Guide
Sabrina Carpenter is back and with a summer anthem she delivers “Manchild”. This new song from Sabby is just as infectious as you would expect and it dropped officially on the 5th of June via Island Records.
Song Analysis (Manchild Review)
“Manchild” is a bit of a genre-bender. It has a synth-pop undercurrent which blends with a country-influenced vibe. It was produced by Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter. Jack has written countless hits over the years for many artists as well as his own projects, therefore it is no shocker that “Manchild” screams immediate hit. It opens with Sabrina saying, “Oh Boy”, obviously in despair at what she has been witnessing in her relationships. The music is contagious and features just about everything from banjos, and synths to sitars. The song is in the key of G Major and has a tempo of 123bpm.
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” Lyrics (Manchild Review)
Intro
Oh, boy
Verse 1
You said your phone was broken, just forgot to charge it
Whole outfit you’re wearing, God, I hope it’s ironic
Did you just say you’re finished? Didn’t know we started
It’s all just so familiar, baby, what do you call it?
Pre-Chorus
Stupid
Or is it slow?
Maybe it’s useless
But there’s a cuter word for it, I know
Chorus
Man-child
Why you always come a-running to me?
Fuck my life
Won’t you let an innocent woman be?
Never heard of self-care
Half your brain just ain’t there
Man-child
Why you always come a-running, taking all my loving from me?
Verse 2
Why so sexy if so dumb?
And how survive the Earth so long?
If I’m not there, it won’t get done
I choose to blame your mom
Chorus
Man-child
Why you always come a-running to me?
Fuck my life
Won’t you let an innocent woman be?
Never heard of self-care
Half your brain just ain’t there
Man-child
Why you always come a-running, taking all my loving from me?
Bridge
Oh, I like my boys playing hard to get
And I like my men all incompetent
And I swear they choose me, I’m not choosing them
Amen, hey, men
Oh, I like my boys playing hard to get (Play hard to get)
And I like my men all incompetent (Incompetent)
And I swear they choose me, I’m not choosing them (Not choosing them)
Amen (Amen), hey, men (Hey, men)
Chorus
Man-child
Why you always come a-running to me? (Always come a-running to me)
Fuck my life
Won’t you let an innocent woman be? (Amen)
Outro
Oh, I like my boys playing hard to get (Play hard to get)
And I like my men all incompetent (Incompetent)
And I swear they choose me, I’m not choosing them (Not choosing them)
Amen (Amen), hey, men (Hey, men)
Meaning (My Opinion) (Manchild Review)
Sabrina speaks about the frustration of dealing with emotionally immature partners, all wrapped in a sarcastic yet vulnerable tone. The song narrates the kind of relationship where one person constantly carries the weight, while the other barely shows up both literally and figuratively. Through witty and sharp lyrics she points out the contradictions in this person’s behavior and how they want love and attention but lack the self-awareness or effort to actually sustain a healthy connection. There’s a sense of exhaustion in her words too, as though she’s reached the end of her patience with someone who can’t seem to grow up, even when faced with the simplest expectations.
Beneath the humor and sass, though, there’s also a deeper emotional thread. It’s not just about calling someone out, it’s about reflecting on a pattern that feels all too familiar. Lines like “I swear they choose me, I’m not choosing them” hint at a kind of resignation, as if she’s caught in a cycle of men who disappoint her. There’s both defiance and sadness in that realization and the track balances empowerment with honesty, showing how humor can be a shield for hurt, and how even the strongest among us can feel worn down by people who never quite meet us where we are.
Listen To “Manchild” By Sabrina Carpenter (Manchild Review)
