Sabrina Carpenter's biggest songs and the meanings behind them

Pop princess Sabrina Carpenter loves to keep us on our toes with her cleverly crafted song lyrics and accompanying tongue-in-cheek music videos. She's now become a household name after releasing hit songs such as 'Espresso', 'Please Please Please' and 'Manchild' as well as her Grammy Award wins.

But as well as being fun and fiercely catchy, Sabrina's songs are usually well thought out —with some telling more of a story than you might realise. We take a deep dive into what they all mean, following the release of her seventh album 'Man's Best Friend' and the announcement that she'll headline Coachella 2026.

'Tears'

This steamy song from Sabrina is based around the idea that a girl is more attracted to her man when he uses good manners and helps out around the house — and honestly we're here for it. 'Tears' is made up of brilliantly funny lyrics like: 'A little initiative can go a very long, long way / Baby, just do the dishes, I'll give you what you, what you want / A little communication, yes, that's my ideal foreplay / Assemble a chair from IKEA, I'm like, "Uh"'.

Coupled with another satirical music video, featuring a creepy house and many quirky characters, the song went to Number 3 in the UK chart when it was released in August 2025.

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Manchild'

Fans went wild when Sabrina dropped 'Manchild', the first single from her seventh studio album 'Man's Best Friend'. The track, which was released in June 2025 was an instant hit, storming to Number 1 in the US, the UK and Ireland.

Following the theme from the album, which Sabrina's described as "a real party for heartbreak", the song is about men treating women poorly. The lyrics go: 'You said your phone was broken, just forgot to charge it / Whole outfit you're wearing, God, I hope it's ironic / Did you just say you're finished? Didn't know we started / It's all just so familiar, baby, what do you call it?

'Stupid / Or is it slow? / Maybe it's useless? / But there's a cuter word for it, I know / Man-child / Why you always come a-running to me? / F--- my life / Won't you let an innocent woman be? / Never heard of self-care / Half your brain just ain't there / Man-child / Why you always come a-running, taking all my loving from me?'

The viral song also touched on Sabrina's experience of having 'to train' grown men with this lyric: 'If I'm not there it won't get done / I choose to blame your mom.'

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Busy Woman'

Included as a bonus track on the deluxe version of Sabrina's 'Short 'n Sweet' album, 'Busy Woman' is about rejection and saving face. She sings: 'I'm so mature, collected and sensible / Except when I get hit with rejection / To turn me down, well, that's just unethical / I'll turn into someone you're scared to know.

'But if you need my love / My clothes are off, I'm comin' over to your place / And if you don't need my love / I didn't want your little bitch-ass anyway / Yeah, I'm a busy woman / I wouldn't let you come into my calendar any night / But if you want my kisses / I'll be your perfect Mrs. 'til the day that one of us dies.'

Only Sabrina could spin rejection into an absolute tune like this! The song went to Number 6 in the UK and has since been certified Gold in the UK.

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Juno'

Released in November 2024, 'Juno' is named after the iconic 2007 movie of the same name. In the track, Sabrina sings: 'I might let you make me Juno', which refers to the film's plot, in which a young girl falls pregnant.

The song itself is about falling for somebody so hard that she's considering having his baby. But it wouldn't be Sabrina without a bit of spice too. The lyrics also include: 'You make me wanna make you fall in love / Oh, late at night, I'm thinking 'bout you, ah-ah / Wanna try out my fuzzy pink handcuffs? / Oh, I hear you knockin', baby, come on up.'

The catchy track didn't hit as high in the charts as some of her bigger ones (it went to Number 24), but it's since been certified Platinum in the UK, proving fans love it!

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Bed Chem'

It's not hard to decipher the meaning behind 'Bed Chem'. Short for 'bedroom chemistry', the track displays the singer's seriously sexy side, giving lyrics like: 'And I bet we'd both arrive at the same time / And I bet the thermostat's set at six-nine / And I bet it's even better than in my head.'

Talking about the song's title in an interview with Paper Magazine, Sabrina said: "My friend Paloma and I coined the term. I went to the studio that day and was like, ‘I have this title and idea and we have to make it sexy and a little bit unserious at the same time,' because it is such a ridiculous concept."

Of course, there were theories at the time that the song could have mentioned now ex-boyfriend Barry Keoghan - especially after he posted on Instagram: 'BED CHEM my fave just sayin m’darlin…'

Could this lyric have bene about him...? 'Who's the cute boy with the white jacket and the thick accent?' He wore a white bomber to the Givenchy Spring/Summer '24 show in September 2023 — where they reportedly met for the first time. Just sayin'!

The track has proven to be hugely popular with fans, as it was certified Platinum by the BPI in March 2025, translating to over 600,000 sales in the UK alone! Cor.

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Taste'

It's rumoured that Sabrina's single 'Taste' was inspired by Sabrina's alleged love triangle with singers Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello. It's not the first song linked to this theory — with enthusiasts finding relevant lyrics in 'Sharpest Tool', 'Coincidence' and 'Dumb & Poetic' too.

In early 2023, fans became increasingly convinced Sabrina was dating the 'Stitches' singer, following a number of public appearances together. And it wasn't long after his split from Camila either. Awks.

'Taste' made headlines for its Death Becomes Her-esque video — in which Sabrina fights (claws and all) with a love rival... Played by none other than the queen of mean, Jenna Ortega.

Lyrics include: 'I heard you're back together, and if that's true / You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you / If you want forever, and I bet you do / Just know you'll taste me too.'

