Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Goodbye’ Could Be The Difference Between Life And Death

By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on September 26, 2025 at 10:15 AM EDT

Sabrina Carpenter at 2025 MTV Video Music Awards
Advertisement

Sabrina Carpenter has been dominating the charts and playlists worldwide, but now one of her songs has an unexpected twist. It can literally help save lives! Her track "Goodbye" carries a tempo of about 120 beats per minute, the same rhythm recommended for performing Hands-Only CPR. Experts say matching chest compressions to a beat in that range can double or even triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. Suddenly, Sabrina's music isn't just catchy,  but it's critical.

Article continues below advertisement

Sabrina Carpenter's 'Goodbye' Could Save A Life During Cardiac Arrest

Sabrina Carpenter at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards
MBS/MEGA

The American Heart Association recommends that Hands-Only CPR compressions be delivered at a steady pace of 100 to 120 beats per minute. This rhythm ensures enough pressure is applied to keep blood flowing until professional help arrives. It can be tough to keep that tempo under stress, which is why many instructors suggest thinking of a song that hits the sweet spot.

Songs like "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees or "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé have long been used in CPR training, and now Carpenter's "Goodbye" joins the lifesaving playlist. Clocking in at 120 BPM, "Goodbye" is a natural fit for CPR compressions. The consistent rhythm makes it easy for anyone, even those without formal training, to keep pace during an emergency.

Article continues below advertisement

Music has always played a significant role in shaping culture, but when it intersects with healthcare, the impact can be profound. By connecting CPR training to songs people already know and love, experts can make lifesaving skills more accessible.

Article continues below advertisement

Inside The Meaning Of 'Goodbye' Lyrics

"Goodbye," the twelfth and final track on Sabrina Carpenter's new album "Man's Best Friend," stands out as the singer's most unapologetic breakup anthem to date. Unlike some of her more playful or layered tracks, this one cuts straight to the bone, alternating between heartbreak and sharp-edged wit as she processes the end of a relationship.

The opening lines waste no time plunging listeners into raw emotion:

“Broke my heart on Saturday / Guess overnight your feelings changed / And I have cried so much I almost fainted.”

The blunt devastation is quickly followed by Carpenter's signature mix of humor and bite, as she flips the narrative back onto the one who walked away. The chorus hammers home her refusal to shoulder the blame.

Article continues below advertisement

“Goodbye means that you’re losing me for life / Can’t call it love, then call it quits / Can’t shoot me down, then shoot the shit / Did you forget that it was you who said goodbye?"

Though Carpenter never names names, fans have been quick to speculate that the track references her recent breakup with actor Barry Keoghan.

Article continues below advertisement

Sabrina Carpenter Makes Rare Comment About Ex Barry Keoghan

Sabrina Carpenter at The Brit Awards 2025
Mirrorpix / MEGA

Since their December breakup, Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan have mostly avoided addressing their split publicly. Both stars chose to keep their private lives off the record in the months that followed, though Keoghan briefly broke that silence at the time to push back against what he described as invasive online speculation.

"My name has been dragged across the internet in ways I usually don't respond to," the "Banshees of Inisherin" star, who shares a son, Brando, with ex Alyson Sandro, posted on X back on December 7. "I have to respond now because it's gettin[g] to a place where there are too many lines being crossed."

Carpenter finally weighed in months later, but in her own lighthearted way. During an August 29 appearance on "CBS Mornings," the singer brushed off constant chatter about whether her lyrics reference Keoghan. "I just wouldn't say," she teased. "It's more fun to picture the person in their head than the person I picture in my head, I think."

Article continues below advertisement

Carpenter Responds To Critics Of 'Man's Best Friend' Album Cover

Sabrina Carpenter has also found herself at the center of constant online chatter, and her "Man's Best Friend" album rollout was no exception. When she revealed the cover art, which shows her posed on her hands and knees in a sleek black dress and heels while reaching toward the leg of a mystery figure in a suit, some users were quick to dismiss the imagery as overly sexual.

One critic on X bluntly asked, "Does she have a personality outside of sex?" The post gained traction, sparking debate among fans and detractors alike. But Carpenter was ready with a playful clapback that instantly flipped the narrative, "Girl, yes, and it is goooooood."

Not surprisingly, the cheeky response went viral, with fans praising her for refusing to let critics define her artistry.

Sabrina Carpenter Owns Her Narrative

Sabrina Carpenter at 2024 MTV Video Music Awards
Jeremy Smith/imageSPACE / MEGA

From the raw heartbreak of "Goodbye" to her sly clapbacks over album cover criticism, Sabrina Carpenter is proving she's more than just a rising pop star, and she's a cultural force who knows how to steer the conversation.

Whether she's addressing speculation about her split from Barry Keoghan, weaving pain and humor into her lyrics, or cheekily brushing off online trolls, Carpenter continues to strike a balance between vulnerability and confidence that keeps fans hooked.

Advertisement