Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘My Man on Willpower’ Lyrics Are an Ode to Fading Love

THE RUNDOWN:

• Sabrina Carpenter has released her new album, Man’s Best Friend.
• On “My Man on Willpower,” she sings about a lover who’s no longer as obsessed with her as he once was.
• Carpenter called the album “a real party for heartbreak, a celebration of disappointment.”

Sabrina Carpenter is back with her new album, Man’s Best Friend.

The pop-, funk-, and country-tinged project features plenty of standout tracks, including “My Man on Willpower.” On the song—which was produced by Jack Antonoff, John Ryan, and Carpenter herself—the Grammy winner sings about a lover who isn’t as into her as he used to be: “He fell in love with self-restraint and now it’s getting out of hand / He used to be literally obsessed with me / I’m suddenly the least sought-after girl in the land.”

And, of course, Carpenter’s typical tongue-in-cheek humor is evident throughout: “It feels like just yesterday / He wanted all four of my personalities / Now I don’t recognize this.”

Although some fans speculate the track—among others on Man’s Best Friend—might be about Carpenter’s ex-boyfriend Barry Keoghan, Carpenter told CBS Mornings on August 29 that she wouldn’t confirm or deny the real-life inspiration for her songs. “I just wouldn't say,” she said. “It’s more fun to picture the person in their head than the person I picture in my head, I think.”

When the album dropped, on August 29, Carpenter described it as “real party for heartbreak, a celebration of disappointment! It’s laughing at yourself and your poor choices as everything is falling apart, it’s wondering how loyalty and love always gets you back to third wheeling, spoken sarcastically like a true 25 year old !”

She also encouraged fans to “listen loud, in order, top to bottom, with friends or by yourself! this is sonically and lyrically my favorite way to experience this album! (Glass of white wine/ go go juice optional).”

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Listen to the full song and read the lyrics below:

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[Verse 1]He’s clingy, he’s loving, he always initiatesCallin’ and touchin’, it feels like just yesterdayHe wanted all four of my personalities

Now I don’t recognize this

[Pre-Chorus]Stranger (Stranger) danger (Danger)There in my bed at nightWide-eyed (Dreamin’), pondering (Schemin’)What life without me’d be likeCan I return it, get back the version I like?

This one’s bullshit, baby

[Chorus]My man on his willpower is something I don’t understandHe fell in love with self-restraint and now it’s getting out of handHe used to be literally obsessed with meI’m suddenly the least sought-after girl in the land

Oh, my man on his willpower is something I don’t under, something I don’t understand

[Verse 2]He’s busy, he’s working, he doesn’t have time for meMy slutty pajamas not tempting him in the least

What in the fucked-up romantic dark comedy is this nightmare lately?

[Pre-Chorus]Yeah, okay, okay, he’s on his big journey to findA little zest of life, a new sense of purpose, but why?I’m right here (Right here), I’m waving (Hello)The joke can be over now

You’re so silly, baby

[Chorus]My man on his willpower is something I don’t understandHe fell in love with self-restraint and now it’s getting out of handHe used to be literally obsessed with meI’m suddenly the least sought-after girl in the land

Oh, my man on his willpower is something I don’t under, something I don’t understand

[Bridge]No, ohMy man’s in touch with his emotionsMy man won’t touch me with a twenty-foot poleMy man’s forgotten his devotion

Where he’s gone, God only knows

[Outro]Where he’s gone, God only knows