everytime

"everytime" is a deeply introspective and vulnerable song that explores the cyclical and addictive nature of a toxic relationship. The lyrics articulate the internal conflict of being irresistibly drawn to someone despite knowing the connection is unhealthy and damaging. The central theme is the feeling of powerlessness against a powerful emotional and energetic pull, a dynamic where attempts to break free are consistently futile. The song delves into concepts of codependency, where both partners contribute to a cycle of disappointment and control. Grande expresses a raw honesty about her own self-destructive behaviors, such as drinking and acting impulsively, which are triggered by the relationship's turmoil. Many listeners and critics interpret the song as a reflection on Grande's tumultuous relationship with the late rapper Mac Miller, particularly referencing his substance use ("You get high and call on the regular") and the codependent nature of their bond. The overarching message is one of frustrating resignation—a desperate questioning of why fate or a higher power seems to conspire to keep them together, highlighting the painful struggle between rational thought and emotional compulsion.

The narrative voice of the song is one caught in a relentless and exhausting cycle with a lover. The relationship is a constant push and pull, a magnetic force that defies logic and self-preservation. It begins with an admission of this pattern, the repeated, almost involuntary act of returning to this person: "I go back to you... everytime." The singer acknowledges the mutual frustrations that plague their connection; she gets tired of his unreliability and broken promises ("no-shows"), while he grows weary of her attempts to manage or change the situation ("my control").

There's a clear awareness of the problem from external observers, friends or family who advise her to let go, but she confesses that her declarations of ending things are never truly sincere. The emotional dependency is so profound that it alters her very personality. When she's not with him, she feels disconnected from the world, giving "people blank stares" and feeling like a different person. This sense of incompleteness is likened to a Shakespearean tragedy, emphasizing the high drama and the feeling that her real self only exists when he is present.

Despite her attempts to fight against the powerful connection—the "energy" between them—she finds herself defeated each time she believes she has finally broken free. The chorus delves into the specific, painful details of this cycle. He, in a state of being high, reaches out to her, and in that moment, her resolve crumbles, making her feel weak and susceptible like a teenager. This leads to a desperate, rhetorical question aimed at a higher power: "Why, oh why does God keep bringing me back to you?"

Her own coping mechanisms are equally self-destructive. She gets drunk, trying to convince herself she's over him, but this only leads to impulsive, regrettable actions, like showing up at his door "like an idiot." The same question repeats, a cry of frustration and helplessness against this seemingly fated, painful reunion. The cycle is relentless. Just when she feels she's moving on and making progress ("get on a new wave"), a simple look from him is enough to undo everything. The external world judges her for this pattern, calling her a "head-case" because she can't logically defend why they remain trapped in this dynamic. The song concludes not with a resolution, but with a resigned acceptance of the recurring pattern, fading out with the core confession: "I go back to you... everytime."

"everytime" was written by Ariana Grande, Savan Kotecha, and its producers, Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh. It was recorded for Grande's fourth studio album, Sweetener, which was released on August 17, 2018. The album was largely created during a period of emotional recovery for Grande following the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017. Recording sessions for the album took place from July 2016 to May 2018 at various studios, including MXM Studios in Los Angeles, California, and Wolf Cousins Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. While Grande has not officially confirmed the song's specific inspiration, the lyrical content, which details a cyclical and difficult relationship involving substance use, led to widespread speculation among fans and critics that it was written about her ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller. They had publicly ended their relationship a few months before the album's release in May 2018. In August 2018, Grande shared a behind-the-scenes clip from the recording session, showing a lighthearted moment where she is laughing while singing as producer Max Martin struggles to keep a straight face.

