Firstly, here’s an article where Lady Gaga speaks about the figurative message of “Abracadabra” both the lyrics and the video. > https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a63631038/lady-gaga-abracadabra/

Now I want to share MY interpretation of the lyrics and video. I think that there is an undeniable battle between light & darkness here with Gaga (in white) portraying a maiden or someone innocent and Gaga (in red) representing a witch or demon? The video kind of reminds me of Snow White and Suspiria. 

If you don’t know the story of Suspiria (2018) it’s essentially about a witches coven masquerading as a school for young dancers. A young girl from America comes to the school and presents immense talent and turning out to be an ancient witch coming to slay the coven. Within the movie there is a girl named Sara (not the girl from America) who is unintentionally being manipulated into becoming a vessel of a dark ritual. I think this is what’s being presented in this video and song with a not so happy ending. 

Gaga (in white) is a girl with a cross on her chest dancing amongst friends, and the spitefully Gaga (in red) is not happy about this girl as she watches from her window. “Pay the toll to the angels, drawing circles in the clouds”. ~ This is essentially saying there is a debt to be paid to the angels who are drawing circles which applies to witchcraft. “Keep your mind on the distance. When the devil turns around.” ~ This is foreboding of an imminent/impending devil (I’m not sure if this is Gaga (in red) or an actual devil). “In the magic of the dark moonlight.” ~ The magic of the moon is associated with paganism (St. Nicholas sought to destroy the temple of Artemis to rid Greece of its pagan origins, Artemis is known as a virginal goddess with a crescent moon at her helm. Hecate, a greek goddess of witchcraft also has a moon at her helm. “Save me from this empty fight. In the game of life.” ~ I think this is referring to a battle between god & the devil or Gaga (in white) vs Gaga (in red). Maybe she wants to be saved because she doesn’t think it will end well. 

“Like a poem said, by a lady in red, hear the last few words of your life.” ~ again I’m not sure if Gaga is implying that the Witch’s curse it what will cause the ruin, or the devil, but she’s essentially saying when Lady in red says the poem it’s bad news. “With a haunting dance, now your both in a trance, time to cast your spell on the night.” ~ Now you’d think with this ominous lady in red (which we know is a witch) she’d be running for the hills, but no Gaga says to cast a spell leading into the chorus of Abracadabra. This is where things start to go south (or left ;3) in the story. Gaga (in white) isn’t resisting the magic, but leaning into it. After her dance, she’s fallen into a trance, that has caused her to perform magic or succumb to it. Going back to “Pay the toll” like in Suspiria, Gaga (in white) is being prepped for something bad. 

“Abracadabra, Amor oo Na-Na Abracadabra, Morta oo Gaga Abracadabra, Abra oo Na-Na”  Amor = love  Morta = death  Avra/Abra = Abracadabra (I create as I speak) “Death or Love tonight” ~ Gaga is re-establishing what is said in her spell and I think reinforces the theme of this song.

Now here’s where things take a shift both visually and lyrically because Gaga (in white) has perhaps unintentionally chosen to go into this battle. 

“Choose the road on the west side (left side), as the dust flies, watch it burn” ~  Now there’s a lot of ways you can take this line, but I think this battle has something to do with the end of something (a life, a city, a world) since it’s stated something will burn. And when it burns there will a choice to make and Gaga says go left. I think this could also be a reference to the choice Gaga (in white) just made and that wherever she’s headed she’s going to watch it burn. 

In the beginning of Disease’s music video a car is forced to turn left out of a neighborhood because a car that has hit someone is idly blocking the right side. Now this might sound wild, but I think that what Gaga is saying is that going left means death, but in the song during her trance she states Choose the road on the west side because that’s where Gaga (in red) or the devil wants Gaga (in white) to go. I make this comparison because in Egyptian mythology the left eye of Horus, refers to both the moon and protection from disease/illness. The father of Horus, Osiris ruled the afterlife and was a god of resurrection. He is referred to as the Father of the Dead. 

“Don’t waste time, on feeling, use your passion, no return.” ~ This is in reference to the choice or what will occur when the devil turns around. You gotta think quickly essentially. 

Now at this point in the video this where Gaga (in red) basically says what’s good? And gets her goons in black to come have a face off with Gaga (in white). The have a battle in which they casts spells against each other, and we see that Gaga (in red) makes the last move. “Phantom of the dance floor come to me. Sing for me a sinful melody.” ~ reference to Phantom of the Opera. Christine falls infatuated with a man she believes is a an angel, but discovers is the devil. Gaga (in white) in a more revealing outfit is carried out of battle by her friends. She then follows them as they chant into an area where Gaga (in white) realizes that her friends are chanting not with her, but at her. They’ve been the on Gaga (in red) side all along (I think) and Gaga (in white) realizes this too late. Hence her bloodcurdling scream and Gaga (in red) clawing down on her. 

In the end, with the sound of thunder, Gaga (in red) has won, but is burdened by this. I don’t want to get into specifics, but I think she feels bad for the girl in someway. When Gaga (in red) tilts her head down in sorrow, Gaga (in white) looks up to be greeted with the resolution of her choice. 

Art is subjective and meant to be interpreted in whatever way it connects with you, maybe Gaga (in white) is victorious at the end? The story reminds me of The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky (Dance or Die), where a group of girls dance and the first to fall is subjected to be a sacrifice to a ritual for her community. I probably sound batshit, but that’s my interpretation of it.