Shawn Mendes is back with Why Why Why, an intense song about the most challenging moment of his life: let’s discover the meaning of the lyrics.
We know it very well: music can be a great access point to our beloved artists’ lives and feelings. Writing a song means fishing inside the sensations and thoughts that dominate our mood in a given moment, and the more intense they are, the more significant the result is. That’s why so many people are interested in understanding more about Why Why Why, the single released by Shawn Mendes in August 2024: the artist is living a difficult moment, and this song exposes his struggle.
In this article, we will analyze the meaning behind the lyrics. You will also find the official video and the complete lyrics at the end.
Why Why Why: the meaning of the lyrics
Why Why Why is a song about Shawn Mendes’ mental struggle experienced in the months before its release: in the lyrics, the singer explains the hard decisions he had to make and his inability to commit to the plans he had in his mind, after finding out it was too difficult for him.
As many know, Shawn Mendes was in a long-term relationship with Camila Cabello, but the two broke up recently. They both claim they are still friends, but some of the lyrics you hear in Why Why Why make you understand that this breakup wasn’t in Shawn’s intentions:
Sweating through the sheets, shakin’ in bed
Visions of her naked in my head
But I went off and chose myself instead
Why, why, why? Ease my mind
In the song’s second part, there is even a reference to a possible parenthood that Shawn Mendes thought was close. This could be something that happened in his relationship with Camila, which was not disclosed publicly.
I thought I was about to be a father
Shook me to the core, I’m still a kid (Ooh)
Sometimes, I still cry out for my mother
Why, why, why? Why, why, why?
Both elements are a way for the singer to expose his mental struggle. He wonders why, why. Why did all that happen? Why isn’t he able to move on? Why do all these dysfunctional thoughts keep invading his head, preventing him from focusing on his real life? The result is what he had to announce in 2022 in this tweet, when he canceled his international tour: that was supposed to be the return to normality after the pandemic, but after all that happened, he discovered he was not ready for all that. Why Why Why contains a direct reference to that decision in its lyrics:
I stepped off the stage with nothin’ left
All the lights were f–in’ with my head
But here I am, singin’ songs again
Why, why, why? Ease my mind
This is what Why Why Why is about, the real meaning behind its lyrics: Shawn Mendes is doing his best; he wants to return to normality, but apparently, there’s still a long way ahead. In the song, he still feels overwhelmed by all the things he experienced recently. However, he’s making music again, which can only be good news for him and all his fans. Is it time for a new phase to start?
Read other popular song lyrics and their meaning on Auralcrave
The official video and the complete lyrics
Opened up my journal to a page
Everything that hurts me’s still the same
Feels like there’s nothing new for me to say
Why, why, why? Why, why, why?
Sweating through the sheets, shakin’ in bed
Visions of her naked in my head
But I went off and chose myself instead
Why, why, why? Ease my mind
I don’t know why, I
I don’t know, I don’t know why
Why, why, why?
I stepped off the stage with nothin’ left
All the lights were f–in’ with my head
But here I am, singin’ songs again
Why, why, why? Ease my mind
I don’t know why, I
I don’t know, I don’t know why
Why, why, why? Why, why, why?
Feels like everything goes ’round and ’round
And ’round, and ’round, and ’round it goes
Feels like everything goes ’round and ’round
And ’round, and ’round, and ’round, it—
I thought I was about to be a father
Shook me to the core, I’m still a kid (Ooh)
Sometimes, I still cry out for my mother
Why, why, why? Why, why, why?
I don’t know why, I
I don’t know, I don’t know why
Why, why, why? Why, why, why?
Feels like everything goes ’round and ’round
And ’round, and ’round, and ’round it goes
Feels like everything goes ’round and ’round
And ’round, and ’round, and ’round it goes
