Ariana Grande's Ghostin' Lyrics Have Several Pete Davidson and Mac Miller References
Ariana Grande just released her new album, Thank U, Next, meaning we can now hear one of the most buzzed about tracks, "Ghostin'." When Grande announced the tracklist and teased a little about each song's meaning, fans speculated that "Ghostin'" in particular could be about Grande's exes Pete Davidson and Mac Miller.
The song's meaning, according to Grande, is "feeling badly for the person you're with bc you love somebody else. feeling badly bc he can tell he can't compare.... and how I should be ghosting him," she said. Fans believed that person for Grande is likely Pete Davidson, whom she started dating and got engaged to shortly after her breakup with Mac Miller. Miller and Grande dated for two years before calling it quits, and Miller's passing had a profound effect on Grande later that year. (He is believed to have inspired her song "Imagine," which she released earlier.) She and Davidson broke up shortly after Miller died.
The lyrics are quite revealing. Here, the verses via Genius, with the possible Davidson and Miller references called out. You can listen to the song on Spotify here.
Verse 1:
I know you hear me when I cry
I try to hold it in at night
While you're sleepin' next to me
Grande and Davidson shared Grande's Chelsea apartment in New York City when they were together. Davidson spoke to GQ about living with Grande when they were still together: "She's really sweet. She's like, 'This is our house,' and I'm like, 'You're very nice for saying that. Thank you for letting me stay here.' She's like, 'We're getting married!' And I'm like, 'I know, thank you for letting me stay here.'"
But it's your arms that I need this time (This time)
Look at the cards that we've been dealt
Grande could be referring here to both of their past traumas and how they have shaped them: Davidson lost his father in the 9/11 attacks and has talked about his struggle with borderline personality disorder and bullying. Grande has spoken about the PTSD she suffered after the Manchester Arena bombing that happened during her concert.
If you were anybody else
Probably wouldn't last a day
Heavy tears, a rain parade from hell (From hell)
Pre-Chorus
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
And I'm hating myself 'cause you don't want to
Admit that it hurts you
Grande's ex Mac Miller passed away due to an apparent drug overdose in September. It deeply affected Grande, as they dated for two years, broke up in spring last year shortly before she started dating Davidson, and had been close. Davidson and Grande broke up at the end of October.
Chorus:
I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again
Over him, mmh
Here, "him" is presumably Miller.
I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again
'Stead of ghostin' him
The idea of ghosting could be a more figurative one here: of Grande not letting her past relationship with Miller haunt her engagement with Davidson.
Post-Chorus:
We'll get through this, we'll get past this, I'm a girl with
A whole lot of baggage
But I love you, we'll get past this, I'm a girl with
A whole lot of baggage, yeah
Verse 2:
Oh, I wish he were here instead
No one that living in your head
He just comes to visit me
When I'm dreaming every now and then (And then)
Grande touched on the deep impact Miller had on her life in her first written Instagram tribute to him after his death. "I adored you from the day I met you when I was nineteen and I always will," she wrote. "I can’t believe you aren’t here anymore. I really can’t wrap my head around it. We talked about this. So many times. I’m so mad, I’m so sad I don’t know what to do. You were my dearest friend. For so long. Above anything else. I’m so sorry I couldn’t fix or take your pain away. I really wanted to. The kindest, sweetest soul with demons he never deserved. I hope you’re okay now. Rest." With Miller resting now, the visual of him visiting her when she's at rest is poetically fitting.
And after all that we been through (And after all that we been through)
There's so much to look forward to
Grande had talked about her wedding plans with Davidson before they called off their engagement. "We’re going to take our time to plan it," she told Good Morning America in August. "We’ve been like planning and my friends and I, my mom and everybody, have been, like, brainstorming and sharing ideas and stuff, and it’s really fun. I work so much. I’ve never spent this much time or energy planning something personal that feeds my soul so much and my heart. I’m going to cry. I’m so excited. It’s sick. It’s really fun."
What was done and what was said
Leave it all here in this bed with you (With you)
Pre-Chorus:
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
And I'm hating myself 'cause you don't want to
Admit that it hurts you (Baby)
Chorus:
I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again
Over him, mmh
I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again
'Stead of ghostin' him
Post-Chorus:
We'll get through this, we'll get past this, I'm a girl with
A whole lot of baggage
But I love you, we'll get past this, I'm a girl with
A whole lot of baggage, yeah
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