The song “Eternal Sunshine” by Ariana Grande is inspired by a movie called “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” In the film, a couple erases memories of each other after breaking up. In the song, Ariana seems to be trying to forget her ex-husband Dalton Gomez as she starts dating her current boyfriend Ethan Slater.

In the song’s verses, Ariana talks about how her relationship with her ex wasn’t right. She calls him out for lying and says they’ve both moved on.

The chorus has a double meaning: Dalton is her “Eternal Sunshine,” like in the movie, because she’s trying to forget him. But Ethan, her current boyfriend, brings sunshine into her life. His initials even match “Eternal Sunshine,” possibly hinting at him.

In the second verse, Ariana makes it clearer that she’s trying to forget her past with Dalton. She’d rather erase the memories and move on than feel the pain.

In the bridge and outro, Ariana seems to be encouraging herself to move forward. She talks about rewriting fate and taking deep breaths. But in the end, she accepts life and death without wanting to go back in time.

Eternal Sunshine Lyrics

[Intro]
I

[Verse 1]
I don’t care what people say
We both know I couldn’t change you
I guess you could say the same
Can’t rearrange truth
I’ve never seen someone lie like you do
So much, even you start to think it’s true
Ooh
Get me out of this loop, yeah, yeah

[Pre-Chorus]
So now we play our separate scenes
Now, now she’s in my bed, mm-mm, layin’ on your chest
Now I’m in my head, wonderin’ how it ends

[Chorus]
I’ll be the first to say, “I’m sorry”
Now you got me feelin’ sorry
I showed you all my demons, all my lies
Yet you played me like Atari
Now it’s like I’m lookin’ in the mirror
Hope you feel alright when you’re in her
I found a good boy and he’s on my side
You’re just my eternal sunshine, sunshine

[Verse 2]
So I try to wipe my mind
Just so I feel less insane
Rather feel painless
I’d rather forget than know, know for sure
What we could’ve fought through behind this door, mm
So I close it and move, yeah, yeah

[Pre-Chorus]
So now we play our separate scenes
Now, now he’s in your bed, and layin’ on my chest
Now I’m in my head, and wonderin’ how it ends, ends, ends

[Chorus]
I’ll be the first to say, “I’m sorry”
Now you got me feelin’ sorry
I showed you all my demons, all my lies
Yet you played me like Atari
Now it’s like I’m lookin’ in the mirror
Hope you feel alright when you’re in her
I found a good boy and he’s on my side
You’re just my eternal sunshine, sunshine

[Bridge]
Won’t break, can’t shake
This fate, rewrite
Deep breaths, tight chest
Life, death, rewind
Won’t (Won’t) break (Won’t), can’t (Can’t) shake (Shake)
This (This) fate (Fate), rewrite
Deep (Deep) breaths (Breaths), tight (Tight) chest (Chest)
Life (Life), death (Death)
[Chorus]
I’ll be the first to say, “I’m sorry”
Now you got me feelin’ sorry
I showed you all my demons, all my lies
Yet you played me like Atari
Now it’s like I’m lookin’ in the mirror (Won’t break, can’t shake)
Hope you feel alright when you’re in her (This fate, rewrite)
I found a good boy and he’s on my side (Deep breaths, tight chest)
You’re just my eternal sunshine, sunshine (Life, death, rewind)

[Outro]
Won’t (Won’t) break (Won’t), can’t (Can’t) shake (Shake)
This (This) fate (Fate), rewrite
Deep (Deep) breaths (Breaths), tight (Tight) chest (Chest)
Life (Life), death (Death), rewind
Won’t (Won’t) break (Won’t), can’t (Can’t) shake (Shake)
This (This) fate (Fate), rewrite
Deep (Deep) breaths (Breaths), tight (Tight) chest (Chest)
Life (Life), death (Death)