Sabrina Carpenter reveals explicit meaning behind her 'Tears' lyrics
4 September 2025, 09:41 | Updated: 4 September 2025, 13:56
Sabrina Carpenter is back in her sexual innuendo bag with new single 'Tears' but what are the lyrics about?
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No one has a gift for coming up with euphemisms like Sabrina Carpenter and her 'Tears' lyrics are a testament to that.
Over the course of her career so far, Sabrina Carpenter has earned a reputation as a modern day horny Shakespeare. Hit songs like 'Espresso' and 'Juno' play with sexual innuendo in fun and creative ways and, during the Emails I Can't Send era, Sabrina regularly went viral for coming up with hilariously spicy 'Nonsense' outros at every show.
Now, Sabrina has added to her pantheon of provocative pop anthems with 'Tears' and the song's meaning is iconic.
- Read more: Sabrina Carpenter responds to criticism of her Man's Best Friend album cover
- Read more: Every 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' reference in Sabrina Carpenter's 'Tears' music video
What are Sabrina Carpenter's 'Tears' lyrics about?
Sabrina Carpenter unveils new album art on Instagram live
In 'Tears', Sabrina sings about how guys being decent, polite and practical is a turn on for her. In fact, good behaviour impresses her so much that it brings her to tears but not in the way you think. In the chorus, Sabrina sings: "I get wet at the thought of you / Being a responsible guy/ Treating me like you're supposed to do / Tears run down my thighs".
If it weren't clear enough through context clues, Sabrina is jokingly saying that manners make her climax.
In the first verse, Sabrina adds: A little initiative can go a very long, long way / Baby, just do the dishes, I'll give you what you want / A little communication, yes, that's my ideal foreplay / Assemble a chair from IKEA / I'm like, "Uh".
In typical Sabrina fashion, we'll never be able to hear the words "tears" in the same way again.
Sabrina Carpenter - Tears (Official Music Video)
Discussing the meaning behind the song with NPR, Sabrina said: "Isn't it funny how when you're young, you're like, 'I want them to be tall, I want them to be handsome, I want them to be funny. I want them to be smart.' And then you get older, like, 'I want them to be nice. Just have a job, you know, like decent self respect, emotional maturity.'"
She added: "It starts to get pathetic almost. We're definitely getting to a point where we're just asking for the bare minimum, but, you know, acknowledging it."
Sabrina Carpenter - 'Tears' lyrics
INTRO
Mm
Mm, hmm (Ah-ha)
Uh (Shikitah)
CHORUS
I get wet at the thought of you (Uh-huh)
Being a responsible guy (Shikitah)
Treating me like you're supposed to do (Uh-huh)
Tears run down my thighs
VERSE 1
A little initiative can go a very long, long way
Baby, just do the dishes, I'll give you what you (What you), what you want
A little communication, yes, that's my ideal foreplay
Assemble a chair from IKEA
I'm like, "Uh" (Ah)
CHORUS
I get wet at the thought of you (Uh-huh)
Being a responsible guy (So responsible, shikitah)
Treating me like you're supposed to do (Uh-huh)
Tears run down my thighs
VERSE 2
A little respect for women can get you very, very far
Remembering how to use your phone gets me oh, so (Oh, so), oh, so hot
Considering I have feelings, I'm like, "Why are my clothes still on?"
Offering to do anything, I'm like (Uh), "Oh my god"
Tears run down my thighs (Shikitah)
CHORUS
I get wet at the thought of you (Uh-huh)
Being a responsible guy (So responsible, shikitah)
Treating me like you're supposed to do (Uh-huh)
Tears run down my thighs
POST-CHORUS
I get wet at the thought of you (I get)
Being a responsible guy (So, so, so, responsible guy)
Treating me like you're supposed to do (Supposed to do)
Tears run down my thighs (Dance break)
BRIDGE
Oh
So responsible
No
CHORUS
I get wet at the thought of you (Uh-huh)
Being a responsible guy (Guy, so responsible, shikitah)
Treating me like you're supposed to do (Uh-huh)
Read more about Sabrina Carpenter here:
- Sabrina Carpenter blames public for making her 'hyper sexualised' music so popular
- Sabrina Carpenter's heartbreaking speech about 'Because I Liked a Boy' leaves fans in tears
- Sabrina Carpenter explains real meaning behind 'Manchild' lyrics
- Sabrina Carpenter doesn't consider her first four albums part of her discography
- Sabrina Carpenter says she might ban phones at her concerts in the future
- Sabrina Carpenter is being eyed for a potential role in Mamma Mia 3
WATCH: Sabrina Carpenter explains the meaning behind her favourite lyrics
Sabrina Carpenter Breaks Down Her Favourite Lyrics
