On “fake smile,” Ariana discusses her dissatisfaction with life and how she refuses to put up a facade to hide her emotions, as celebrities are often forced to comply with these standards.
[Intro: Wendy Rene]
After laughter comes tears
After laughter comes tears
[Verse 1]
Another night, another party, sayin' hi to everybody
I’m sorry, it's time to leave, I gotta leave now
Got somewhere I gotta be now, I'm starving
Can somebody walk me to my car?
If I go alone, I’m not gon' make it very far
I'm happy for the love and all of the above
If I'm being honest, I done been through way too much
[Pre-Chorus]
I can't fake another smile
I can't fake like I'm alright
Woo, ah (Woo, ah)
And I won't say I’m feeling fine
After what I been through, I can’t lie
Woo, ah (Woo, ah)
[Chorus]
Fuck a fake smile, smile
Fuck a fake smile, fake smile
[Verse 2]
I read the things they write about me
Hear what they're sayin’ on the TV, it's crazy
It's gettin' hard for them to shock me
But every now and then, it’s shocking, don't blame me
I know it's the life that I chose
But baby, I'm grateful, I want you to know
I'm happy for the love and all of the above
If I'm being honest, I done been through way too much
[Pre-Chorus]
I can't fake another smile
I can't fake like I'm alright
Woo, ah (Woo, ah)
And I won't say I'm feeling fine
After what I been through, I can't lie
Woo, ah (Woo, ah)
[Chorus]
Fuck a fake smile, smile
Fuck a fake smile, fake smile
[Bridge]
If I'm hurt, I ain't gon' lie about it
Arms crossed with the attitude, lips pouted
If I'm mad, I ain't gon' lie about it
Neck roll with the attitude, yuh
If I'm hurt, I ain't gon' lie about it
Arms crossed with the attitude, lips pouted
If I'm mad, I ain't gon' lie about it
Neck roll with the attitude, yuh
[Pre-Chorus]
I can't fake another smile (And I can't fake)
I can't fake like I'm alright (Another smile)
Woo, ah (Woo, ah) (Ooh)
And I won't say I'm feeling fine (I'm feeling fine)
After what I been through, I can't lie
Woo, ah (Woo, ah)
[Chorus]
Fuck a fake smile, smile
Fuck a fake smile, fake smile (Yeah)
fake smile was written by Joseph Frierson & Mary Frierson & Fred Ball & Happy Perez & Pop Wansel & Wendy Rene & Kennedi & Priscilla Renea & Justin Tranter & Ariana Grande.
fake smile was produced by Happy Perez & Pop Wansel.
Ariana Grande released fake smile on Fri Feb 08 2019.
While “fake smile” was not featured as one of the many tracks teased in the music video for “breathin,” Ariana released a snippet of the track to her Twitter on 25 January 2019.
During the week ending February 23, 2019, “fake smile” debuted and peaked at #26 on the Hot 100.
This song was first performed live in Albany, New York on March 18, 2019 on the Sweetener World Tour.