His second studio album Illuminate (2016) also debuted at number one in the US, with its singles "Treat You Better" and "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" reaching the top 10 in several countries. His self-titled third studio album (2018) was supported by the lead single "In My Blood". The album's number one debut in the US made Mendes the third-youngest artist to achieve three number one albums. In 2019, he released the hit singles "If I Can't Have You" and "Señorita", with the latter peaking atop the US Billboard Hot 100. His fourth studio album, Wonder (2020), made Mendes the youngest male artist ever to top the Billboard 200 with four studio albums.
Among his accolades, Mendes has won 13 SOCAN awards, 10 MTV Europe Music Awards, eight Juno Awards, eight iHeartRadio MMVAs, two American Music Awards, and received three nominations for a Grammy Award and one nomination for a Brit Award. In 2018, Time named Mendes as one of the 100 most influential people in the world on their annual list.
Can't Imagine
Shawn Mendes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't imagine what a world would be
I can't imagine what a world would be
Without you
All the birds would stop their songs
Without you
All things right would feel so wrong
I can't imagine what a world would be
No, I can't imagine what a world would be
Without you
I'd always be alone
Without you
I don't know where to go
I can't imagine what a world would be
No, I can't imagine what a world could be
I can't imagine what a world would be
I can't imagine
I can't imagine, no
I can't imagine, no, what a world would be
Without you
I'd always be alone
I'd always be alone
Cool, that's good for now
The lyrics of Shawn Mendes's song "Can't Imagine" explore the idea of not being able to picture a world without a certain person in it. The repetition of "I can't imagine what a world would be" highlights the inability to visualize such a scenario. The chorus emphasizes how crucial this person is to the singer's life, as without them, everything would feel wrong and lonely. The allusion to birds stopping their songs represents a significant loss of beauty and wonder in the world that is incomprehensible to the singer without their loved one.
The lyrics express a deep and vulnerable sentiment about the extent to which a person can shape our world and our perception of it. The idea that the singer would be lost without this person suggests a profound sense of attachment and dependency on them. The song ultimately conveys the importance of certain relationships in our lives and how they can have a significant impact on the way we perceive and experience the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't imagine what a world would be
Without you, I cannot fathom what life would look like.
All the birds would stop their songs
Your absence would impact the natural world - birds would cease their melodies.
All things right would feel so wrong
Without you, even that which is typically correct or proper would feel off balance.
I'd always be alone
Your companionship is integral to my well being; without it, I would be lonely.
I don't know where to go
You are my guide and direction, and without you, I would feel truly lost.
I can't imagine
The thought of a life without you is too painful to fully comprehend.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Shawn Mendes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Heendra Kim
Shawn & Camila's love story through their songs:
Treat You Better- When Camila dated Austin
Mercy- His friendzone song & he admitted that he was very awkward when he was with Camila back then
Roses by Shawn- When Shawn finally realized his feelings and can't risk never to tell his feelings even tho she's with somebody else
All These Years by Camila- "I wish I loved you like I miss you" and "I never told you, I should've told you". This was the time when Shawn was dating Hailey
Lost in Japan- "I know it's more than just a friendship. I can hear you think I'm right" And Camila was on a pr trip in Japan that year
Why- His confession song to Camila but when he was about to give it in person, Camila said she met someone. When I hear you sing, it gets hard to breathe, Can't help but think every song's about me"
Because I Had You- "I think it's time that I be honest. Should've told you not to go, thought I knew just what I wanted. I didn't know myself at all." Shawn regretted the time that he didn't stopped her when she opened up about meeting someone.
When You're Ready- "Even ten years from now, If you haven't found somebody. I promise, I'll be around. Tell me when you're ready. I'm waitin'" Camila dating Matt
If I Can't Have You- "I can't write one song that's not about you"
Señorita- "There's just some things that never change. You say we're just friends. But friends don't know the way you taste."
