A music video accompanied the single, taking the form of a short film heavily inspired by the film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”.
Cumulatively, the song, while upbeat, touches on the downhearted aspects of a romantic relationship while acknowledging the idea of blissful ignorance.
The song debuted atop the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Grande's ninth number-one single and her second from Eternal Sunshine after "Yes, And?". The song marked her seventh number-one debut, making her the female artist with the most number-one debuts in history, as well as her 22nd top-ten on the chart. It earned Grande her fourth number-one single on the Billboard Global 200 chart and reached number one in Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. Elsewhere, the song peaked within the top ten in 21 other countries, including Australia, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
we can't be friends
Ariana Grande Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How could you ever even try?
I don't wanna tiptoe, but I don't wanna hide
But I don't wanna feed this monstrous fire
Just wanna let this story die
And I'll be alright
We can't be friends
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again
Wait for your love
My love, I'll wait for your love
Me and my truth, we sit in silence
Mm
Babygirl, it's just me and you
'Cause I don't wanna argue, but I don't wanna bite
My tongue, yeah, I think I'd rather die
You got me misunderstood
But at least I look this good
We can't be friends
But I'd like to just pretend
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again
Wait for your love
My love, I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
My love, I'll wait for your love
Know that you made me
I don't like how you paint me, yet I'm still here hanging
Not what you made me
It's somethin' like a daydream
But I feel so seen in the night
So for now, it's only me
And maybe that's all I need
We can't be friends
But I'd like to just pretend
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again
Wait for your love
My love, I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
My love, I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
In the lyrics of Ariana Grande's song "we can't be friends," the singer expresses a sense of disconnect and misunderstanding in a relationship. She starts by acknowledging her doubts about the other person's ability to truly understand her, questioning how they could even attempt to do so. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, where she grapples with the desire to be open and authentic without causing more conflict. The mention of not wanting to feed a monstrous fire and letting the story die implies a desire to move on from the turmoil in the relationship.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the realization that the two individuals cannot maintain a friendship, but the singer wishes to pretend otherwise. This highlights the internal conflict between the desire for connection and the need for boundaries to protect oneself from further hurt. The lines about waiting for the other person to reciprocate love suggest a longing for reconciliation and understanding, even in the face of obstacles.
The verses delve deeper into the struggle within the relationship, with references to sitting in silence with one's truth and feeling misunderstood. The singer expresses a reluctance to engage in arguments but also a refusal to suppress her feelings, highlighting the internal tension she grapples with. Despite feeling unseen and misrepresented, there is a sense of resilience and self-assurance conveyed in the line "but at least I look this good," indicating a sense of self-worth amidst the turmoil.
The closing lines of the song bring a sense of acceptance and self-awareness as the singer reflects on the dynamic of the relationship. The repeated assertion of waiting for the other person's love reflects a sense of hope and patience, despite the recognition that a true friendship may not be feasible. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a complex mix of vulnerability, strength, and longing for understanding in a relationship that seems to be fraught with challenges and miscommunication.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't think you'd understand me
I underestimated your ability to truly comprehend me
How could you ever even try?
How could you even attempt to understand me?
I don't wanna tiptoe, but I don't wanna hide
I don't want to walk on eggshells, nor conceal my true feelings
But I don't wanna feed this monstrous fire
I don't want to fuel this destructive cycle
Just wanna let this story die
I just want to end this chapter in our relationship
And I'll be alright
And I will be okay eventually
We can't be friends
We cannot maintain a platonic relationship
But I'd like to just pretend
Although we can't be friends, I wish we could pretend
You cling to your papers and pens
You are preoccupied with your work and distractions
Wait until you like me again
I am hoping for a time when you will have feelings for me once more
Wait for your love
I will patiently wait for your affection
My love, I'll wait for your love
My love, I will eagerly wait for your love
Me and my truth, we sit in silence
My honesty and I remain quiet amid this situation
Babygirl, it's just me and you
It is just us two, facing these challenges
'Cause I don't wanna argue, but I don't wanna bite
I want to avoid conflict, but I also don't want to hold back
My tongue, yeah, I think I'd rather die
I would rather die than keep my thoughts to myself
You got me misunderstood
You have misconstrued my intentions
But at least I look this good
At least I have maintained my appearance through it all
Know that you made me
Realize that you have influenced me
I don't like how you paint me, yet I'm still here hanging
I dislike how you portray me, yet I am still here waiting
Not what you made me
I am not the person you have shaped me to be
It's somethin' like a daydream
It feels like a fantasy or illusion
But I feel so seen in the night
Yet, I feel so understood in the darkness
So for now, it's only me
For the time being, I am alone in this
And maybe that's all I need
Perhaps that is all I truly require
I'll wait for your love
I will continue to wait for your affection
I'll wait for your love
I will keep waiting for your love
I'll wait for your love
I will wait patiently for your love
I'll wait for your love
I will patiently anticipate your love
I'll wait for your love
I will wait earnestly for your love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ariana Grande, Max Martin, Ilya Salmanzadeh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FleetingFilms
Oh wow she captures that feeling of missing someone so much that it would almost feel better if they never existed 😱
@MiaMia-cn2ju
Yeah
@MiaMia-cn2ju
So sad I'm crying right now
@CryBaby_Melanie-
Yep
@ILoveMySqueeze
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
@LoveLeigh313
Going through that now
@schmoyoho
gonna erase my memory so i can hear this for the first time again
@froggyputh
true
@Toekiwars
Me too
I have never gotten so much likes on a comment
@xorsyc
REALL