Decoding the LyricsUncover All the Hidden Messages Found in Ariana Grande’s Album ‘Thank U, Next’

“Imagine”

In the catchy tune, Ari describes a super-sweet and romantic relationship, and it honestly couldn’t be cuter. She sings about staying up all night and eating pad thai with someone, taking bubble baths, and kissing and cuddling the mystery man.

“We go like up ’til I’m ‘sleep on your chest / Love how my face fits so good in your neck,” Ariana sings. “Imagine a world like that.”

Many fans believe that the lyrics are about the singer’s ex-boyfriend and longtime friend, Mac, who passed away from a tragic overdose back in September. They think that in the song, Ariana is imagining what life with Mac could be like now. As J-14 readers know, the couple dated for almost two years before splitting back in May, but ever since his tragic death, the 25-year-old has been very public about how much she’s missing him.

After some investigation, we can confirm that the song is indeed about one of her ex-boyfriends. And although we’re not 100 percent sure it’s about Mac, the “God Is A Woman” singer has dropped some major clues that it is. Ariana explained via Twitter that the song is about an old relationship, which is now “unattainable.”

“[It’s] a simple, beautiful love that is now (and forever) unattainable,” she tweeted a fan. “Kind of like…pretending [the relationship] never ended. Denial.”

a simple, beautiful love that is now (and forever) unattainable

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) November 14, 2018

Fans also noticed that the rapper had an “Imagine” tattoo on his inner bicep. All the clues are definitely pointing to Mac for this song and ugh, our hearts are breaking.

“Needy”

It turns out, “Needy” isn’t really about any man in particular, but instead, it focuses on the singer’s internal struggles. Ariana keeps it pretty real in the catchy song, and we’re loving it.

“I’m obsessive and I love too hard / Good at overthinking with my heart,” she sings. “I can be needy, so hard to please me.”

It’s clear that Ariana, just like the rest of us, can fall too hard for a guy.

“Lately I’ve been on a roller coaster / Tryna get a hold of my emotions,” she continues. “Sorry if I’m up and down a lot / Sorry that I think I’m not enough / And sorry if I say ‘sorry’ way too much.”

Don’t worry Ari, you’re not the only one!

“NASA”

When Ariana first dropped the track list for the album back in January, fans quickly assumed that “NASA” would be about Pete. Why, you ask? Well, the Saturday Night Live comedian wore a NASA shirt at the 2018 Video Music Awards, which he attended with the singer. But Ariana’s BFF Victoria Monet explained via Twitter that the song was way more than that.

“Yo I promise we did not write a whole song about this mans shirt … promise. it’s just a universally common word,” she wrote.

Yo I promise we did not write a whole song about this mans shirt 😂 promise. it’s just a universally common word 🙈 https://t.co/BkILzNr5WL

— Victoria Monét (@VictoriaMonet) January 24, 2019

Now that the songs out, we broke down the lyrics and it definitely seems like it could be about Pete. The song is all about needing some healthy distance from a man, so that Ariana could love him more.

“I can’t really miss you if I’m with you / And when I miss you, it’ll change the way I kiss you / Baby, you know time apart is beneficial / It’s like I’m the universe and you’ll be N-A-S-A,” the 25-year-old sings. “Give you the whole world, Imma need space.”

“Bloodline”

There are certainly a ton of clues that “Bloodline” is also about her ex-fiancé. The song is all about having feelings for someone but realizing you don’t want them in your family. Now, J-14 readers know that Ari and Pete were set to get married last year before calling it quits. And the next step after marriage is having kids, right? Well, when you have kids with someone, it’s said that you’re expanding your bloodline, so yeah, all signs are definitely pointing to Pete!

“Don’t want you in my bloodline / Just wanna have a good time,” Ariana sings. “I ain’t looking for my one true love / Yeah, that ship sailed away.”

“Fake Smile”

Probably the saddest song on the album, “Fake Smile” is all about being tired of acting like you’re OK when you’re not.

“I can’t fake another smile / I can’t fake like I’m alright / And I won’t say I’m feeling fine / After what I been through, I can’t lie,” the lyrics read. “I read the things they write about me / Hear what they’re sayin’ on the TV / It’s crazy / It’s gettin’ hard for them to shock me / But every now and then, it’s shocking.”

The singer has been pretty open about the rough year she had last year. Between her very public breakup with Pete and losing Mac, she’s definitely been through a lot.

“Bad Idea”

It seems like “Bad Idea” is all about hooking up with an ex, even though you know it’s wrong.

