on the singer-songwriter\u2019s third studio album, \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019, which was released today (Friday August 14).<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Bridgers, who was previously engaged to Mescal, appears to allude to the actor\u2019s current partner Gracie Abrams in \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019. \u201c<em>And she can pretend to be me\/ Since she took my place in my bed on that stage\/ I have not lost any sleep<\/em>,\u201d she sings.<\/p>\n<p>As some fans have pointed out on social media, the \u201c<em>bed on that stage<\/em>\u201d lyric is an apparent nod to the bed that was part of Abrams\u2019 live set on tour. The bed looked similar to the one Bridgers previously recorded videos of herself playing songs from during the pandemic.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-gsDLFA dOXdAH\">\n<div class=\"sc-bdvvNz gfwfNK\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>In 2017 \u2013 before either Bridgers or Abrams had met Mescal \u2013 Abrams shared some photos of her rocket-themed bed sheets online. In response, Bridgers commented: \u201cI HAVE THE SAME SHEETS.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">i am so fucking sad pic.twitter.com\/jVtgcqQHk7<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 zac \u2766 #bb28 era (@sabsfaultline) August 5, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">the unfortunate thing about all of this, is that gracie abrams and phoebe bridgers just happened to have the same expensive ass bed sheets from Garnet Hill in their childhood bedrooms. Diana Silvers also had them, there was was a whole article about it a couple years ago lol https:\/\/t.co\/SEwEM3BIkI<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 zoe (@urstarzoe) August 5, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In the chorus of the song in question, Bridgers sings: \u201c<em>So, let\u2019s see how long we can go without touching\/ Why don\u2019t you sing me to sleep?\/ <\/em><em>I know you\u2019d never actually think about jumping\/ But do it for me<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>[\u2026] So let\u2019s see how long we can go without talking\/ Watch me pretending to sleep\/ I\u2019m next to you, you\u2019re next to nothing\/ You promised that you\u2019d never leave\/ But maybe you\u2019ll do it for me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, Bridgers seemingly looks back on her engagement to Mescal on the \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019 title track: \u201c<em>I\u2019m supposed to be married but I called it off\/ I\u2019ve been known to throw a tantrum\/ When things are not the way I imagine th\u0435m\/ I am restoring the natural order\/ L\u0435arning the same lesson over and over again<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Discussing \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 on Reddit, one fan theorised: \u201cShe means like go ahead and take my place, take my former life. I was never good at living that life, so go do it for me (likely Gracie Abrams).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another user wrote: \u201cWhat a well-written song, a perfectly understated and snide kiss-off to the Paul of it all. As for the \u2018Gracie shade\u2019 stanza in question, I must say in the context of the song I find it more humorous than anything, which I don\u2019t think came across in all the press coverage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The fan went on to suggest that Bridgers was \u201cacknowledging the weirdness of the situation\u201d, adding that \u201cit\u2019s clear she\u2019s quickly moved on and is more glad than anything that the relationship with Paul is over\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s like she\u2019s expressing gratitude to Gracie for \u2018taking her place\u2019 more or less,\u201d they continued, \u201cand allowing her to move on, hence the [line] \u2018<em>being myself wasn\u2019t easy, do it for me<\/em>\u2018.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"min-w-0 col-start-2\" data-hl=\"rounded-ee-[0.5rem] relative pe-sm pb-2xs mb-[1px] bg-neutral-background-highlighted-strong ease-in duration-300 transition\">\n<div class=\"min-h-xl\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col w-100\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center max-h-2xl\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center max-h-2xl shrink\">\n<p>On X, a user noted that Bridgers\u2019 \u201csong about Paul\u201d also contained some \u201cGracie shade\u201d, with someone else writing: \u201cKnowing the context and the song\u2019s basically showing she\u2019s (Phoebe) an outsider in her own life, she\u2019s pertaining to no one but herself here.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"id__dlqjbbjbedp\" class=\"css-g5y9jx r-9aw3ui r-1s2bzr4\" aria-labelledby=\"id__h4bss908o5p id__y5npj3etmx\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx r-9aw3ui\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx r-k200y\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx r-1kqtdi0 r-1phboty r-rs99b7 r-1867qdf r-1udh08x r-o7ynqc r-6416eg r-1ny4l3l\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx\">\n<div class=\"css-g5y9jx r-1adg3ll r-1udh08x\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The singer also refers to her current relationship with Bo Burnham (full name Robert Pickering Burnham) on \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019, most notably on the love song \u2018Bobby\u2019 \u2013 which follows \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 on the tracklist.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>So you followed me home like you\u2019d done it before\/ And you had to bend over to get through the door\/ And if you didn\u2019t like either one of my friends\/ I\u2019d kill them, I\u2019d kill them<\/em>,\u201d Bridgers sings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Bridgers and Mescal were reported to be engaged in late 2022, but broke up shortly afterwards. Mescal then said\u00a0he intended to keep his relationship status private in future, owing to interest around the split.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"post-content-read-more\">\n<li><strong>READ MORE:\u00a0Phoebe Bridgers on The Cover: \u201cI definitely feel a lot less apologetic than I did before\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The actor later shared the advice his <em>All Of Us Strangers<\/em> co-star Andrew Scott gave him after his break-up with Bridgers. Quoting Scott, Mescal said: \u201cThe only thing you\u2019re left with after love is grief. Which is, like, a bleak thing, but I think it\u2019s just a fact.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Last autumn, Mescal opened up about feeling protective over his relationship with Abrams, describing it as \u201cdeeply precious\u201d to him. Abrams recently said she \u201cfeels lucky to be generally inspired\u201d by the actor for songwriting, explaining that their romance \u201cheld a mirror\u201d up to her past relationships.<\/p>\n<p>In a glowing five-star review of \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019, <em>NME<\/em> hailed \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 as one of the album\u2019s \u201cmost poignant moments\u201d where Bridgers \u201cwades in the dark underbelly of love\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It adds: \u201cShe acknowledges the similarity of herself and her ex\u2019s new partner with a deprecating slight,\u201d it adds [\u2026] Despite shying away from the public, she\u2019s unafraid to bare the details in her songs.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Meanwhile, there is speculation that Geese frontman Cameron Winter sings under an alias on two \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019 songs.<\/p>\n<p>In other news, Bridgers has announced some intimate phone-free shows in the UK for next week. She\u2019ll then head out on\u00a0\u2018The Lost Tour\u2019, kicking off in North America next month before heading to the UK and Europe in November and December.<\/p>\n<p>The UK and Ireland dates include shows at Dublin\u2019s 3Arena, Manchester\u2019s Co-op Live and London\u2019s The O2.\u00a0Find any remaining tickets here\u00a0(UK and Ireland) and\u00a0here\u00a0(North America).<\/p>\n<p>Phoebe Bridgers premiered \u2018Lost Weekend\u2019 by playing the record in planetariums worldwide, accompanied by some custom-made visual displays.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/fans-think-phoebe-bridgers-the-governors-waltz-is-about-her-relationship-with-paul-mescal-3962566&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PhoebeBridgersPaulMescal-news-story.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News Fans think Phoebe Bridgers\u2019 \u2018The Governor\u2019s Waltz\u2019 is about her relationship with Paul Mescal The singer seemingly makes a reference to Mescal&#8217;s current partner, Gracie Abrams, on the track By Tom Skinner 14th August 2026 Phoebe Bridgers and Paul Mescal. CREDIT: Taylor Hill\/Getty Phoebe Bridgers fans are speculating that her [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2092928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2092928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2092928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2092928\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2092928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2092928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2092928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}