According to People, Britney Spears says in her memoir "The Woman in Me" that Justin Timberlake convinced her to have a painful, secret abortion at home because, "He said we weren't ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young." These lyrics (and the song's music corresponding music video) sparked Spears sleuths to wonder if the song references this tragic moment in Spears and Timberlake's relationship. However, Annet Artani claims that is not the case. She told TMZ that the songwriting process did not include any mention of the abortion. Artani also told the outlet that she came up with the, "I guess I need you, baby" line, but that she had no say in the music video (which features a baby's birth).

In the second verse of "Everytime," Spears wishes her former lover was still around, and in the pre-chorus, she sings, "What have I done?/You seem to move on easy." This could reference the surprising way Timberlake broke up with Spears, how he quickly moved on, or the way he disparaged Spears post-breakup.

For song's bridge, Spears take responsibility for the relationship falling apart and asks for forgiveness, adding, "My weakness caused you pain/And this song's my sorry." This may allude to the cheating allegations Timberlake threw at Spears, which she confirms in "The Woman in Me" (and about which Artani spoke to TMZ).