"All along I've been coming for ya. And I hope it meant something to ya" This lyrics hint that Shawn and Camila have been wanting to be together for years
Liar- Camila stated: "Well it's basically about denying your own feelings, suppressing them deep down. I just liked this boy but I so badly didn't want to like him." She then said that "it worked out" hinting that the boy was Shawn because she is with him now.
Shameless- "It's been a secret for the longest time" Camila explained: "'Liar' is denial and 'Shameless' is acceptance."
Should've Said It- "I knew it was you from the very first night. And it took you two years to make up your mind" Song was about Camila confessing she did have feelings years ago but Shawn took too long to face his feelings so she tried to moved on
Bad Kind of Butterflies- "I know I said we were friends. And when I said that, I meant it. Somewhere between now and then. It became more than just a friendship" Its about her realising that she was in love with Shawn while she was still with Matthew.
Feel it Twice- "I wish you would feel how you're feeling two years ago". "That's when you said, "How can I be your friend when I know the way you taste?"
Used to This- Camila: "The song is basically about like when you’re friends with somebody for a really long time, and you know someone for a really long time, and then you start dating them, and then you’re like, ‘Oh my God, like this is so weird,’ ‘cause like, you’ve been my friend forever. But I like it — and I could get used to this.”
Wonder- Its about how he dreamed about being with Camila before they started dating.
Teach me How to Love- Gives an intimate look at their relationship together. Maybe it’s more visual than necessary, but at least we know that Shawn is not a selfish lover and is willing to learn.
24 Hours- "It's a little soon. But I wanna come to you." Referencing to the couple getting a home together
Dream- “You’re asleep in London, I wish you were coming, back home to me, darling." Song is about how they were apart when Camila was filming Cinderella and how spends his time sleeping & dreaming about her
Higher- “All eyes are lookin’ at us, but I can’t stop fallin’ in love, always been the one that I want." Yes our boi finally got his girl and this song tells us that few things make him happier than being Camila’s boyfriend, and that having her around only makes things better.
Always Been You- "I swear that you’ve been sent to save me, you’re the only one that my heart keeps coming back to.” Shawn shows that when he’s in love, he’s only got eyes for one
Piece of You- A possessive Shawn, anyone?
305- “You’re my sunlight on a rainy day, would take my heart with you if you walked away" Nervous and preoccupied with the potential end of their relationship, this song definitely conjures up images of long conversations with a partner, trying to convince them that everything is okay and that you are, in fact, not going to jet off and leave them in the middle of the night.
Can't Imagine- “I can’t imagine what a world would be, without you, all the birds would stop their songs, without you, all things right would feel so wrong.” Shawn is the type to believe that everything is okay, as long as he has a girlfriend. Heads over heels in love Shawn, as usual.
Always Creating
I can't imagine what a world would be
I can't imagine what a world would be
I can't imagine what a world would be
Without you
All the birds would stop their songs
Without you
All things right would feel so wrong
I can't imagine what a world would be
No, I can't imagine what a world would be
No, I can't imagine what a world would be
Without you
I'd always be alone
Without you
I don't know where to go
I can't imagine what a world would be
No, I can't imagine what a world could be
I can't imagine what a world would be
I can't imagine
I can't imagine, no
I can't imagine, no, what a world would be
Without you
I'd always be alone
I'd always be alone
Cool, that's good for now
Seyma
"I started to imagine a world where we don’t collide" hits different right now.
Sadeel Sawalqah
But this one would always sound right .
