On “in my head,” Ariana talks about how she fell in love with a version of someone she created in her head, to later find out that, in reality, that is not at all how that person is.
This track was first confirmed by Ariana on Twitter, when a fan asked her if it was real.
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[Intro: Doug Middlebrook]
Here's the thing: you’re in love with a version of a person that you've created in your head, that you are trying to but cannot fix. Uh, the only person you can fix is yourself. I love you, this has gone on way too long. Enough is enough. I'm two blocks away, I’m coming over.
[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]
Painted a picture, I thought I knew you well
I got a habit of seeing what isn't there
Caught in the moment, tangled up in your sheets
When you broke my heart, I said you only wanted half of me
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]
My imagination's too creative
They see demon, I see angel, angel (Angel), angel
Without the halo, wingless angel
[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Falling, falling, but I never thought you'd leave me
Falling, falling, needed something to believe in, oh
I thought you were the one
But it was all in my head
It was all in my head (Skrrt, skrrt)
[Post-Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Yeah, look at you (You), boy, I invented you
Your Gucci tennis shoes, runnin' from your issues
Cardio good for the heart (For the heart)
I figured we could work it out, hmm
[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]
Painted a picture; I thought I drew you well
I had a vision, seeing what isn't there
Caught in the moment, tangled up in your sheets
When you broke my heart, said you only wanted half of me
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]
My imagination's too creative
They see Cain and I see Abel (Abel), Abel (Abel), Abel
I know you're able, willin’ and able
[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Falling, falling, boy, I thought that you would need me
Falling, falling, needed something to believe in, oh
I thought you were the one
But it was all in my head
It was all in my head (Skrrt, skrrt)
[Post-Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Yeah, look at you (You), boy, I invented you
Your Gucci tennis shoes, runnin’ from your issues
Cardio good for the heart (For the heart)
I figured we could work it out, hmm
[Bridge: Ariana Grande]
Wanted you to grow, but, boy, you wasn't budding
Everything you are made you everything you aren’t
I saw your potential without seein' credentials
Maybe that's the issue (Damn, damn)
Said maybe that's the issue, ah
Can’t hold that shit against you, ah
Guess I did it to myself, yeah
Thought you were somebody else, you
[Outro]
Thought you were somebody else, you (You)
Thought you were somebody else, you
in my head was written by Pop Wansel & Happy Perez & Lindel Deon Nelson Jr. & JProof & Blu June & Brittany Coney & Ariana Grande.
in my head was produced by Happy Perez & Pop Wansel.
Ariana Grande released in my head on Fri Feb 08 2019.
When a fan asked Ariana on Twitter what the song was about, she replied:
being in love w a version of somebody you’ve created in your head. falling for someone that they are not.
Middlebrook is Ariana’s best friend. She explained on Twitter:
He was a major help to me thru some v difficult moments so i wanted to capture that a lil, give him a musical hug. it’s also his favorite song so it fits."
In an interview with Zach Sang, Ariana expressed what she thought about the song.
I do a thing with people, that the song kind of explains. I just want people to listen to it and have their own experience with it, but I do this thing where sometimes I paint a different picture of someone that I eit...
During the week ending February 23, 2019, “in my head” debuted and peaked at #38 on the Hot 100.
Rolling Stone ranked the track as Ariana’s #15 best song, saying:
This R&B-inflected electro-ballad is a vulnerable confessional in which Ariana imagines creating an image of her lover in her head. ‘Painted a picture; I thought I drew you well / I had a vision, seeing what isn’t there,’ she mus...