Days after announcing her split from Liam Hemsworth, Miley Cyrus dropped a new single titled "Slide Away". Although the three-and-a-half-minute ballad is rumoured to be about her estranged husband, a source close to the pop star claimed Miley wasn't trying to throw him under the bus, rather share her side of the story.
“Her song was her way of telling her story without having to say anything at all,” a source told PEOPLE. “She isn’t trying to bash him, but she wants to be able to share what she’s been going through.”
Regardless, ahead of her performance at the 2019 VMA's we've analysed the lyrics to her breakup anthem, noting all of the likely references to the Hunger Games actor.
WATCH: The moment Miley Cyrus SNAPS at Liam Hemsworth on the red carpet
Once upon a time, it was made for us
Woke up one day, it had turned to dust
Baby, we were found, but now we're lost
So it's time to let it go
After announcing their separation, Miley shut down claims infidelity spelled the end of their decade long relationship, revealing she'd called time on their relationship after realising it was "time to leave a previous life behind". Her lyric, "So it's time to let go" seems to suggest as much.
"I can accept that the life I’ve chosen means I must live completely open and transparent with my fans who I love, and the public, 100% of the time. What I cannot accept is being told I’m lying to cover up a crime I haven’t committed. I have nothing to hide," said the singer, who recently returned to acting to star in Black Mirror.
She continued: "But the truth is, once Liam & I reconciled, I meant it, & I was committed. There are NO secrets to uncover here. I’ve learned from every experience in my life. I’m not perfect, I don’t want to be, it’s boring. I’ve grown up in front of you, but the bottom line is, I HAVE GROWN UP. I can admit to a lot of things but I refuse to admit that my marriage ended because of cheating. Liam and I have been together for a decade. I’ve said it before & it remains true, I love Liam and always will."
I want my house in the hills
Don't want the whiskey and pills I don’t give up easily
But I don't think I'm down
Miley's reference to whisky and pills adds weight to claims the couple parted ways due to Liam's excessive partying habits, "drinking" and "drug use". The artwork accompanying 'Slide away'— which features a collection of whisky bottles and pills floating in the water— also seems to imply these substances played a part in the demise of their decade long relationship.
So won't you slide away
Back to the ocean, I'll go back to the city lights
As Liam grew up by the ocean and Miley has spent most of her adult life in L.A., it's clear she's signing about parting ways. Since their split, Liam— who's currently living in Byron Bay— has been spotted surfing with his brother Chris Hemsworth on several occasions.
Move on, we're not 17
I'm not who I used to be
You say that everything changed
You're right, we're grown now
Here, Miley references meeting Liam on the set of The Last Song in 2008, revealing she's changed and grown as a person since then and it's time he accepts her.
