It's official: another Sabrina Carpenter summer is on the horizon in the music world. With the clever release of her new single "Manchild," the pop star is gearing up for her second consecutive summer in the spotlight.

On June 2, 2025, Carpenter alluded to the release of a summer anthem with an eye-catching teaser. In the teaser video, Carpenter is standing on the side of a road in the middle of the desert, hopelessly attempting to hitchhike with seemingly no luck. The following day, she posted an announcement of the new single, "Manchild," with the official cover art - including the short and sweet caption, "this one's about you!!"

On its release date, Carpenter took to social media to share a bit about the song, written with frequent collaborators Jack Antonoff and Amy Allen. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she says:

i wrote manchild on a random tuesday with amy and jack not too long after finishing short n’ sweet and it ended up being the best random tuesday of my life. not only was it so fun to write, but this song became to me something I can look back on that will score the mental montage to the very confusing and fun young adult years of life.

it sounds like the song embodiment of a loving eye roll and it feels like a never ending road trip in the summer ! hence why i wanted to give it to you now- so you can stick your head out the car window and scream it all summer long!

"Manchild" has the wit and charm of Short n' Sweet, with a bit of a fresh, snarky edge from Carpenter. The artist brings in a hint of her vocal country twang, backed by a nostalgic, synth-driven instrumental melody straight out of the '80s. If one thing is clear, it is that this song was definitely made for the soundtrack of the summer.

Breaking Down The Lyrics Of Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild"

What Is The Meaning Of This Song?

On the surface, "Manchild" is a song about a foolish and immature ex-lover. Calling on her signature witty humor in the lyrics, the song does not hold back when it comes to calling out the subject. In the first verse, she does not hesitate to take a jab at the red flags of this former partner. She then takes a moment to call out the short nature of their relationship and the early suspicions that have become all-too-familiar to her when dating.

Oh, boy

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?

Sabrina Carpenter is always one to cleverly whip up a double entendre, and this song gives us another taste of that sassy side of her. The third line of the first verse is where we see this come in, alluding to not only the short-lasting relationship, but an unfulfilling sexual encounter as well. The jabs are just getting started here though.

In an entirely unfiltered pre-chorus, Carpenter brings out the insults. Seemingly thinking out loud to herself, this section of the song shows her attempting to come up with the best words to describe the situation she is in.

Stupid

Or is it slow?

Maybe it's useless

But there's a cuter word for it, I know

The pop princess holds nothing back when it comes to the song's undeniably catchy chorus. Settling on the phrase "manchild" as the best word to describe this ex-lover, Carpenter outlines this person's immature nature. She preaches that she just wants to be left alone, no longer holding the patience to put up with men of this nature. Carpenter continues to call him out on simple life skills he seems to lack, and by the end of the chorus, hints that she is losing interest in romantic connection.

Man-child

Why you always come a-running to me?

F*** 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?

The song's second verse dives even further into the flaws of this man, taking the insults up a notch. Carpenter cleverly phrases the first two lines of this verse, using improper grammar to further drive the point that this man is far below emotional intelligence.

She hints at him having a codependent nature, blaming his upbringing for the issues that he seems to have with acting mature. The line "I choose to blame your mom" has quickly become a fan-favorite, sparking conversations all across the internet.

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

The song takes a turn at the bridge, where Carpenter its to partial fault for falling for the men that she does. She simply can't help the type she finds attractive, though they all happen to be lacking in maturity in one way or another.

This is also where we get the lyric, "I swear they choose me, I'm not choosing them," a lyric that was initially teased on billboards across Interstate 69 before the single's announcement. She feels she has become a magnet for men who are foolish, unintelligent, and immature.

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)

Our Take On What "Manchild" Is About

A Message To All The Immature Men That Have Wronged Her

While fans originally speculated that the song was likely to be about Carpenter's ex-boyfriend, Barry Keoghan, the message does not seem to have any direct references to the actor. The speculation began with the teasers of the new single, specifically with Carpenter's caption on the official announcement reading, "this one's about you!!" Having split last December, the pop star has not seemed to have publicly dated anyone in the time since, so the speculations about the subject matter of this song have naturally fallen on Keoghan.

Rather than calling out one individual specifically, "Manchild" is a message to all the immature men that Carpenter has had to deal with in her love life. From those lacking emotional intelligence to the "mama's boys" and genuinely incompetent, it seems she has encountered a fair share of unworthy suitors.

In her aforementioned Instagram post discussing the release of the song, she mentions that "this song became to me something I can look back on that will score the mental montage to the very confusing and fun young adult years of life." As the dating world is as a young, 20-something, Carpenter perfectly wraps up the feelings of frustration when it comes to dealing with partners that are just not on the same emotional level as you.

This is not meant to be a jab at one man in particular, but the general population of men that lack maturity when it comes to dating.

It would not be a Sabrina Carpenter single without a chaotically comedic music video to back it up, though. With the release of the "Manchild" music video following the single, the pop star created a lighthearted and action-packed montage of run-ins with men lacking high intelligence in the form of hitchhiking. The music video further goes to show that this is not meant to be a jab at one man in particular, but the general population of men that lack maturity when it comes to dating.

Of course, speculation is always entertaining, but it seems that our girl is just reflecting on the highs and lows of her love life. In the end, Sabrina Carpenter has delivered an incredibly catchy anthem for the girls this summer, and it is bound to resonate with anyone who has ever dealt with a lover lacking in the area of maturity.