The rhythmic foundation of "everytime" is built on a mid-tempo trap beat, characterized by its prominent hi-hats and a deep, resonant bass drum. This provides a steady, almost hypnotic pulse that drives the song and complements its theme of a recurring, inescapable cycle. The lyrical rhythm often contrasts with the musical backing. In the verses, Ariana Grande employs a staccato, almost rap-like delivery that is rhythmically complex and syncopated against the beat. This creates a sense of tension and agitation. In contrast, the chorus features a more fluid and melodic vocal line, which flows more smoothly with the underlying rhythm, reflecting her surrender in those moments. The rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward, primarily using couplets (AABB) within the verses (e.g., "no-shows"/"control", "let go"/"say so"). This simple structure makes the confessional lyrics feel direct and accessible, like entries in a diary. The repetition of the titular phrase in the post-chorus acts as a rhythmic mantra, reinforcing the song's central theme of relapse.

Musically, "everytime" is a prime example of the fusion of pop and trap that became prominent in the late 2010s. The production by Max Martin and Ilya features a hazy, atmospheric synth melody over a stark, staccato trap beat, creating a hypnotic and melancholic backdrop. Rolling Stone's Elias Leight noted a key musical technique in Grande's delivery: she uses an "unyielding staccato rap" in the verses which abruptly shifts to "supple singing on the line-ending phrase 'back to you,'" creating an effect like "a boxer following a series of short jabs with an uppercut." This vocal contrast mirrors the song's thematic tension between resistance and surrender. Lyrically, the song employs direct address and a confessional narrative voice. Grande makes prominent use of rhetorical questions directed at a higher power ("Why, oh why does God keep bringing me back to you?"), which emphasizes her feelings of helplessness and her search for meaning within the painful cycle. This technique transforms a personal struggle into a plea for divine understanding or intervention.

Upon the release of Sweetener in August 2018, "everytime" was not released as an official single but quickly became a fan-favorite and was praised by critics for its lyrical honesty and forward-thinking production. Critics highlighted its successful fusion of pop and trap, with some calling it a path forward for the genre. The album itself debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and was a massive commercial success, further solidifying Grande's status as a pop superstar. "everytime" gained significant attention for its perceived subject matter, with widespread speculation that the lyrics detailed Grande's turbulent relationship with Mac Miller, adding a layer of public fascination and emotional weight to the track. Grande included a shortened version of the song in the setlist for her successful Sweetener World Tour (2019), which grossed over $146 million. While not a chart-topping single, the song's raw portrayal of a toxic relationship resonated deeply with listeners and is considered a key track in her discography for its vulnerability, foreshadowing the even more personal songwriting on her subsequent album, thank u, next.

The central metaphor in "everytime" is that of an inescapable gravitational or magnetic force, representing the addictive pull of the relationship.

• Gravitational Pull: The recurring phrase "I go back to you... everytime" symbolizes a force beyond her control, much like gravity. It suggests that her return is not always a conscious choice but an inevitable outcome of their powerful connection.
• Energy: The line, "I've tried to fight our energy," personifies their connection as an active, almost sentient force that she must battle against, ultimately losing each time.
• Shakespearean Tragedy: The lyric, "It's like something out of Shakespeare," serves as a metaphor for the dramatic, fated, and ultimately tragic nature of their love affair. It evokes themes of classic tragic romances where love and suffering are deeply intertwined.
• Weakness and Regression: The simile "I get weak and fall like a teenager" symbolizes a regression to a state of youthful vulnerability and poor judgment. It highlights how the relationship strips away her adult defenses, leaving her susceptible and powerless.

The most significant recurring motif in "everytime" is the lyrical phrase "I go back to you." This line, and its variations, bookend the song and appear in the post-chorus, acting as the central thesis and confession. Its constant repetition drills home the theme of an unbreakable, cyclical pattern of returning to a toxic relationship. It’s not just a statement but a resigned admission of defeat. Another key recurring element is the desperate rhetorical question, "Why, oh why does God keep bringing me back to you?". This phrase appears twice in the chorus and serves as the emotional core of the song. Its repetition highlights the singer's feelings of frustration, confusion, and helplessness, suggesting that the force pulling her back is so powerful it feels preordained or cosmic. Musically, the hazy synth arpeggio that opens the song and runs throughout serves as a constant motif, creating a dreamlike, melancholic atmosphere that sonically represents the intoxicating and confusing nature of the relationship.