Why by Shawn Mendes Lyrics Meaning – The Emotional Labyrinth of Unspoken Love
Lyrics
We want each other, no one will break first
So many nights, trying to find someone new
They don’t mean nothing compared to her, and I know
When people ask about us, now, we just brush it off
I don’t know why we act like it means nothing at all
I wish that I could tell you that you’re all that I want, yeah
I pretend that I’m not ready
Why do we put each other through hell?
Why can’t we just get over ourselves?
And you say hi like you just met me
Why do we put each other through hell?
Why can’t we just get over ourselves?
Why can’t we just get over ourselves?
When I hear you sing, it gets hard to breathe
Can’t help but think every song’s about me
And every line, every word that I write
You are the muse in the back of my mind, oh
Don’t want to ask about it ’cause you might brush it off
I’m afraid you think that it means nothing at all
I don’t know why I won’t admit that you’re all I want
I pretend that I’m not ready
Why do we put each other through hell?
Why can’t we just get over ourselves?
And you say hi like you just met me
Why do we put each other through hell?
Why can’t we just get over ourselves?
I pretend that I’m not ready
Why do we put each other through hell?
Why can’t we just get over ourselves?
And you say hi like you just met me
Why do we put each other through hell?
Why can’t we just get over ourselves?
I know a girl, she’s like a curse
We want each other, no one will break first
So many nights, trying to find someone new
They don’t mean nothing compared to you
Shawn Mendes’s ‘Why’ is a raw and compelling dissection of modern love, an exploration of the emotional tug-of-war between the heart’s desires and the fear of vulnerability. Mendes, known for his ability to wear his heart on his sleeve, delves deep into the complexities of a relationship mired in silent battlegrounds where both parties are unwilling to confess their true feelings.
The song navigates through the struggles of unrequited love, or perhaps more accurately, love that’s reciprocated but never verbalized. The intensity of the emotions is palpable, set against the quiet storm of an internal struggle that is both universally relatable and uniquely personal.
The Curse of Wanting: Diving Into the Heart of ‘Why’
Mendes begins with a gripping opening line about a girl who is ‘like a curse,’ immediately setting the tone for a tumultuous emotional journey. The imagery of a curse conveys the uncontrollable, almost supernatural pull the protagonists feel towards each other—powerful, addictive, yet inexplicably tortured.
The unwillingness of both parties to ‘break first’ reveals a stubborn standstill, likely rooted in fear. They find themselves in a cycle of seeking new relationships, yet the song subtly highights the futility of these distractions, as none compare to the depth of their concealed affections.
The Poisonous Pretense and the Masks We Wear
Mendes captures the essence of self-deception in ‘Why,’ speaking to the pretenses we hold up, claiming we’re not ready, that the timing isn’t right. But it’s a facade that shields his true yearning.
The rhetorical question posed in the chorus—’Why can’t we just get over ourselves?’—echoes the frustrating maze of ego and self-protection that entraps so many. Mendes touches a particular nerve of the human condition, acknowledging the all-too-familiar dance of disguise.
The Song’s Hidden Meaning: Ego’s Clash with Vulnerability
Between the lines, Mendes grapples with a deeper truth, addressing the human ego and its clash with vulnerability. It’s not only the admission of feelings that are strained but also the fact that this vulnerability must be met with equal openness.
The emotional shields we put up in the name of self-preservation counterintuitively perpetuate the very ‘hell’ Mendes sings about. The song acts as a mirror, inviting listeners to reflect on their own relationships and the walls they construct.
The Muse and the Mind: Inspiration Born from Unspoken Words
An interesting dimension of ‘Why’ is the way in which Mendes connects the dual themes of missed connection and creative inspiration. He suggests that the girl is not only the object of his unspoken affections but also the muse behind his artistry.
The poignancy of words left unsaid is magnified as Mendes reveals that every song, every line he writes, is infused with his thoughts of her. She’s the ghostly presence in his creative process, a testament to how our deepest experiences often fuel our highest forms of expression.
Memorable Lines: The Echoes of an Encrypted Love
‘I know a girl, she’s like a curse’ and ‘Why do we put each other through hell?’ are lines that encapsulate the essence of the song—haunting, lyrical snapshots of an emotional stalemate.
These lines resonate because they speak to both the specific experience of Mendes and a universal truth about love’s complexities. They linger in the consciousness of the listener, becoming mantras of the heart’s silent battles waged in the shadows of what might have been.
