Jason's Song (Gave It Away)

Jason's Song (Gave It Away)Song by
General information
Release date	May 20, 2016
Recorded	2015; at Glenwood Place Studios (Burbank, California)
Genre	Sophisti-pop, funk, R&B
Length	4:24
Label	Republic Records
Songwriter(s)	Jason Robert Brown, Ariana Grande
Producer(s)	Jason Robert Brown, Jeffrey Lesser
Credits	Jason's Song (Gave It Away) credits
"Jason's Song (Gave It Away)"
Audio

"Jason's Song (Gave It Away)" is seventeenth track of the Japanese Special Price Edition and the last track of Target Special Edition of Ariana Grande's third studio album, Dangerous Woman. It was released as the third promotional single on September 16, 2016. It was released through Republic Records.

Background

On September 16, 2016, "Jason's Song (Gave It Away)" was revealed on Spotify and iTunes to be an explicit track. The song is named after Jason Robert Brown, a famous Broadway composer who co-wrote and produced this song. Jason Robert Brown and Ariana Grande have known each other for a long time. He was the composer of the score for 13: The Musical on Broadway that Grande was a part of. They become close during that time and he acted as a mentor for Grande. Since then, they have kept in touch but this is their first song they have collaborated on (not including covers).

It was supposed to be on the deluxe edition for the album but it didn't make it, instead it was included on the Target (bonus edition) tracks. It was later released as the third promotional single following "Be Alright" and "Let Me Love You". She stated that this song was one off the most "different" songs on the album, with having a undeniably different sound compared to the other songs that have been released.

Composition and lyrics

The song was written for Jason Robert Brown even though it was co-written by him, It also contains background vocals by him as well. It runs for four minutes and twenty-five seconds. It has a "jazzy, show tune-style piano," with a doo-wop bridge, along with a "soulful chorus" and a "funky" bridge that makes it a sliced cut off R&B. The song's rhythm is influenced by the sounds of the 1970s jazz music. The song has a quick tempo of 116 beats per minute and is composed in the key of G minor. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, her vocal range in the song runs from C₄ to G₅.

Lyrically, she talks about her "significant other" not treating her right, and that he's just trying to use her to be cool.

Critical reception

Adam R. Holz from Plugged In said about the song: "In some contexts, not getting worked up over others' opinions and criticism can be a mark of healthy self-confidence. In this case it's more like Ariana Grande is simply weary of anyone suggesting that the myriad reckless choices she's provocatively indulging might not be as awesome as she insists they are." Christopher R. Weingarten from Rolling Stone said: "Grande is at her most irresistible when she's in Big Chill mode, mixing timeless melodies – mostly in 6/8 – with modern production."

Live performances

Grande performed the song live on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon which gained recognition to the song. She performed it on September 19, 2016, where she also announced the dates for her Dangerous Woman Tour.

Videos

Ariana Grande Live On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Lyrics

• Explicit version
• Clean version

[Verse 1]
Yeah, you really tried
But I was blind to all the lies you told me, boy
All the shit you've done
You can't outrun the way you undersold me

[Pre-Chorus 1]
You acted like you bought me at a bargain sale
You don't even care
You focused your frustration on a small detail
Blew it out of scale, like my ponytail

[Chorus 1]
Well, if you don't want to see the girl I want to be
Then why, then why should I listen?
If you don't want to do the things I need from you
Goodbye, goodbye
Cause I gave it away, I gave it away, I gave it away
And I'm taking it right back

[Verse 2]
I'm no blow up doll, no free-for-all
No slave to your decision, ooh
Gotta find a way to break the spell
To get the hell away from those who block my vision

[Pre-Chorus 2]
You used me as a fragment of your grand design, hey
And you, you don't get to put me on your bottom line
You don't get what's mine, and I'm doing fine

[Chorus 2]
Said you don't want to see the girl I want to be
Then why, then why would I listen?
If you don't want to do the things I need from you
Goodbye, goodbye
Cause I gave it away, I gave it away, I gave it away
I'm taking it right back, baby

[Chorus 1]
Well, if you don't want to see the girl I want to be
Then why, then why should I listen?
If you don't want to do the things I need from you
Goodbye, goodbye
Cause I gave it away, I gave it away, I gave it away
And I'm taking it right back, hey
Taking it right back, baby
I'm taking it right back, hey

[Verse 1]
Yeah you really tried
But I was blind to all the lies you told me, oh
All the sh*t you've done
You can't outrun the way you undersold me

[Pre-Chorus]
You acted like you bought me at a bargain sale
You don't even care
You focused your frustration on a small detail
Blew it out of scale, like my ponytail

[Chorus]
Well, if you don't want to see the girl I want to be
Then why, then why should I listen?
If you don't want to do the things I need from you
Goodbye, goodbye
Cause I gave it away, I gave it away, I gave it away
And I'm taking it right back

[Verse 2]
I'm no blow up doll, no free-for-all
No slave to your decision, ooh
Gotta find a way to break the spell
To get the hell away from those who block my vision

[Pre-Chorus]
You used me as a fragment of your grand design, hey
And you, you don't get to put me as your bottom line
You don't get what's mine, and I'm doing fine

[Chorus]
Said you don't want to see, the girl I want to be
Then why, then why would I listen
You don't want to do, the things I need from you
Goodbye, goodbye
I gave it away, I gave it away, I gave it away
I'm taking it right back, baby

[Chorus]
When you don't want to see, the girl I want to be
Then why, then why should I listen
When you don't want to do, the things I need from you
Goodbye, goodbye
Cause I gave it away, I gave it away, I gave it away
I'm taking it right back
I'm taking it right back, baby
I'm taking it right back