"Off The Table" (stylized in all lower case) is the fifth track recorded by Ariana Grande from her sixth studio album, Positions. It was released on October 30, 2020 through Republic Records. It is Grande's second collaboration with Canadian singer The Weeknd.
Background[]
The song was confirmed as the fifth track of Positions on October 24, 2020, through Grande's social media.[1] It is Grande's second collaboration with singer The Weeknd since "Love Me Harder", from Grande's 2014 album My Everything. It's the longest song on the album, it runs exactly 4:00 Minutes.
The song features Ariana questioning whether she’s ready to dive into the deep end of a potential relationship, while her partner, The Weeknd, reassures her saying he can be patient and is in a better place than he was previously. The track features a slow, synth heavy instrumental, complimented by lush strings in the background. Many assume this song may be about Ariana’s past relationships and there unfortunate endings. After a tough breakup with Mac Miller, and broken off engagement with former fiancé Pete Davidson, Grande is asking if she’s ready to love again, presumably with current husband Dalton Gomez. Ariana is asking if she’ll ever be able to love anyone the same way she’s loved the people in her past relationships. The song continues with the theme of love and healing through heartbreak, featuring lyrics like “Might not be quite yet healed already”. The Weeknd’s fifth line in the song reads “You’re trying to fill the void with a couple boys”, most likely mentioning Ariana’s previous fast paced relationship timeline following her many hardships.
Chart performance[]
"Off The Table" debuted at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the chart week of November 14, 2020.[2]
The song surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify and it's Ariana’s 72nd song to reach this milestone.
Live performances[]
On July 21, 2021, Grande released the first live performance of "Off The Table" with The Weeknd as part of Vevo's Official Live Performance series.
Videos[]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]
Will I ever love the same way again? (Way again)
Will I ever love somebody like the way I did you?
Never thought you'd be so damn hard to replace
I swear I don't mean to be this way
If I can't have you, is love completely off the table?
Do I sit this one out and wait for the next life? (Next life)
Am I too cold? Am I not nice?
Might not be quite yet healed or ready
Should I be goin' too steady? (Too steady)
But I just wanna know is love complеtely off the table?
[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Will you bе there? (Will you be there?)
Can I still love you? (Can I, can I, babe?)
Not yet healed or ready (Not ready)
Shouldn't be goin' too steady (Too steady)
Just wanna know is love completely off the table?
[Verse 2: Ariana Grande & The Weeknd]
I'll wait for you
Even though it always feels like I'll be number two
To someone you can't hold anymore
If you let me in, I'm ready to give you what I couldn't before
'Cause I got you, girl, let me help you through it
You're trying to fill the void with a couple boys
I can see right through it (You can see right through it)
I can you love you harder than I did before
Was in a dark place back then
I was toxic, then I was toxic to someone else
I was haunted by the hills (Oh yeah, yeah)
I couldn't give you my all, but I will
If you let me in your arms (Your arms)
If you let me in your heart
I don't think that love's completely off the table
[Chorus: Ariana Grande & The Weeknd]
Will you be there? (Yes, I will be there for you)
Can I still love you? ([?])
Not yet healed or ready (Not ready)
Shouldn't be goin' too steady (Too steady; no, no)
Just wanna know is love completely off the table?
[Bridge: Ariana Grande & The Weeknd]
So can you hold me?
If I let you, can you prove it to me (Oh, no-no, no)
'Cause I need you to calm me down, babe
Gotta get out of my head (Oh, woah)
Tryna be healed from this pain (Oh)
Just wanna know, just wanna know, can you, baby? (Hey)
Can you touch it like you believe in it, baby? (Oh, hey)
Do you think you never gonna leave on me, baby?
'Cause I ain't her and you ain't him, thankfully (Baby, don't leave)
But it's gon' be hard to let someone else in again (Woah)
Baby, baby (Woo-hoo)
[Chorus: Ariana Grande & The Weeknd]
Will you be there? (Will you be there? I'll still wait)
Can I still love you? (I'll still wait for you, babe, oh, no-no, no; can I still love you?)
Not yet healed or ready (Ooh, not ready)
Shouldn't be goin' too steady (No, no, ooh)
Just wanna know is love completely off the table, baby?
[Outro: The Weeknd]
I swear, I swear
I will wait for you, whenever you need
Ooh, ooh