My mom loves her purse, daddy loves his telescope
Sammy loves his spy kit, Peter loves his jump rope
Ooh, yeah
My sister Amy gets a bike, brother gets a tambourine
And Amy’s husband, Dave, gets a, uh, pass
My mom loves cashmere, my father loves photography
And Amy’s husband, Dave, loves Amy
Giving gifts fills me with joy
Wrapping up each little toy
Eyes so brightly ooh and ah
Now what do I get my brother-in-law?
Hey, you haven’t given me anything yet
Right
Sammy is a whiz at math, Peter is an athlete
Amy’s an adventurer and her husband Dave
I don’t really know a lot about
I think he mentioned baseball
Is cash faux pas?
Maybe he likes IPA’s
Who is my brother-in-law?
Giving gifts fills me with joy
Wrapping up each little toy
Eyes so brightly ooh and ah
What the … do I get my brother-in-law?
I like food and I like pants
And I like blue and I like music
And I like sports
Okay
I got you a journal and your new perfume
I’m not gonna give you a gift until you give me one
Who is this man? What does he do?
I’ve known him ten years and I don’t have a clue
Ooh, yeah
So what? He just hands out?
Yeah, when he’s not at work
What’s his job again?
Oh, I forget
Giving gifts fills me with joy
Wrapping up each little toy
Eyes so brightly ooh and ah
Seriously what the hell do I get him?
Here is a shaving kit, here is a bracelet
And for my brother-in-law
A phone charger
I love it, I always needed one of these
You’re so interesting
Where did you get this? You’re like a genius
You’re really something special, Sabrina, may I hug you?
Yeah, okay
You really made this awesome Christmas, I really care about you
Honey, stop hugging my sister
Oh, I’m sorry about that
What the fuck do I get my brother-in-law?
The Anxiety of Gift-Giving
Sabrina Carpenter’s “What Do I Get My Brother-In-Law?” is a witty and relatable exploration of the perennial holiday dilemma: finding the perfect gift for that one family member you barely know. With sharp humor and disarming honesty, the song captures the narrator’s mounting anxiety as they confidently select presents for loved ones—only to hit a wall when it comes to their sister’s husband, Dave. The lyrics bounce between playful self-reflection and escalating desperation, painting a vivid portrait of the modern family dynamic.
Laughing Through Uncertainty
Carpenter’s storytelling shines as she highlights the awkwardness of not quite knowing someone you’ve known for years. The confusion over Dave’s interests, his ambiguous job, and the ultimate fallback gift—a phone charger—underscore the relatable struggle of wanting to give meaningfully, even when details are fuzzy. The song’s charm lies in its honest admission of imperfection, making listeners feel seen in their own gift-giving misadventures.
Song Credits
Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
Songwriters: Sabrina Carpenter