Selena Gomez and Julia Michaels's New Song 'Anxiety' Is Here, and It Has Some Very Personal Lyrics

Photo credit: Emma McIntyre/AMA2017 - Getty Images
Photo credit: Emma McIntyre/AMA2017 - Getty Images

From ELLE

Selena Gomez's surprise new single with Julia Michaels, "Anxiety," just came out today on Michaels's new album Inner Monologues Part 1. The singer and songwriter who's worked on Gomez's music in the past shared a glimpse of the track list over the weekend, which revealed that Gomez would be featured on the album's first song.

"Anxiety" is an intimate song written by Michaels that focuses on the effect anxiety has on relationships and how few people may understand what it's truly like to go through. And it has very personal roots for Gomez, who has sought treatment for anxiety and depression (including in October and November last year) and spoken about her struggle with it. Gomez talked to Harper's Bazaar last February about how she has accepted that she may not overcome depression and anxiety but is doing her best to take care of herself.

Gomez said, "Anyone who knows me knows I will always start with my health and my well-being. I’ve had a lot of issues with depression and anxiety, and I’ve been very vocal about it, but it’s not something I feel I’ll ever overcome. There won’t be a day when I’m like, 'Here I am in a pretty dress-I won!' I think it’s a battle I’m gonna have to face for the rest of my life, and I’m okay with that because I know that I’m choosing myself over anything else. I’m starting my year [2018] off with that thought. I want to make sure I’m healthy. If that’s good, everything else will fall into place."

In that same interview, she also touched on why she's delayed releasing music."My next album has been forever in the making. When people ask me why, I’m honest about it: It’s because I haven’t been ready. I mean, point-blank, I don’t feel confident enough in where my music is yet. If that takes 10 years, then it takes 10 years. I don’t care. Right now I just want to be super intentional with all of the things I’m doing."

Her song with Michaels is clearly one of those intentional things. Below, the lyrics the two girls sing, via Genius. You can hear the song here.

Verse 1:

My friends, they wanna take me to the movies

I tell them to fuck off, I'm holding hands with my depression

And when I think I'm overcoming

Anxiety starts kicking in and teach us a lesson

Oh, I try my best just to be social

I make all these plans with friends and hope they call and cancel

Then I overthink about the things I’m missing

Now I'm wishing, I was with 'em

Pre-Chorus:

Feel like I'm always apologizing for feeling

Like I'm out of my mind when I'm doing just fine

But my exes all say that I'm hard to deal with

And I admit, and I admit, oh

Chorus:

But all my friends they don't know, what it's like, what it's like

They don't understand why, I can't sleep trough the night

I've been told that I could take something to fix it

Then I wish it, I wish it was that simple, ah, ah

But all my friends they don't know, what it's like

Interlude:

I've always wanted to be one of those people in the room that says something and everyone puts their hand up

Like, if you're sad put your hand up

If you hate someone, put your hand up

And if you're scared, put your hand up

Pre-Chorus:

Feel like I'm always apologizing for feeling

Like I'm out of my mind when I'm doing just fine

But my exes all say that I'm hard to deal with

And I admit, and I admit, whoah

Chorus:

But all my friends they don't know, what it's like, what it's like

They don't understand why, I can't sleep trough the night

I've been told that I could take something to fix it

Then I wish it, I wish it was that simple, ah, ah

But all my friends they don't know, what it's like

Bridge:

I got all these thoughts, running through my mind, all the damn time

And I can't seem to shut it off

I think I'm doing fine, most of the time

I say that I'm alright, but I can't seem to shut it off

I got all these thoughts, running through my mind, all the damn time

And I can't seem to shut it off

I think I'm doing fine, most of the time

I say that I'm alright, but I can't seem to shut it off

Chorus:

But, all my friends they don't know, what it's like, what it's like

They don't understand why, I can't sleep trough the night

And I thought that I could take something to fix it

Then I wish it, I wish it was that simple, ah, ah

But all my friends they don't know, what it's like, what it's like

What it's like, what it's like

What it's like, what it's like

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