"I'd either check Billboard or iTunes Top 10 for the hottest songs, and I'd record my own versions," the 16 year-old explains. "That's how people began to find me online."
They found him in droves too. The subscriber, comment, and follower numbers snowballed as Mahone interacted with his audience directly.
"While I was in Chicago for a birthday party, I decided to do a little meet and greet," he recalls. "I tweeted for everyone to meet at The Bean. I thought there would be ten fans. A thousand showed up, and the cops had to shut it down. That was the moment when everything changed."
Since then, Mahone has come a long way from La Vernia—a town outside of San Antonio as he puts it, "with no Movie Theater or bowling alley". By 2012, he'd garnered 1.8 million Facebook fans, 1.5 million Twitter followers, 545k YouTube subscribers, and notched over 96 million views without a record label, marketing team, or any standard industry machinery. After quickly selling 100k downloads of his infectious song "11:11" independently, he had become a veritable phenomenon. However, he could back everything up on stage too. Selling out high-profile shows at the Best Buy Theater Times Square in New York and Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, he landed on Live! With Kelly & Michael, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, E! News and VH1, while appearing in The Wall Street Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, and more.
Everything is set to change again with the release of his forthcoming full-length debut for Chase Records and Republic Records. The first official single, "Say You're Just a Friend" featuring Flo Rida, updates the Biz Markie classic with a fiery, fresh, and fun little twist. Mahone's impressive vocal delivery pulsates over a big dance floor groove just before Flo Rida drops a sizzling verse. It's an immediately irresistible anthem.
"I want to make upbeat pop that you can party to," says Mahone. "I've always been a huge fan of Flo Rida, and I thought it'd be cool to get him on this track. It's about being friends with a girl that you like more than just a friend. You can't tell her though because it might ruin that friendship. It's something a lot of people can relate to. We had a blast with it though."
With a 2013 tour with Taylor Swift on the horizon and more music coming, everybody is about to have a blast along with Mahone though—especially the countless "Mahomies" worldwide who have fallen for him. "I hope everyone can connect with the songs and love them," he concludes. "I want to make music that people can listen to over and over again and feel good about."
Say You're Just a Friend
Austin Mahone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you say you're just a friend
Yeah you say you're just a friend
Hey hey baby you've been on my mind I knew you for a long time
But I've been thinkin' baby that you should know (oh oh yeah eh uh)
Hey hey baby can we compromise I really want you to be mine
I've got a million places that we could go (o, oh yeah uh)
I wanna be your everything, I want to be the one you need
So tell me where ya been all my life, gonna make you mine tonight
Hey baby you, you got what I need
But you say you're just a friend
Yeah you say you're just a friend
Hey baby you, you got what I need
But you say you're just a friend
Yeah you say you're just a friend
Hey hey baby we've been on the phone spendin' time together alone
But every time we talk the words don't come out right
Oh oh, yeah e uh
Hey hey baby when I look in your eyes
I can tell that you're holdin' somethin' inside
I've been thinkin' bout you
I've been thinkin' bout me
I wanna be your everything, I want to be the one you need
So tell me where ya been all my life, gonna make you mine tonight
Hey baby you, you got what I need
But you say you're just a friend
Yeah you say you're just a friend
Hey baby you, you got what I need
But you say you're just a friend
Yeah you say you're just a friend
Yeah, kinda seein' this most of my life, tryin' make the girls whistle
But it's a hell of a life how to make them all get
Bring it back right round let the good times roll feelin' good right now
But I remember Biz Markie 1989 maybe 90, can't do me like
The song I wrote, couldn't clash next to you 'cuz you all I want
Like you, you got what I need, as if not I'll just pretend
But still, I can get your friend I'm playin, though
But maybe that's a little too much trippin,
We be catchin eyes and I can see the twinkle in them
Thought we'd be together til I see the wrinkle in them
But I guess not
Hey baby you, you got what I need
But you say you're just a friend
Yeah you say you're just a friend
Hey baby you, you got what I need
But you say you're just a friend
Yeah you say you're just a friend
Hey baby you, you got what I need
But you say you're just a friend
Yeah you say you're just a friend
Hey baby you, you got what I need
But you say you're just a friend
Yeah you say you're just a friend
The lyrics of Austin Mahone's song "Say You're Just a Friend" is about a man who is in love with a woman who considers him just a friend. He has been holding onto his feelings for a long time and is finally expressing them, hoping to make her his. Throughout the song, he tells her that she has everything he needs but she continues to insist that they are only friends. He repeatedly asks her to compromise, and he wants her to be his everything.
