air
Shawn Lyrics


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Never thought that we would end up here
Should've known it from the start
I know you mean it when you say you love me
But we're trying way too hard

Used to think that we would last forever
How could I've been so wrong?
Never thought I'd be the one to say this
What if our time has come and gone?

You, you don't mean no harm
But you're stringin' me along and I don't have the time to spare
And I, I'm trying hard to breathe
But you're suffocating me, this time I'm coming up for air

Air, air, air, air, air, air
Air-air-air-air-air-air-air-air

Always try'na put your two cents in
Then expecting me to change
Tried to fix me up but I'm not broken
All you do is leave me stained

Told you not to tie me down too quickly
Take it slow, it's not a race
And you keep on try'na reel me in but
All I really need is space

You, you don't mean no harm
But you're stringin' me along and I don't have the time to spare
And I, I'm trying hard to breathe
But you're suffocating me, this time I'm coming up for air

Air, air, air, air, air, air
Air-air-air-air-air-air-air-air
Air, air, air, air, air, air
Air-air-air-air-air-air-air-air

Trying to hold me down but I'm surfacing
It's hard to let you go but I gotta leave

You, you don't mean no harm
But you're stringin' me along and I don't have the time to spare
And I, I'm trying hard to breathe
But you're suffocating me, I'm coming up for air

You, you don't mean no harm
But you're stringin' me along and I don't have the time to spare
And I, I'm trying hard to breathe (I'm trying hard to breathe)
But you're suffocating me, this time I'm coming up for air

Air, air, air, air, air, air
Air-air-air-air-air-air-air-air




Air, air, air, air, air, air
Air-air-air-air-air-air-air-air

Overall Meaning

In "Air", Shawn Mendes talks about a relationship that has become suffocating and is taking away his freedom. He begins by saying that he never thought they would end up in the current situation, but he should have seen it coming. He asserts that his partner loves him, but they are trying too hard, and it is not working out. He admits that he thought their love was going to be forever, but now he thinks otherwise, and he questions whether their time has passed.


He goes on to say that his partner is always giving unsolicited advice and trying to change him. He feels that he is not broken, and all they do is leave him stained. He had previously communicated to them not to move things too quickly, but they keep trying to reel him in. However, he knows that what he needs is space, and they are suffocating him. He says he is trying hard to breathe and is coming up for air.


Shawn repeats the chorus several times and emphasizes his need for air as he is suffocating. He feels that he is surfacing, and it is hard to let go, but he has to leave. He repeats that the person he loves is not mean, but they are stringing him along, and he does not have the time to spare. Finally, he is coming to the realization that he needs to breathe and take a break from the relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

Never thought that we would end up here
I never expected our relationship to reach this point.


Should've known it from the start
I should have realized this was going to happen from the beginning.


I know you mean it when you say you love me
I believe that you truly love me when you say it.


But we're trying way too hard
We're making too much of an effort to make this relationship work.


Used to think that we would last forever
I once believed that our relationship would never end.


How could I've been so wrong?
I'm surprised by how my previous assumptions about our relationship were incorrect.


Never thought I'd be the one to say this
I never imagined myself in this situation, having to vocalize my concerns.


What if our time has come and gone?
Have we reached the end of our journey together?


You, you don't mean no harm
I know you don't intend to hurt me.


But you're stringin' me along and I don't have the time to spare
You're keeping me in this relationship without any true commitment, and I can't afford to waste my time.


And I, I'm trying hard to breathe
I'm struggling to cope with this relationship.


But you're suffocating me, this time I'm coming up for air
Despite your good intentions, you're overwhelming me, and I need a break from the relationship.


Always try'na put your two cents in
You're always trying to offer your uninformed advice.


Then expecting me to change
After providing your input, you expect me to modify my behavior according to your suggestions.


Tried to fix me up but I'm not broken
You've attempted to improve me, but there's nothing wrong with me in the first place.


All you do is leave me stained
Your actions leave a lasting impact on me.


Told you not to tie me down too quickly
I warned you against trying to tie me into a relationship too fast.


Take it slow, it's not a race
Our journey together doesn't need to move at a fast pace since our love is strong.


And you keep on try'na reel me in but
Despite my requests for you to slow down, you're still trying to speed things up.


All I really need is space
I require some distance from you and a break from the relationship.


Trying to hold me down but I'm surfacing
You're attempting to keep me down and hold me back, but I'm rising above it all.


It's hard to let you go but I gotta leave
It's challenging to say goodbye to you, but I have to do it.


But you're suffocating me, I'm coming up for air
Once again, you're smothering me, and I need to take a break from our relationship.


Air, air, air, air, air, air
The song's chorus suggests the need for air or space in the relationship.


Air-air-air-air-air-air-air-air
The song's chorus suggests the need for air or space in the relationship.


Air, air, air, air, air, air
The song's chorus suggests the need for air or space in the relationship.


Air-air-air-air-air-air-air-air
The song's chorus suggests the need for air or space in the relationship.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Emily Warren Schwartz, Scott Friedman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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