Scissors

Album: Second Self (2025)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Scissors" is Julia Michaels' tongue-in-cheek yet empowering anthem about letting go of a relationship without looking back - if he wants to cut ties, she'll get the scissors.

    Released on January 10, 2025, it finds her leaning into emotional independence with a cutting metaphor and an even sharper sense of humor.
  • The track is about an ex-boyfriend. Michaels described it to Rolling Stone as "a funny way of saying that I'm unbothered. My skin is thick. I'm not pressed if someone wants to leave. Half the time I don't want them to stay either."
  • While she didn't name names, the song arrived two years after Michaels' high-profile breakup with fellow singer-songwriter JP Saxe, sparking speculation that the split may have inspired its themes. However, Michaels has never directly confirmed that "Scissors" is about him.
  • The single is a reunion of sorts: It marks the third collaboration between Michaels and Maren Morris, following 2020's "Circles Around This Town" (nominated for Best Country Song at the Grammys) and 2024's "Cut!" recorded for Morris' Intermission EP.
  • Michaels told Good Morning America it was Morris who asked her to collaborate again - and when Michaels jokingly mentioned she had a song called "Scissors" in the spirit of "Cut!" Morris was immediately on board.
  • Julia Michaels wrote the song with production handled by Monsters and Strangers and John Ryan.
  • The playful-yet-stylish music video was directed by Blythe Thomas, who also shot Michaels' "Little Did I Know" and "All Your Exes" clips. Thomas' other credits include Hozier's "Almost (Sweet Music)" and Kelsea Ballerini's "Club."
  • Julia Michaels wrote the chorus of "Scissors" in her bathtub. "I write a lot when I'm in the shower," she told American Songwriter. "I think it's because I'm not on my phone. I don't have anybody trying to get to me. I have no responsibilities. I can self-reflect. I can be in there for however long I want to be in there. A lot of times, my self-reflection will end up being a song. And I was thinking about relationships that I had in my life, not just romantic ones, but platonic ones. I was just thinking about cutting people out. Like, 'yeah, if you want to cut ties, I'll get the scissors.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.