The Number 1 hit single - which was certified 2x Platinum in May 2025 - comes not long after Shawn and Camilla allegedly rekindled their relationship. Yikes!

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Please Please Please'

In 'Please Please Please' we see a more vulnerable side to Sabrina. With real-life then-boyfriend (and Saltburn actor) Barry Keoghan starring in the music video, it's easy to believe the songwriter when she sings: 'Please please please don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice / Heartbreak is one thing. My ego's another / I beg you don't embarrass me.'

The track, which is a heartfelt plea to be treated respectfully, even mentions her current beau's profession, leaving us to believe this could have only been written with him in mind: 'I heard that you're an actor, so act like a stand up guy / Whatever devil's inside you, don't let him out tonight.'

Either way, the lyrics suggest even the rich and famous feel emotionally exposed when falling for someone. We salute you!

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Espresso'

This girl serves innuendos like coffee, so it's no surprise her hit single 'Espresso' has more than a few stirred in. The song — which spent seven weeks at Number 1 and has been certified 4x Platinum in the UK — likens a man's addiction to a woman to that of caffeine.

The lyrics read: 'Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh / Is it that sweet? I guess so / Say you can't sleep, baby, I know / That's that me espresso.'

Sabrina has previously revealed she's got a caffeine addiction of her own, saying in an interview with Apple Music that the song takes her "full circle".

Arguably one of her best releases, Espresso is a seriously catchy tune which celebrates confident women and their ability to keep a man up all night thinking about her. As for the sentence about the Nintendo... You're going to have to use your imagination!

'Espresso' was nominated for International Song of The Year at the 2025 BRIT Awards, but missed out to 'Good Luck, Babe!' by Chappell Roan.

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Good Graces'

Good Graces is the third song on Sabrina's album 'Short n' Sweet' and was released in August 2024. The dance track follows a similar theme to many of the singer's hits, symbolising a strong woman who won't put up with disrespect. We're here for it. And it seems a lot of other people in the UK are too, as it's been certified Gold by the UK.

The lyrics include: 'When I love you, I'm sweet like an angel / Drawin' hearts 'round our names / And dreamin' of writing vows, rockin' cradles / Don't mistake my nice for naive / I don't waste a second, I know lots of guys / You do somethin' suspect, this cute ass bye-bye.'

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Feather'

The perfect break up song! 'Feather' is an ode to girls everywhere ditching a red flag relationship — all wrapped up in a catchy pop tune.

It's playful lyrics include: 'Oh, it's like that, I'm your dream come true / When it's on a platter for you / Then you pulled back when I try to make plans / More than two hours in advance.'

This song — which was Sabrina's first to hit the top 40 — celebrates the freedom and relief which comes after stepping away from an unhealthy coupling.

The video is packed with all the gore and drama we've come to expect from the pop singer — but caused a lot of controversy after being filmed in a church!

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Nonsense'

When writing 'Nonsense' Sabrina was actually trying to break a spell of writer's block. She'd been working on a sad, slow song which she told us she just wasn't in the right headspace for: "It was kind of redirection by fate. I kinda used that as a field to just be like... I just need to stop thinking about it, I need to just write nonsense, basically. And that was the lightbulb."

The singer and actress joined us on For The Record, where she told us how she came up with the idea of the song:

Sabrina said there's a lot of humour infused in the song, which is very similar to how she feels when she's crushing on somebody for the first time.

The lyrics include: 'Think I only want one number in my phone / I might change your contact to "don't leave me alone" / You said you like my eyes and you like to make 'em roll / Treat me like a queen, now you got me feelin' thrown, oh.'

'Because I Liked a Boy'

One of Sabrina's earlier songs, 'Because I Liked a Boy' is rumoured to be about her alleged relationship with actor and singer, Joshua Bassett. Before the song hit the charts in 2022, the pair had faced backlash from the public, after fans believed Josh had jumped from a relationship with singer Olivia Rodrigo to Sabrina.

Olivia's song 'Driver's Licence' had provoked further response, with lyrics such as: 'And you're probably with that blonde girl / Who always made me doubt / She's so much older than me / She's everything I'm insecure about.'

Fans believe Sabrina hit back with 'Because I Liked a Boy', with lyrics including: 'I'm a hot topic on your tongue / I'm a rebound gettin' 'round, stealin' from the young / Tell me who I am, guess I don't have a choice / All because I liked a boy.'

It's an emotional track which touches on the innocence behind falling in love with the wrong person. It's been certified Gold in the UK with 400,000 sales.

🚨 WARNING! Explicit content! 🚨

'Skin'

Sabrina says her 2021 track 'Skin' is all about learning to not give people so much power over her feelings.

In a post on Instagram, the star said: 'i was at a tipping point in my life for countless reasons. so i was inspired to do what i usually do to cope, write something that i wish i could have told myself in the past. people can only get to you if you give them the power to. and a lot of people were trying to get to me.' (sic)

The lyrics, which fans once again believed was connected to the Olivia Rodrigo/Joshua Bassett triangle, include: 'Maybe you didn't mean it / Maybe blonde was the only rhyme' and 'You been telling your side / So I'll be telling mine.'

But in the post on Insta, Sabrina revealed: 'the song isn’t calling out one single person. some lines address a specific situation, while other lines address plenty of other experiences I’ve had this past year.' (sic)

Now check out some of the biggest tours ahead:

Sabrina Carpenter answers the internet

Now read:

Everything you could ever need to know about Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter: The singer's career from Disney to 'Espresso'

Sabrina Carpenter's new album 'Man's Best Friend': Get to know it

Want more music news?

Read more of the latest music news here

• song lyrics