Fake Smile
Ariana Grande Lyrics

After laughter comes tears
Even after happy moments, sadness can still come.

Another night, another party, sayin' hi to everybody
Attending yet another social event, trying to be friendly with everyone there.

I'm sorry, it's time to leave, I gotta leave now
Apologizing for leaving the party early due to prior commitments.

Got somewhere I gotta be now, I'm starving
Desperately needing to get to a specific location and feeling very hungry.

Can somebody walk me to my car?
Asking for someone to accompany her to her car for safety reasons.

If I go alone, I'm not gon' make it very far
Expressing fear of the dangers she may face if walking alone.

I'm happy for the love and all of the above If I'm being honest
Acknowledging the blessings in her life while also being truthful about the difficulties she faces.

I done been through way too much
Having experienced a great deal of hardship and trauma.

I can't fake another smile
Unable to pretend to be happy anymore.

I can't fake like I'm alright
Unable to pretend that everything is okay.

Ooh, ah (ooh, ah)
An expression of emotional distress or pain.

And I won't say I'm feeling fine After what I been through, I can't lie
Refusing to tell others that she is okay when she is not, because of the traumatic experiences she has endured.

Fuck a fake smile, smile Fuck a fake smile, fake smile
Frustration and contempt for the act of pretending to be happy when she is not.

I read the things they write about me
Seeing negative comments written about her by others, likely on social media.

Hear what they're saying on the TV, it's crazy
Hearing absurd or hurtful things said about her on television or in the media.

It's getting hard for them to shock me
Becoming desensitized to the negative comments and criticism that she receives from others.

But every now and then It's shocking, don't blame me
Occasionally still being hurt by the negativity directed towards her, but not being accountable for those emotions.

I know it's the life that I chose
Acknowledging that her celebrity lifestyle comes with both positive and negative consequences.

But baby, I'm grateful, I want you to know
Expressing gratitude for the good things in her life and wanting others to know this despite the challenges.

If I'm hurt, I ain't gon' lie about it Arms crossed with the attitude, lips pouted
Expressing her real emotions without trying to hide them, through body language or non-verbal cues.

If I'm mad, I ain't gon' lie about it Neck roll with the attitude, yeah
Not trying to conceal her frustration or anger, physically displaying disappointment or annoyance.

And I can't fake another smile (and I can't fake) And I can't fake like I'm alright (no smile)
Repeating that she cannot keep up the act of pretending to be happy or okay.

Ooh, ah (ooh, ah, ooh)
A euphoric or cathartic vocalization that represents her emotional pain.

Fuck a fake smile, smile Fuck a fake smile, fake smile (yeah)
Reasserting disdain for the act of pretending to be happy when in reality she is hurting.