"Better Off" (stylized in all lowercase) is the twelfth track from Ariana Grande's fourth studio album, Sweetener. It was released through Republic Records on August 17, 2018..
Background
Grande confirmed "Better Off" on June 2, 2018 on her Twitter account.[1] She said her and Tommy Brown were deciding on different endings for the song.[2] Grande revealed on Twitter that the song is the closest to a ballad on the album.
On June 25, 2018, Grande confirmed that the song is old and she scrapped it off one of her previous albums. She also said "it's beautiful and has always been one of my favs and I'm very happy she's on there. [I am] excited to share it with you."[3]
It has been confirmed that this track is about escaping a toxic relationship.[4]
Live performances
Grande debuted "Better Off" live on August 20, 2018 at The Sweetener Sessions.
Trivia
- "Better Off" is one of Grande's favorite songs from Sweetener.[5]
Videos
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
You keep me in your orbit
Well, I know I'm a hard one to please
Give it too much importance
My love will have you fall to your knees
I tell them this too often
No better than to bark up my tree
Just for me to fall and leave
And I'd rather just watch you smoke and drink, yeah
[Pre-Chorus]
Steering clear of any headaches to start
And if we're being honest
I'd rather your body than half of your heart
Or jealous-ridden comments
That come when you let in them feelings that I don't want
I never let them know too much
Hate gettin' too emotional, yeah
[Chorus]
I'm better off without him
I'm better off being a wild one
And you oughta learn how to keep it a thousand
So that I'm better off not being around ya
[Verse 2]
When you face, it I'll never be ready for you, ready for you
I swear my love is a curse, make you head over shoes, head over shoes
Let's put them topics to bed and go fuck on the roof, just to say that we did it
You keep insisting I listen to your proposition
I dismiss them all, no offense, yeah
[Pre-Chorus]
Steering clear of any headaches to start
And if we're being honest
I'd rather your body than half of your heart
Or jealous-ridden comments
That come when you let in them feelings that I don't want
I never let them know too much
Hate gettin' too emotional, yeah
[Chorus]
I'm better off without him
I'm better off being a wild one
And you oughta learn how to keep it a thousand
So that I'm better off not being around ya
I'm better off without him
I'm better off being a wild one
And you oughta learn how to keep it a thousand
So that I'm better off not being around ya