Behind the Meaning of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Slim Pickins”

Sabrina Carpenter gave fans a sneak peek at her at next album with “Slim Pickins,” a country-tinged song about her limited options. As always, Carpenter doesn’t air her frustrations without a hint of humor. Uncover the meaning behind Carpenter’s tongue-in-cheek track, below.

[RELATED: 3 of Sabrina Carpenter’s Best Cover Songs–Featuring Olivia Newton-John, Chappell Roan, and More]

Behind the Meaning of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Slim Pickins”

Carpenter makes use of a country motif for this song, playing into the song title. In the opening lines, she orients the listener to her love life. Guess I’ll end this life alone, she sings. In the subsequent verses, she further explains why she is destined to end up lonely.

Guess I’ll end this life alone
I am not dramatic, these are just the thoughts that pass right through me
All the douchebags in my phone
I play ’em like a slot machine
If they’re winnin’, I’m just losin’

Carpenter says what many are thinking: it’s slim pickins when it comes to love. It’s hard to find the right one in a sea of the wrong ones. Carpenter created the perfect song for that conundrum. It’s helpful to laugh in the face of a sad truth. That’s exactly what Carpenter is doing here.

Oh, it’s slim pickings
If I can’t have the one I love
Guess it’s you that I’ll be kissing
Just to get my fixings
Since the good ones are deceased or taken
I’ll just keep on moanin’ and b—hin’

She lists off humorous–though deeply relatable–”icks” one could have with a partner. Bad spelling, bad attitudes, and unsatisfactory equipment….Carpenter isn’t afraid to tow the line of what is usually expected of a pop song. The verses in this track are proof of that.

Jesus, what’s a girl to do?
This boy doesn’t even know the difference between “their,” “there” and “they are”
Yet he’s naked in my room
Missing all the things he’s missing
God knows that he isn’t living large

Watch Carpenter debut this track alongside Jack Antonoff, below.

It’s slim pickings
If I can’t have the one I love
Guess it’s you that I’ll be kissing
Just to get my fixings
Since the good ones are deceased or taken
I’ll just keep on moanin’ and b—hin’
Moanin’ and b—hin’

And since the good ones call their exes wasted
And since the Lord forgot my gay awakening
Then I’ll just be here in the kitchen
Serving up some moanin’ and b—hin’

Photo: Daniel DeSlover/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock