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

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New Words

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New WordsSong Writing

Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.