“If you don’t want me, I’ll just deem you gay,” it’s the lyric that launched a thousand tweets and sparked heated online debates.
But Sabrina Carpenter’s Busy Woman, released on February 14, 2025, as part of Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe), is much more than its controversial moments, becoming 2025’s highest-debuting song by a solo female artist on Spotify Global.
With biting wit and a chaotic blend of disco and country influences, Busy Woman encapsulates the thrill, rejection, and unapologetic self-assurance of modern relationships.
When Was “Busy Woman” by Sabrina Carpenter Released?
The track first appeared on August 29, 2024, when Carpenter surprised fans with a limited digital release called Short n’ Sweet(er).
She explained on social media: “I wrote ‘Busy Woman’ with jack and amy just after i turned in short n’ sweet and was so sad i couldn’t include it… it’s one of my favorites so i wanted to give it to you as a thank you for all of the love!!!!!”
What Does “Busy Woman” by Sabrina Carpenter Mean?
Busy Woman is Carpenter’s tongue-in-cheek take on that specific brand of rejection where you convince yourself you’re actually too good for the person who turned you down.
The song’s narrator starts by claiming she’s “mature, collected and sensible” but immediately admits that’s only true until rejection hits.
The story unfolds through the eyes of someone who insists they’re far too important to care about being turned down, while simultaneously proving they care very much indeed.
When faced with rejection, the narrator swings between offering to clear her busy schedule (“Maybe for you, though, I could accommodate”) and pretending she never wanted them anyway (“Well, I didn’t want your little bitch ass anyway”).
It’s a playful exploration of how we protect our ego after rejection.
One minute she’s doing tantric yoga and reapplying lipstick, the next she’s declaring anyone who doesn’t want her must be gay because how could they possibly resist?
The title Busy Woman becomes both a shield (“I wouldn’t let you come into my calendar any night”) and a flex (“My openings are super tight”), perfectly capturing that post-rejection phase where you try to convince yourself and everyone else that you’re totally fine, actually.
Sabrina Carpenter “Busy Woman” Lyrics Breakdown
The song’s push and pull between desperation and dismissal reaches its peak in the chorus.
“But if you need my love / My clothes are off, I’m coming over to your place” reveals the vulnerability beneath all that busy woman bravado.
But the moment that vulnerability isn’t reciprocated? “Well, I didn’t want your little bitch-ass anyway.”
Carpenter’s delivery sells every word. One second she’s practically purring “My clothes are off,” the next she’s spitting “bitch-ass” with the precise amount of spite needed to convince absolutely no one that she’s unbothered.
The way her voice flips between sugar-sweet availability and barely concealed rage captures exactly how it feels to pretend you’re totally fine while secretly drafting angry texts you’ll never send.
The verse builds on this duality: “So much to shave and lipstick to reapply / Maybe for you, though, I could accommodate.”
She’s far too busy for romance, you see, but she could possibly squeeze you in between her very important appointments.
It’s giving “I accidentally opened your Instagram story but actually I’m thriving.”
Is “Busy Woman” by Sabrina Carpenter Controversial?
@winkintwink #sabrinacarpenter ♬ som original –
The line “If you don’t want me, I’ll just deem you gay” quickly became a talking point online.
While some critics drew parallels to Taylor Swift’s original Picture to Burn lyrics, defenders emphasised the song’s satirical nature and Carpenter’s consistent allyship.
One viral tweet captured the debate: “litterally not at all homophobic you gays need to chill shes literally just saying shes hot as hell lol.”
The discussion highlights pop music’s ongoing navigation of evolving language and sensitivities.
How Did Fans React to “Busy Woman”?
The track’s disco elements connect it to decades of post-rejection empowerment anthems, while its country-pop fusion (think Kacey Musgraves’ ‘High Horse’) adds extra bite to lines like “Tantric yoga, baby, namaste.”
Since hitting streaming platforms, fans have turned lyrics like “My openings are super tight” and “I wouldn’t let you come into my calendar any night” into social media gold.
These phrases now pop up everywhere from job interview memes to dating app bios.
The song’s popularity quickly translated into streaming success.
Busy Woman marked Carpenter’s strongest debut yet, landing at number 11 on the Spotify Global Chart with 5.27 million streams – the highest debut for a solo female artist in 2025 so far.
In the US, the track entered at number 7 with 2.051 million streams, demonstrating Carpenter’s growing commercial appeal.
Sabrina Carpenter “Busy Woman” Live Performances
The song made its live debut during Carpenter’s September 30, 2024 Brooklyn show, appearing in the “spin the bottle” surprise cover segment.
Live performances have revealed new dimensions to the track, with audience reactions particularly highlighting its comedic timing.
“Busy Woman” on Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)
As of February 2025, Busy Woman sits alongside other new tracks like Bad Reviews on Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe).
The song arrives when pop music increasingly embraces complex female narratives.
Its narrator cycles through ridiculous, petty, confident, and insecure moments – sometimes all in one verse.
Sure, ghosting someone and pretending you’re too important to care might not be the healthiest way to handle rejection.
But when Carpenter sings “Well, I didn’t want your little bitch ass anyway,” she captures that perfect moment of pettiness we’ve all felt but maybe wouldn’t admit to.
It’s the group chat energy, the 3 AM notes app rant, the Instagram story indirect all rolled into one gloriously unhinged pop moment.
Sabrina Carpenter Busy Woman Lyrics
Intro
(Oh, hey)
Oh
Verse 1
I’m so mature, collected, and sensible
Except when I get hit with rejection
To turn me down, well, that’s just unethical
I’ll turn into someone you’re scared to know
Chorus
But if you need my love
My clothes are off, I’m comin’ over to your place
And if you don’t need (If you don’t need) my love
Well, I didn’t want your little bitch ass anyway
Yeah, I’m a busy woman
I wouldn’t let you come into my calendar any night
But if you want my kisses
I’ll be your perfect Mrs. ’til the day that one of us dies (Oh, hey)
Post-Chorus
Busy woman, all the time
Busy woman
Verse 2
So much to shave and lipstick to reapply
Maybe for you, though, I could accommodate
I’m flexible, so just tell me what you like
Tantric yoga, baby, namaste
If you don’t want me, I’ll just deem you gay
Chorus
But if you need my love
My clothes are off, I’m comin’ over to your place (Ah)
And if you don’t need (If you don’t need) my love
Well, I didn’t want your little bitch ass anyway
Yeah, I’m a busy woman
I wouldn’t let you come into my calendar any night
But if you want my kisses
I’ll be your perfect Mrs. ’til the day that one of us dies
[Bridge]
Busy woman, all the time
Busy woman for the rest of my life
My openings are super tight
Busy woman, unless you call tonight
Night (Ooh)
Ooh
Chorus
But if you need my love
My clothes are off, I’m comin’ over to your place (Ah)
And if you don’t need (If you don’t need) my love (My love)
Well, I didn’t want your little bitch ass anyway
‘Cause I’m a busy woman (Oh, hey)
I wouldn’t let you come into my calendar any night
But if you want my kisses
I’ll be your perfect Mrs. ’til the day that one of us dies
