"Best Friends" is a song by The Weeknd that was released on his fifth studio album, Dawn FM. It was originally going to feature Ariana Grande. (
listen)
Background[]
The song talks about Abel telling his friend who he's obviously having a sexual relationship with not to get too carried away and fall in love with him.
Abel croons that he's been apart of a toxic love cycle before, and that he still hasn't healed from it to handle love. He tells her to focus on the friendship so that way she wouldn't get hurt.
The song ended up being released as a solo version on Dawn FM, and then a remix was released on August 4, 2022, with Summer Walker.
A snippet of the original version featuring Ariana Grande leaked on August 30, 2023.[1] It was most likely recorded around the same time as the "Save Your Tears (Remix)", as they were both made in 2021. The second snippet leaked September 1, 2023. The full song soon leaked a day later on September 2, 2023, alongside the "Raindrops (An Angel Cried)" session, the "Only When It Matters" session and an edited version of "Italliano".
Trivia[]
- Ariana's verse is around a minute long.
- This is one of Ariana's only collaborations with the Weeknd that wasn't intended as a remix, as it was the original version.
- Before the song leaked, it was rumored that Ariana Grande and other artists were apart of the original Dawn FM Tracklist, which Abel denied before the song leaked. [2]
- According to rumors, this song was intended as a song ''Best Friends Interlude'' from the original tracklist of The Weeknd’s fifth album, Dawn FM. [3]
- Ariana's verse sounds similar to "December".
- The lyrics "Merry Christmas, here I am boy." has the same similar vibe and melody.
Lyrics[]
[Intro: The Weeknd]
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, oh
Hey
Yeah, yeah, yeah, uh
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Chorus: The Weeknd]
Oh, what we got
Baby, what we got is secure
Been a part of toxic love
It tore us apart
Things you want, I'm not lookin' for
You're my best friend now
You're my best friend now
Oh, I don't want to be responsible
For your heart if we fall
'Cause I'll get clumsy and tear it apart
I love you so, but we can't get close
You're my best friend now
You're my best friend now
[Verse 1: The Weeknd]
Oh, I love it when we climax (Climax)
And I would never burn you
I could never hurt you
If we do it like that
Don't try to take it further
Focus on the friendship
Get a little sidetracked
Catchin' little feelings
Thought we had arrangements
Thought you weren't like that
Yeah (Uh-uh), I thought you weren't like that
[Pre-Chorus: The Weeknd]
Oh, friends no more
Sex as friends no more
You don't wanna have sex as friends no more
Friends no more
Ooh, friends no more, uh
Sex as friends no more
You don't wanna have sex as friends no more
Oh
[Chorus: The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Both]
Oh, what we got (Oh yeah)
Baby, what we got is secure
Been a part of toxic love
It tore us apart (Oh yeah)
Things you want, I'm not lookin' for (I'm not searchin')
You're my best friend now (Oh, baby)
You're my best friend now
Oh, I don't want to be responsible
For your heart if we fall (Oh no)
'Cause I'll get clumsy and tear it apart
I love you so (Oh yeah), but we can't get close
You're my best friend now (Best friend now)
You're my best friend now (Best friend now)
[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]
Mmm, I got everything I wanted
Got a picture perfect picket fence and all that
Mmm, you know you could've been more upset
Yet you sitting here, they dreamin' 'bout your options
Boy, yeah, you
Boy, don't get confused (Boy, don't get confused)
'Cause I need a friend like you
Yeah, I need a friend like you (Ah)
Mmm, and you got everything you wanted
Except for me, you know we got it so platonic
Boy, it's true, when you love me like you do
We can blame it on the stars
They align, but just so far (Align, but just so far)
You ain't never making you and I
We’re just the same, you’ve been someone all this time
[Chorus: The Weeknd]
Oh, what we got
Baby, what we got is secure
Been a part of toxic love
It tore us apart
Things you want, I'm not lookin' for
You're my best friend now
You're my best friend now
Oh, I don't want to be responsible
For your heart if we fall
'Cause I'll get clumsy and tear it apart
I love you so, but we can't get close
You're my best friend now
You're my best friend now