Jason’s Song (Gave It Away)

## Audio

“**Jason's Song (Gave It Away)**" is the seventeenth track of the Japanese Special Price Edition and the last track of Target Special Edition and Edited Version of Ariana Grande's third studio album, *Dangerous Woman*. It was released as the third promotional single on September 16, 2016, through Republic Records and Dream Records.

## Background

On September 16, 2016, "Jason's Song (Gave It Away)" was revealed on Spotify and iTunes to be an explicit track. The song is named after Jason Robert Brown, a famous Broadway composer who co-wrote and produced this song. Jason Robert Brown and Y/N became close during Grande's work on 13: The Musical, which he composed some of the tracks to, he also acted as a mentor for Grande. Since then, they have kept in touch but this is the first song they have collaborated on.

It was supposed to be on the regular version of the album but it didn't make it. Instead, it was included on the Target Special Edition and the Japanese Deluxe Version of the album. It was later released as the third promotional single following "Be Alright" and "Let Me Love You". She stated that this song was one of the most "different" songs on the album, with having an undeniably different sound compared to the other songs that have been released.

In 2021, the song was included in the Bonus Tracks Version of Dangerous Woman on streaming platforms alongside Step On Up.

## Composition and lyrics

The song was written for Jason Robert Brown even though it was co-written by him, It also contains background vocals by him as well. It runs for four minutes and twenty-five seconds. It has a "jazzy, show tune-style piano," with a doo-wop bridge, along with a "soulful chorus" and a "funky" bridge that makes it a sliced cutoff jazz The song's rhythm is influenced by the sounds of 1970s jazz music. The song has a quick tempo of 116 beats per minute and is composed in the key of G minor. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, her vocal range in the song runs from C4 to G5.

Lyrically, the song is about her ex-manger when she fired him in 2015. According to Genius: "This song was written at a time when Y/N was taking control of her career and not let herself be pushed around by people trying to tell her what to do/what not to do. In these lyrics, she’s reclaiming her independence and identity, telling people that she’s going to be who she wants to; if they don’t like it, she doesn’t need them." In this song, Y/N is reclaiming independence and independence as an artist, she talked about this situation more in depth in the Cosmopolitan Magazine Interview in 2017

## Critical reception

Adam R. Holz from *Plugged In* said about the song: "In some contexts, not getting worked up over others' opinions and criticism can be a mark of healthy self-confidence. In this case it's more like Y/N is simply weary of anyone suggesting that the myriad reckless choices she's provocatively indulging might not be as awesome as she insists they are." Christopher R. Weingarten from *Rolling Stone* said: "Y/N is at her most irresistible when she's in Big Chill mode, mixing timeless melodies – mostly in 6/8 – with modern production."

## Live performances

Y/N performed the song live on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on September 19, 2016, which gained recognition to the song. While there, Grande also announced the dates for Grande’s Dangerous Woman Tour.

## Videos

Jason's Song (Gave It Away)Ariana Grande- 'Jason's Song' (Live Performance) HD
## Trivia

* Y/N created the song and let Ariana use the song for her album.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

Yeah, you really tried

But I was blind to all the lies you told me, boy

All the shit you've done

You can't outrun the way you undersold me

**[Pre-Chorus 1]**

You acted like you bought me at a bargain sale

You don't even care

You focused your frustration on a small detail

Blew it out of scale, like my ponytail

**[Chorus 1]**

Well, if you don't want to see the girl I want to be

Then why, then why should I listen?

If you don't want to do the things I need from you

Goodbye, goodbye

Cause I gave it away, I gave it away, I gave it away

And I'm takin' it right back, hey

**[Verse 2]**

I'm no blow up doll, no free-for-all

No slave to your decision, oh, babe

Gotta find a way to break the spell

To get the hell away from those who block my vision

**[Pre-Chorus 2]**

You used me as a fragment of your grand design, hey

And you, you don't get to put me on your bottom line

You don't get what's mine, and I'm doing fine

**[Chorus 2]**

Said you don't want to see the girl I want to be

Then why, then why would I listen?

If you don't want to do the things I need from you

Goodbye, goodbye

Cause I gave it away, I gave it away, I gave it away

And I'm takin' it right back, baby

**[Chorus 1]**

Well, if you don't want to see the girl I want to be

Then why, then why should I listen?

If you don't want to do the things I need from you

Goodbye, goodbye

Cause I gave it away, I gave it away, I gave it away, I gave it away

I'm takin' it right back, hey

**[Outro]**

Takin' it right back, baby

I'm takin' it right back, hey