Better Off

Album: Sweetener (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This moody R&B breakup ballad is about Ariana Grande's wish to exit a toxic relationship. It has been speculated the track is about the singer's former boyfriend, rapper Mac Miller, whom she split from in May 2018. Grande tweeted that she penned "Better Off" a long time ago - probably when she was still with Miller - and she wasn't going to originally put it on Sweetener in fear of the honest feelings she was expressing about their relationship.
  • My love'll have you fall to your knees
    I tell them this too often
    Know better than to bark up my tree
    Just for me to fall and leave
    Nah, I'd rather just watch you smoke and drink, yeah


    This lyric is most likely a reference to Mac Miller's use of weed and alcohol. He's frequently rapped about drugs and drinking and Grande revealed via Twitter that the rapper's struggle with sobriety was a factor in their breakup.
  • The song was co-produced by:

    Chauncey "Hit-Boy" Hollis, Jr, whose other credits include Lil Wayne and Eminem's 2010 single "Drop The World" and Jay-Z and Kanye West's 2011 Watch the Throne track "Niggas in Paris."

    Tommy "TBHits" Brown, who first collaborated with Grande on her 2013 debut, Yours Truly. He also worked with the songstress on all of her 2015 Christmas and Chill? EP plus the majority of songs on 2016's Dangerous Woman.
  • TBHits told Billboard that Hit-Boy did the original instrumentation. Grande loved its vibe and asked TBHits to see if he could make any improvements. He made a few production changes, mainly minimalizing it. TBHits explained:

    "I think it sounds a lot cooler minimal and actually just hearing her on the song. Because people listen to it to hear the artist, they don't listen to it to hear a beat, necessarily. So, we minimalized it, and everybody collaborated on it, and it came together."

Comments: 1

  • Aria from New Yorkunfortunate af :( but the song is a masterpiece
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.