GAYLE – ​abcdefu Lyrics

A defiant take on the aftermath of a breakup, “abcdefu” stands as an empowering female anthem. The track is the fifth single of GAYLE’s music career and the debut release with her “dream” label, Atlantic Records. Eventually, the single became part of her debut EP, a study of the human experience volume one.

Throughout the song, GAYLE sings about a particular breakup that she went through and the real feelings it evoked in her. Initially, GAYLE wanted to be the bigger person and be considerate towards her ex, but her unfiltered feelings inevitably escape her. She literally and figuratively spells them out.

With Pete Nappi at the helm of production, the composition of “abcdefu” is driven by an electric guitar, which plays a palm-muted riff throughout the verses. It provides a subdued counterpart to the chorus, where power chords accentuate the main lyrical motif of the song. Though predominantly pop, the production’s guitar and drum-powered backing veers the song into pop-rock territory.

The breakup song eventually rose to fame on TikTok, thus making its way onto a variety of popular playlists, catapulting the song’s rise. It also broke into the top 10 of dozens of countries, most notably the UK and Germany, as well as being #15 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Six alternate versions of “abcdefu” have also been released, one of which features a new verse by Royal & the Serpent.

​abcdefu Lyrics

[Intro]
Fuck you and your mom and your sister and your job
And your broke-ass car and that shit you call art
Fuck you and your friends that I’ll never see again
Everybody but your dog, you can all fuck off

[Verse 1]
I swear I meant to mean the best when it ended
Even tried to bite my tongue when you start shit
Now you’re textin’ all my friends asking questions
They never even liked you in the first place
Dated a girl that I hate for the attention
She only made it two days, what a connection
It’s like you’d do anythin’ for my affection
You’re goin’ all about it in the worst ways

[Pre-Chorus]
I was into you, but I’m over it now
And I was tryna be nice
But nothing’s getting through, so let me spell it out

[Chorus]
A-B-C-D-E, F you
And your mom and your sister and your job
And your broke-ass car and that shit you call art
Fuck you and your friends that I’ll never see again
Everybody but your dog, you can all fuck off

[Post-Chorus]
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
A-B-C-D-E, F you

[Verse 2]
You said you just needed space and so I gave it
When I had nothin’ to say, you couldn’t take it
Told everyone I’m a bitch, so I became it
Always had to put yourself above me

[Pre-Chorus]
I was into you, but I’m over it now
And I was tryna be nice
But nothing’s getting through, so let me spell it out

[Chorus]
A-B-C-D-E, F you
And your mom and your sister and your job
And your craigslist couch and the way your voice sounds
Fuck you and your friends that I’ll never see again
Everybody but your dog, you can all fuck off

[Post-Chorus]
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
A-B-C-D-E, F off (F off)
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
A-B-C-D-E, F you

[Outro]
And your mom and your sister and your job
And your broke-ass car and that shit you call art
Fuck you and your friends that I’ll never see again
Everybody but your dog, you can all fuck off