[Ariana Grande (Leon Thomas III):]
(Shoo-doo-doo-dum-doo, da-da)
(Shoo-doo-doo-dum-doo, da-da)
(Sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da)
(Da, da) Uh-huh
(Da, da) Ooh, yeah
(Da, da) Mm, ah
(Da, da) (It’s the Rascals)
[Ariana Grande:]
I looked in my rear-view mirror and
It seemed to make a lot more sense
Than what I see ahead of us, ahead of us, yeah
Uh, I’m ready to make that turn
Before we both crash and burn
‘Cause that could be the death of us, the death of us
Baby, you know how to drive in rain
And you decided not to make a change
Stuck in the same old lane
Goin’ the wrong way home
I feel like my heart is stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic
I’m under pressure ’cause I can’t have you the way that I want
Let’s just go back to the way it was
When we were on Honeymoon Avenue
Honeymoon Avenue, baby
Coastin’ like crazy
Can we get back to the way it was?
Hey, what happened to the butterflies?
Guess they encountered that stop sign
And my heart is at a yellow light, a yellow light
Hey, right when I think that we’ve found it (Found it)
Well, that’s when we start turnin’ around (Turnin’ around)
You’re sayin’, “Baby, don’t worry”
But we’re still goin’ the wrong way
Baby, you know how to drive in rain
And you decided not to make a change
Stuck in the same old lane
Goin’ the wrong way home
I feel like my heart is stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic
I’m under pressure ’cause I can’t have you the way that I want
Let’s just go back to the way it was
When we were on Honeymoon Avenue
Honeymoon Avenue, baby
Coastin’ like crazy
Can we get back to the way it was?
They say only fools fall in love
Well, they must’ve been talkin’ about us
And sometimes I feel like we’ve been here before
I could be wrong, but I know I’m right
We’re gon’ be lost if we continue to fight
Honey, I know, yeah
We can find our way home
I feel like my heart is stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic
I’m under pressure ’cause I can’t have you the way that I want
Let’s just go back to the way it was
When we were on Honeymoon Avenue
Honeymoon Avenue, my baby
Coastin’ like crazy
Can we get back to the way it was?
When we were on Honeymoon Avenue
Honeymoon Avenue, baby
Coastin’ like crazy
Can we get back to the way it was?
Baby, you know how to drive in rain
And you decided not to make a change
Stuck in the same old lane
Goin’ the wrong way home
I feel like my heart is stuck in—
Traffic, I’m under
Pressure, pressure—
Let’s just go back to the way it was
When we were on
Honeymoon Avenue, Honeymoon Avenue
Honeymoon Avenue, Honeymoon Avenue
Avenue
Let’s just go back, b-b-b-back, back, back
Exploring the Metaphor of Love’s Journey
“Honeymoon Avenue” by Ariana Grande is a soulful exploration of love’s evolution, using the metaphor of a car journey to reflect the changing dynamics of a romantic relationship. Grande reminisces about the blissful early days—her “Honeymoon Avenue”—contrasting them with the current turbulence and confusion. The lyrics cleverly compare emotional roadblocks to traffic jams and yellow lights, highlighting a sense of nostalgia and longing for the simplicity and excitement of new love. The recurring plea to “go back to the way it was” captures the universal desire to recapture lost innocence and ease in a partnership.
Song Credits
Artist: Ariana Grande
Songwriters: Leon Thomas III, Antonio Dixon, Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, Al Sherrod Lambert, Tommy Brown, Victoria Monét, Peter Lee Johnson
Release Year: 2013
Label: Republic Records