Songfacts®:

• Ariana Grande's romance with real estate mogul Dalton Gomez began in 2020, leading to wedding bells in May 2021. However, their story took an unexpected turn, and the couple opted to separate after two years. Their divorce was finalized in October 2023.
  
  "Bye," the second track on her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, chronicles the emotional tribulations of this separation. The song repeatedly echoes the word "bye," emphasizing the definitive nature of the decision.
• "Bye" explores a bittersweet yet resolute approach to moving forward. Phrases like "Bye, bye, it's over, it's over" and "taking what's mine" hint at both closure and a reclaimed sense of self.
  
  "That was a tricky balance for me," Grande told Zach Sang via Amazon Music, "because I definitely had some sessions where I was writing more emotionally and reactively but that's also very human so I didn't want to erase all of it."
• The pre-chorus buzzes with anticipation for fresh beginnings, showcasing Grande's signature blend of humor and vulnerability in her songwriting.
  
  So I grab my stuff
  Courtney just pulled up in the driveway
  It's time
  
  "Courtney" is Courney Chipolone, one of Grande's closest friends.
• "Bye" serves as an optimistic farewell to a relationship that ultimately wasn't meant to be. While the phrase "bye, bye" might conjure up a fiery dismissal, Grande's approach is intentionally milder. In her conversation with Sang, Grande spoke of wanting to reconcile recognizing the relationship's positive aspects with acknowledging its ending.
  
  "Even track #2, I tried to make sure it was kind and giving credit for trying and for the goodness that there was," she said. "That was a tricky balance for me."
• Ariana Grande joined forces with her longtime collaborators, Swedish hitmakers Max Martin and Ilya, to write and produce "Bye." Notably, Martin and Ilya played a key role in crafting every track on Eternal Sunshine. Their production of "Bye" blends dance-pop stirring strings and disco vibes, creating an empowering soundtrack to Grande's emotional exit.