Noelle Racho
Wrong song :)
Gals52
I agree with you!
nittoburn4
IKR
nittoburn4
@Noelle Racho they know that lol it's a play on words
Heendra Kim
Shawn & Camila's love story through their songs:
Treat You Better- When Camila dated Austin
Mercy- His friendzone song & he admitted that he was very awkward when he was with Camila back then
Roses by Shawn- When Shawn finally realized his feelings and can't risk never to tell his feelings even tho she's with somebody else
All These Years by Camila- "I wish I loved you like I miss you" and "I never told you, I should've told you". This was the time when Shawn was dating Hailey
Lost in Japan- "I know it's more than just a friendship. I can hear you think I'm right" And Camila was on a pr trip in Japan that year
Why- His confession song to Camila but when he was about to give it in person, Camila said she met someone. When I hear you sing, it gets hard to breathe, Can't help but think every song's about me"
Because I Had You- "I think it's time that I be honest. Should've told you not to go, thought I knew just what I wanted. I didn't know myself at all." Shawn regretted the time that he didn't stopped her when she opened up about meeting someone.
When You're Ready- "Even ten years from now, If you haven't found somebody. I promise, I'll be around. Tell me when you're ready. I'm waitin'" Camila dating Matt
If I Can't Have You- "I can't write one song that's not about you"
Señorita- "There's just some things that never change. You say we're just friends. But friends don't know the way you taste."
"All along I've been coming for ya. And I hope it meant something to ya" This lyrics hint that Shawn and Camila have been wanting to be together for years
Liar- Camila stated: "Well it's basically about denying your own feelings, suppressing them deep down. I just liked this boy but I so badly didn't want to like him." She then said that "it worked out" hinting that the boy was Shawn because she is with him now.
Shameless- "It's been a secret for the longest time" Camila explained: "'Liar' is denial and 'Shameless' is acceptance."
Should've Said It- "I knew it was you from the very first night. And it took you two years to make up your mind" Song was about Camila confessing she did have feelings years ago but Shawn took too long to face his feelings so she tried to moved on
Bad Kind of Butterflies- "I know I said we were friends. And when I said that, I meant it. Somewhere between now and then. It became more than just a friendship" Its about her realising that she was in love with Shawn while she was still with Matthew.
Feel it Twice- "I wish you would feel how you're feeling two years ago". "That's when you said, "How can I be your friend when I know the way you taste?"
Used to This- Camila: "The song is basically about like when you’re friends with somebody for a really long time, and you know someone for a really long time, and then you start dating them, and then you’re like, ‘Oh my God, like this is so weird,’ ‘cause like, you’ve been my friend forever. But I like it — and I could get used to this.”
Wonder- Its about how he dreamed about being with Camila before they started dating.
Teach me How to Love- Gives an intimate look at their relationship together. Maybe it’s more visual than necessary, but at least we know that Shawn is not a selfish lover and is willing to learn.
24 Hours- "It's a little soon. But I wanna come to you." Referencing to the couple getting a home together
Dream- “You’re asleep in London, I wish you were coming, back home to me, darling." Song is about how they were apart when Camila was filming Cinderella and how spends his time sleeping & dreaming about her
Higher- “All eyes are lookin’ at us, but I can’t stop fallin’ in love, always been the one that I want." Yes our boi finally got his girl and this song tells us that few things make him happier than being Camila’s boyfriend, and that having her around only makes things better.
Always Been You- "I swear that you’ve been sent to save me, you’re the only one that my heart keeps coming back to.” Shawn shows that when he’s in love, he’s only got eyes for one
Piece of You- A possessive Shawn, anyone?
305- “You’re my sunlight on a rainy day, would take my heart with you if you walked away" Nervous and preoccupied with the potential end of their relationship, this song definitely conjures up images of long conversations with a partner, trying to convince them that everything is okay and that you are, in fact, not going to jet off and leave them in the middle of the night.
Can't Imagine- “I can’t imagine what a world would be, without you, all the birds would stop their songs, without you, all things right would feel so wrong.” Shawn is the type to believe that everything is okay, as long as he has a girlfriend. Heads over heels in love Shawn, as usual.
ankitakshi
Most comprehensively amazing short song story ever seen by me!! Wow 😳
Gina L
Love this breakdown. Had me reading it, word for word.
Juli
Wow🤯 did i just learn his whole love life from reading his comment