Shawn Mendes is back after a little hiatus with some new material inspired by his personal life. “Why Why Why” has the singer questioning some decisions he made in his life that he would go on to regret later on. This is the first taste of his upcoming 2024 studio album ‘Shawn.’
“Why Why Why” was released alongside another single “Isn’t That Enough” on August 8, 2024, from his upcoming fifth studio album ‘Shawn.’ The album announcement comes after Shawn Mendes went on a break from music in 2023, after canceling his ‘Wonder’ tour.
Shawn Mendes revealed how “Why Why Why” was born as a product of his mental health struggles;
”Why Why Why” was just one of those experiences where it kinda became a joke when we were making the album, if I started to experience some pretty heavy anxiety in the studio, everyone was sure a great song was gonna be coming after it because there was some sort of healing crisis, some sort of break through that was supposed to happen.
This one was a big one, it addresses a lot. I didn’t wanna have to make anyone have to work to hear me, I just wanted to say it as it was.”
Listen to “Why Why Why” by Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes “Why Why Why” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
In the first verse of the song, Shawn Mendes gives us some insight into his daily struggles with mental health. He opens a random page in his journal only to find out the page is filled with the exact same thoughts he has been feeling just now. He is living a loop of horror and struggle. His mind is on repeat with the same destructive thoughts he has been fighting with some years back. Has he made no progress? How does he get out of this loop?
It all comes crashing back again!
Visions of her naked in my head
We can assume that this lyric is referring to Shawn Mendes’s two-year-old relationship with singer Camila Cabello. The two singers dated for two years and announced their split in 2021, saying that their careers made it impossible for them to stay in a relationship. The duo briefly reunited in 2023. Is he still thinking about Camila’s naked silhouettes?
Fast-forward a few years, he lives to regret these decisions. He screams inside ‘why why why’ to all the things he let go.
In the second verse of the song, Shawn Mendes touches on his departure from music in 2023. He canceled a major part of his ‘Wonder: The World Tour’ citing ‘health’ issues and promised to ‘come back stronger.’ In the song, he mentions that ‘all the lights’ were getting to his head like they had never before. He is talking about the limelight of stardom and its effect after prolonged exposure.
Feels like everything goes ’round and ’round
This lyric explains how Shawn Mendes has been stuck in a loop for quite some time. It seems like he wakes up with the same issues and terrors he had a few years back. He breaks down for no particular reason, just like he did before. How can he heal? How can he move on?
In the bridge of “Why Why Why,” Shawn Mendes drops another bombshell;
I thought I was about to be a father
This means that Shawn Mendes has a pregnancy scare with someone–most likely with Camila Cabello. Unplanned pregnancies can be scary, especially to think that Shawn Mendes was only 23-years-old when he was with Camila. He highlights this in the song calling himself ‘just a kid’ when this happened.
It sounds like Shawn Mendes has been dealing with some serious issues in the past few years. He looked the happiest when he was with Camila Cabello, and we can only assume that the breakup had a big toll on his mental health.
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comments below. Read the complete lyrics to the song on Genius.