Sabrina Carpenter Reveals Meaning Behind “Manchild” Lyrics

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Please, please, please don’t jump to conclusions about Sabrina Carpenter’s new song.

Following the release of my track “Manchild” on June 5th, I couldn’t resist sharing a candid behind-the-scenes story about its creation. Penned together with the talented Amy Allen and Jack Antonoff on an ordinary Tuesday, this summer anthem was born out of pure spontaneity and creative camaraderie.

On Instagram, the 26-year-old posted on June 5, ‘This turned out to be the most unexpectedly fantastic Tuesday of my life.’ Alongside some clips from the music video and a photo of her embracing Jack and Amy, she wrote. The song wasn’t just a blast to create, but it also serves as a soundtrack for the chaotic yet enjoyable phase of young adulthood that I can revisit in my mind.

She said, “The tune seems like the musical representation of a gentle, rolling sigh and it’s as if we’re on an endless journey during the summer. That’s why I wanted to pass it to you right away, so you can lean out the car window and shout it out, enjoying every bit of the summer!

Furthermore, following her separation from Barry Keoghan towards the end of last year, Sabrina acknowledged that there were specific individuals whom she needed to express gratitude towards.

“Thank you always and forever for listening,” she wrote. “and thank you men for testing me!!”

Following the unveiling, spectators started guessing who the men mentioned might be. “Barry Keoghan, realizing he revealed that he finishes quickly while reading the lyrics to #Manchild,” one fan tweeted. Another suggested she could be singing about another ex, Shawn Mendes: “I thought it was obvious but ‘manchild’ is not about Barry; it’s about Shawn (for those who are slow). She mentioned it was written immediately after she completed the SNS album, so don’t be slow, people,” or as another fan pointed out, “everyone swore ‘manchild’ would be about Barry only to find out it’s just a fun, cheeky song about almost every man on the planet.

Before releasing “Manchild” on June 3rd, I playfully hinted at its arrival by sharing an image of me hitchhiking while sporting a pair of Daisy Dukes and a knotted tee. As I mentioned then, “This one’s all about you.

Sabrina isn’t usually hesitant about pointing out illogical or baseless things. Take a look at the example given further down…

Many people don’t share the same enthusiasm for Sabrina Carpenter’s fondness for lacy attire and suggestive song lyrics. In fact, music producer Pete Waterman has gone as far as to describe her live performances as blatantly “inappropriate.

In January 2025, Waterman stated that “Women have achieved all their freedoms and rights. They fought tooth and nail to obtain them, and now, in my opinion, they’re squandering them.

And in her response, the Girl Meets World alum did not hold back.

In an interview with The Sun on Sunday, Sabrina stated plainly, “My stance has consistently been straightforward: if you’re uncomfortable with a woman who embraces her sexuality with confidence, then perhaps my performances aren’t for you.

She went on to say, “For centuries, female artists have faced shame. In the 2000s, it was Rihanna, in the 1990s, Britney Spears, and in the 1980s, Madonna – and now it’s my turn.

To those labeling Sabrina’s well-known “Juno” postures and provocative lyrics as “lacking effort,” Sabrina defended against their seemingly “outdated” views.

OR

To the critics who claimed that Sabrina’s popular “Juno” poses and explicit lyrics were “uninspired,” Sabrina challenged their “backward-thinking” opinions.

OR

Sabrina refuted the criticism of her famous “Juno” stances and suggestive lyrics being “unoriginal” by arguing against the “outdated perspectives” of the critics.

In simpler terms, the pop star pointed out that there’s a double standard in criticism, as people don’t comment on her discussions about self-care, body positivity, or heartbreak, which are common experiences for someone her age. However, they only seem interested in criticizing the sexual aspects of her performances and lyrics.

During Sabrina’s “Short n’ Sweet” Tour, some social media critics voiced their doubts about whether the “Espresso” singer was actually singing live during her performances.

In a TikTok video posted in October 2024, someone stated, “I don’t like to admit it, but approximately 30% is lip-syncing, another 30% is the backing track, and about 40% is actual singing.

The Disney alum, however, was quick to shoot down the claims.

Sabrina asserted, “I perform live at every single show without exception, and if you’d like, I can connect you with my sound engineers.

It doesn’t take many words for the Grammy nominee to silence her haters.

Come June 2024, finding myself utterly captivated by the musical realm, I couldn’t help but voice my dissent towards Sabrina’s chart-topping anthem, “Please Please Please.

The user posted on X, previously known as Twitter, ‘I can’t recall anyone dropping a second serve as badly as this.’ They added, ‘Wow!’

As soon as her song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, she shared a pair of screenshots showing the rankings along with heartfelt comments, captioning it “I’m so thankful, thankful, thankful, girl.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it this way: Following criticisms about my groundbreaking “Feather” music video shot at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn – where I had obtained permission to film – my narrative contrasts with the account given by Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello in his official statement.

According to the pastor’s statement from November 2023, the parish failed to adhere to the diocesan policy about filming on church grounds. This policy involves a careful examination of the scenes and the script before filming begins.

But Sabrina refuted his claims with one simple sentence.

“We got approval in advance,” Sabrina quipped to Variety at the time, “and Jesus was a carpenter.”

During a performance at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in September 2024, Sabrina hinted that the “Feather” music video controversy had been involved in Mayor Eric Adams’ federal probe at that time. The clergyman who authorized Sabrina’s “Feather” music video, despite claiming ignorance of its inappropriate content, was subsequently demoted, triggering a wider administrative review of the parish.

In their report to the New York Post, the diocese hinted at a possible link between the Parish and Adams, suggesting that business transactions may have taken place between the pastor and influential figures within Adams’ controversial administration. (It should be noted that the mayor is currently facing charges for alleged bribery and wire fraud, but has entered a plea of not guilty.)

And to that, Sabrina said, “Should we talk about how I got the mayor indicted or…”

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2025-06-06 18:18