The lyric video for "My Man on Willpower," shows Sabrina Carpenter embodying a playful style. The track was the third on Carpenter's album "Man's Best Friend." Photo courtesy of Island Records.
“My Man on Willpower” is the third track to Sabrina Carpenter’s seventh studio album, “Man’s Best Friend.” Through this song, Carpenter expresses the neglect that one may feel in a relationship because of their partner’s new-found self-interest, or desire for self-improvement, taking over their focus.
This track alludes to the message that will be dispersed throughout the following songs on the album. Its upbeat instrumentation and catchy lyrics suggest that Carpenter masks her deeper sadness, reflecting her choice to not let the song’s sound be defined solely by its emotional weight.
Carpenter opens the song by describing the once love-bomber of a boyfriend she had, through lyrics, “he’s clingy, he’s loving, he always initiates, callin’ and touchin’.” At first, this paints the picture of what seems to be a devoted relationship, leading listeners to believe that she may have everything she wants in a partner. Yet the almost playful sound is at odds with the growing tension in the lyrics, creating a lack of emotional harmony. The brightness of the sound makes the relationship appear ideal on the surface, but as the illusion starts to unravel, fans feel the sting of disillusionment beneath the cheerful rhythm. This contrast is revealing to the idea that men switch up just as easily as they fall in love.
Trailing off this thought, Sabrina wonders who this new stranger is that replaced the boyfriend she once knew. Using the perky line, “Stranger, Danger!” she captures her confusion and disorientation, no longer recognizing the person she is with, while the optimistic delivery still contradicts with the unsettling shift in her reality. This line is nearly spoken, in a high-pitched whisper.
The chorus captures this change with lyrics, “he used to be literally obsessed with me, I’m suddenly the least sought after girl in the land,” using hyperbole to exaggerate Carpenter’s shock and insecurity at her partner’s sudden withdrawal. This sharp variance between passion and neglect within a relationship reflects the song’s central themes of fading affection and emotional distance.
The bridge continues this tone of exaggerated irony. When Carpenter sings, “my man’s in touch with his emotion, my man won’t tough me with a twenty foot pole,” she conveys the uncertainty of having a partner who claims self-awareness while simultaneously neglecting the intimacy necessary to keep a relationship alive. The humor and wordplay in the lines represents the frustration of feeling abandoned in favor of self-improvement, only intensifying the emotional impact of the song.
Carpenter ends the song by singing, “Where he’s gone God only knows,” twice, reiterating the fact that her boyfriend has changed and is far from coming back. Keeping the same whispery tone and a suspenseful instrumental accompaniment, Carpenter ends her third track, with hopes of moving on from this relationship.
In its entirety, this song added depth to the album by highlighting an obstacle that many relationships face — the shift from intense affection to distant love. While addressing this issue with wit and honesty, Carpenter turns a personal struggle into a relatable tune. Her ability to infuse these emotions into her words not only enriches this track, but the album as a whole.