The lyrics are passionate and emotional, portraying the frustration and difficulty of unrequited love. The man is willing to do anything to make her his, but she cannot reciprocate his feelings. However, the song ends on a bittersweet note, with the man still hoping for something more than just friendship.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt portrayal of a common experience that many people go through—love and longing for someone who may not feel the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby you, you got what I need
The singer thinks that the person he is talking to has everything he needs to be happy.
But you say you're just a friend
The person he is talking to only wants to be friends and nothing more.
Yeah you say you're just a friend
The person he is talking to again reiterates that they are just friends and nothing more.
Hey hey baby you've been on my mind I knew you for a long time
The artist has been thinking about the person he has known for a long time.
But I've been thinkin' baby that you should know (oh oh yeah eh uh)
The artist wants the person he is talking to know that he likes her and wants to be more than friends.
Hey hey baby can we compromise I really want you to be mine
The singer is willing to compromise with the person he is talking to because he really wants to be with her and have a romantic relationship.
I've got a million places that we could go (o, oh yeah uh)
The singer has lots of places in mind where he and the person he is talking to could go on dates and hang out together.
I wanna be your everything, I want to be the one you need
The artist wants to be everything to the person he is talking to and to be the only one she needs in a relationship.
So tell me where ya been all my life, gonna make you mine tonight
The artist wants to know why the person he is talking to hasn't been in his life before now and is determined to make her his girlfriend tonight.
Hey hey baby we've been on the phone spendin' time together alone
The artist and the person he is talking to have been spending time talking on the phone and getting to know each other better.
But every time we talk the words don't come out right
Although they talk often, the singer has trouble expressing his feelings and intentions to the person he is talking to.
Hey hey baby when I look in your eyes
The artist is attracted to the person he is talking to and feels a connection when he looks at her.
I can tell that you're holdin' somethin' inside
The singer can sense that the person he is talking to has feelings for him too but is reluctant to express them fully.
I've been thinkin' bout you
The singer has been thinking about the person he is talking to a lot and can't get her out of his head.
Yeah, kinda seein' this most of my life, tryin' make the girls whistle
The singer has been looking for love for most of his life and has tried to impress many girls before.
But it's a hell of a life how to make them all get
The artist finds it difficult to make girls interested in him despite his efforts.
Bring it back right round let the good times roll feelin' good right now
The artist wants to bring his relationship with the person he is talking to full circle and have a good time together.
But I remember Biz Markie 1989 maybe 90, can't do me like
The singer remembers a song by Biz Markie from the late 80s or early 90s that relates to his current situation.
The song I wrote, couldn't clash next to you 'cuz you all I want
The singer has written a song that expresses his feelings for the person he is talking to and can't help feeling like she is the only one he wants.
Like you, you got what I need, as if not I'll just pretend
The artist feels like the person he is talking to has everything he needs to be happy and if she doesn't, he will pretend that she does.
But still, I can get your friend I'm playin, though
Although the person he is talking to only wants to be friends, the artist feels like he can still date her friend if he can't be with her.
But maybe that's a little too much trippin
The artist realizes that trying to date the person he is talking to's friend might be too complicated and is having second thoughts about it.
We be catchin eyes and I can see the twinkle in them
The singer and the person he is talking to make eye contact often and he can see that she is interested in him too.
Thought we'd be together til I see the wrinkle in them
The artist wants to be with the person he is talking to for a long time until they both grow old and wrinkly.
But I guess not
Despite his hopes and dreams, the singer realizes that the person he is talking to only wants to be friends and nothing more.
Lyrics © CTM Outlander Music LC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNY GAMBLE, JUSTIN FRANKS, TRAMAR DILLARD, AHMAD BELVIN, JAMES BAILEY, RYAN OGREN, LEON HUFF, TRENT JORDAN MAZUR, MICHAEL WILLIAM FREESH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alizahiacharles8027
about to start song
"Bro its been 6 years I doubt I'll know anything😂"
starts song
SINGS THE WHOLE SONG FLAWLESSLY
my 9 year old self: "heck yea."
WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF JESUS!!😂
@austinmahone
Over 50 million views!! Thank you so much, means a lot <3
@genuuflores2293
ES EL MEJOR <3 <3
@Winnieherloevbonventre
NICE
@francescacittadini3064
AustinMVEVO I love soo much this song !!!
xoxo ♡♡
@genuuflores2293
YO TAMBIÉN <3 <3 <3
@ellamaygonzales5294
<3<3<3<3<3
@rabiadursun98
IT'S 2021 AND I'M STILL HERE😭🤘
IT'S 2022 AND I'M STILL HERE😭🤘
IT'S 2023 AND I'M STILL HERE😭🤘
IT’S 2024 AND I’M STILL HERE😭🤘
@simoben832
Me too😔😔
@asrarguedoura7932
Me2 it's just a vibe😂
@hadylleoussain9802
Mee too