“I got a bad idea / Yeah, I’ma call you over here to numb the pain,” the brunette beauty sings in the fast-paced bop. “Why can’t I let go of it? / Wishin’ you would come and save me.”

We’re not sure who this one is about, but considering she’s been spending a lot of time with her ex Ricky Alvarez lately, our guess is it’s about him!

Although the two have confirmed that they’re just friends, they’ve been spotted hanging out a bunch lately. And the singer even hinted that her former flame was going to join her on tour when she left a mysterious comment on his Instagram pic.

“The best team,” she wrote. “See y’all on tour.”

“Make Up”

Although we’re not sure who Ariana’s song “Make Up” is about, it’s definitely somebody the singer feels pretty passionate about. The “God Is A Woman” songstress sings about how much she loves to fight with the mystery man, just so that they could make up.

“Promise me that when you kiss my lips, you’ll make it stick / That’s the way to shut me up after an argument / No eyeliner on, but looking at you is the fix / Highlight of my life, just like that Fenty Beauty kit,” the lyrics read.

Wow, sounds intense!

“Ghostin”

You might want to grab your tissues for this one. Fans are speculating that “Ghostin,” the slow and beautiful ballad, is all about Ariana dating Pete, but wanting Mac instead.

“I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again over him,” Ariana sings in the emotional song. “Though I wish he were here instead / Don’t want that living in your head / He just comes to visit me / When I’m dreaming every now and then.”

The 25-year-old seemingly praises her man for sticking through the tough times with her.

“Baby, you do it so well / You been so understanding, you been so good / And I’m puttin’ you through more than one ever should,” the song continues. “And I’m hating myself, ’cause you don’t want to / Admit that it hurts you.”

Although she hasn’t confirmed it, we definitely see how this could be about Pete and Mac. We may or may not be crying!

“In My Head”

The emotional song starts off with a voicemail from her close friend Doug Middlebrook.

“Here’s the thing: you’re in love with a version of a person that you’ve created in your head, that you are trying to but cannot fix. Uh, the only thing you can fix is yourself,” he says. “I love you, this has gone on way too long. Enough is enough. I’m two blocks away. I’m coming over.”

Naturally, fans were quick to assume the fiery song is about Pete, and there’s certainly a lot of clues. Ariana sings about thinking someone was the one, but getting her heart broken when she found out they weren’t who she thought they were.

“I thought that you were the one / But it was all in my head,” she sings. “Wanted you to grow, but, boy, you wasn’t budding / Everything you are made you everything you aren’t / I saw your potential without seein’ credentials,”

And it true Ari style, she even threw in a bit of shade.

“Yeah, look at you, boy, I invented you / Your Gucci tennis shoes runnin’ from your issues.”

“7 Rings”

“7 Rings” is all about female empowerment, and we’re loving it. The song focuses on the 25-year-old living her best live with her six besties as she sings about her favorite things. Who needs a man, right?

As J-14 readers know, the inspiration for the song came from an impromptu shopping trip with her gal pals. “Me and my friends went to Tiffany’s together, just because we needed some retail therapy,” the “God Is A Woman” singer explained to Billboard Magazine. “You know how when you’re waiting at Tiffany’s they give you lots of champagne? They got us very tipsy, so we bought seven engagement rings, and when I got back to the studio I gave everybody a friendship ring. That’s why we have these, and that’s where the song idea came from.”

“Thank U, Next”

The first single off the album, “Thank U, Next” has been on repeat for months now. Everyone knows that like “7 Things,” “Thank U, Next” is all about the girl power. The former Nickelodeon star sings about finding a new relationship, but this time it’s with herself.

“I met someone else / We havin’ better discussions / I know they say I move on too fast / But this one gon’ last / ‘Cause her name is Ari / And I’m so good with that,” the lyrics read.

She does however, give a shoutout to all of her ex-boyfriends, but she’s actually not throwing any shade! The song is all about being grateful for her past relationships, because they shaped her into the person she is today.

“One taught me love / One taught me patience / And one taught me pain / Now, I’m so amazing,” she sings.

But although she’s thankful, she’s over men and ready to focus on herself now.

“Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored”

Although there was a ton of speculation that this song was going to be about her ex Big Sean, it turns out it’s actually inspired by someone she’s never even met. In the song, Ari sings about wanting the mystery man to break up with his girlfriend, so they could be together.

“You could say I’m hatin’ if you want to / But I only hate on her ’cause I want you,” the lyrics read. “You could call me crazy ’cause I want you / And I never even ever f—in’ met you.”