Ariana Grande opens up about her new album Eternal Sunshine

Here’s what Ariana Grande has said about her emotional ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’ lyrics.

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Ariana Grande has just dropped a brand new single but what are her ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)’ lyrics about?

The wait is over! After months of anticipation, Ariana Grande has released her seventh studio album Eternal Sunshine. Ahead of the album’s release, Ariana shared a video on Instagram in which she said “kind of a concept album” and it’s all piece of the “same story and experience”. The songs are “vulnerable” but also “play the part of what people expect her to be”.

‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’ is the follow-up to her hit single ‘Yes, And?’ and fans are already calling it one of her best singles ever. What is the emotional anthem about though? Here’s the meaning behind the lyrics explained and everything that Ariana has personally said about the song.

What are Ariana Grande’s ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) lyrics about?
At first glance, ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’ is a heartbreaking midtempo ballad about waiting for someone to love you back. In the emotional post-chorus, Ariana sings ‘Wait for your love / My love, I’ll wait for your love’. People have suggested the song could be about Ariana’s ex-husband Dalton Gomez or even her late ex, rapper Mac Miller.

However, the song could also have a double meaning. Through the lyrics, Ariana appears to address her critics and open up about feeling misunderstood. In the first verse, she sings: ‘I didn’t think you’d understand me / How could you ever even try? / I don’t wanna tiptoe but I don’t wanna hide / But I don’t wanna feed this monstruous fire.’

Over the past year, Ariana has faced intense public scrutiny over her divorce and her relationship with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater. Ariana has faced public backlash because she and Ethan were married to different people when they met. However, Page Six has reported that they only started dating when they were single.

In the chorus, Ariana then seems to address the tabloids and the people who’ve turned on her. She sings: ‘We can’t be friends / But I’d like to just pre-tend / You cling to your papers and pens / Wait until you like me again.’

In the bridge, Ariana adds: ‘I don’t like how you paint me, yet I’m still here hangin’ / Not what you made me.’

What has Ariana Grande said about ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’?
Taking to her Instagram stories at the end of December in 2023, Ariana said: “I’ve never felt more pride or joy or love while simultaneously feeling so deeply misunderstood by people who don’t know me, who piece whispers together and make what they want out of me and their assumptions of my life.”

Discussing the song with Zach Sang, Ariana said: “I wanted it to be something that everyone could relate to. It can be whoever you want it to be about but I know for me what it’s about.”

She added: “I have a hard time going into specifics because I feel like that’s not the point of it.”

Ariana Grande – ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’ lyrics

VERSE 1
I didn’t think you’d understand me
How could you ever even try?
I don’t wanna tiptoe but I don’t wanna hide
But I don’t wanna feed this monstruous fire
Just wanna let this story die
And I’ll be alright

CHORUS
We can’t be friends
But I’d like to just pre-tend
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again

PRE-CHORUS
Wait for your love
My love, I’ll wait for your love

VERSE 2
Me and my truth, we sit in silence

Mm, baby girl, it’s just me and you
‘Cause wanna argue but I don’t wanna die
You got me misunderstood
But at least I look this good

PRE-CHORUS
We can’t be friends
But I’d like to just pre-tend
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again

POST-CHORUS
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

BRIDGE
Know that you made me
I don’t like how you paint me, yet I’m still here hangin’
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

CHORUS
We can’t be friends
But I’d like to just pre-tend
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again

POST-CHORUS
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

OUTRO
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