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 "SeƱorita", 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.
Understand
Shawn Mendes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm wondering if anyone's there, yeah
And I really need to make a confession
I hate to say that I'm a little bit scared, yeah
But I've been on this train too long
People getting off and on
Praying that I don't forget where I belong
Am I turning into someone else?
I'm praying that I don't forget just who I am
I really wanna understand (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I just wanna understand (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I'm callin' all my friends after midnight, yeah
To remind 'em that I'll always be there for them
It gets lonely when there's no one to talk to
But it's good to know that somebody cares
'Cause I've been on this train too long
People gettin' off and on
I'm prayin' that I don't forget where I belong
And every time I ask myself
Am I turnin' into someone else?
I'm prayin' that I don't forget just who I am
I really wanna understand (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I just wanna understand, yeah (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Oh yeah
'Cause we all get lost sometimes (yeah, yeah, no)
We all get lost sometimes
We don't leave your heart behind (no, yeah)
'Cause we all get lost sometimes
I really wanna understand (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I just gotta understand, yeah (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Now I just need to, I need to understand (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I really wanna understand, oh, who I am
When you wake up, your whole world's flipped
It's just different, and you gotta, you know, you gotta
You gotta go with it and
That's just simply growing up
And not see it in a negative way
You have to see it as it has been giving to you
I mean, as much as time it's gonna be crazy
You're gonna feel like that's where we're supposed to be
You're not gonna feel out of place anymore
You're gonna feel that's where you're meant to be
You don't have to pretend that it's easy all the time
You just let it go and
And grow with it, and you can't hold on
To the old you, or the old this or the old that
Because, you know, you change
And it's not changing in a bad way
It's just changing because that's what happens in life
You grow up, everyone moves on
You're just learning
You stay true to yourself
Changing isn't a bad thing, it never was
But at the end of the day, you know, you're the same person
And, and where your heart is, that doesn't change
And every time I ask myself
Am I turning into someone else?
And I just pray to God that I'm still who I am
I really wanna understand (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I just gotta understand, yeah (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Now I just need to, I need to understand (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I really wanna understand, oh, who I am (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
The lyrics of the song "Understand" by Shawn Mendes explore the idea of losing oneself as they navigate through life. Mendes begins by questioning whether his self-reflection and introspection are worth the effort because he's unsure if anyone out there is listening. He confesses that he's scared he'll become someone else as he rides the train of life, where people get off and on constantly. He prays that he never loses sight of who he is, where he started, and where he belongs.
The song seems to be talking about the fear of outgrowing oneself as we move through the different phases of life. Mendes admits that sometimes he calls his friends late at night to remind them that he'll always be there for them. The chorus suggests that we all get lost sometimes, and so we should not despair because someone out there cares. The outro, a recitation by a woman's voice, encourages us to accept change as a natural part of growing up and to stay true to ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I asking all these questions for nothing?
I'm wondering if my questions have any meaning or if anyone is listening to me.
I'm wondering if anyone's there, yeah
I'm questioning if there's anyone who understands me or if I am alone in this journey.
And I really need to make a confession
I need to admit the truth to myself and others about my fears and struggles.
I hate to say that I'm a little bit scared, yeah
Acknowledging my fears is difficult, but itās essential to grow and change.
But I've been on this train too long
I've been on this path for a while and enduring the challenges of life.
People getting off and on
Life consists of good-byes, new beginnings, and meeting new individuals.
Praying that I don't forget where I belong
Iām trying to hold on to my roots and values as I continue on this journey of change.
Am I turning into someone else?
I'm fearful that this journey will change me to a point where I don't recognize the person in the mirror.
I really wanna understand
I want to make sense of this journey that I'm on, and I want to understand what it means for me.
I'm calling all my friends after midnight, yeah
I need to reach out to my loved ones during my moments of vulnerability to find comfort and strength.
To remind 'em that I'll always be there for them
I want to show my friends and loved ones that I will always be there for them in times of need, just like they have been for me.
It gets lonely when there's no one to talk to
Fighting battles alone is challenging, and I recognize the significance of having someone to talk to during the trials and tribulations of life.
We all get lost sometimes (yeah, yeah, no)
It's okay to feel confused, lost, or uncertain about the future at times; we are all human and face these emotions from time to time.
We don't leave your heart behind (no, yeah)
We should never abandon our values, beliefs, or emotions during the challenges of life.
When you wake up, your whole world's flipped
Change can happen suddenly and impact our life in unpredictable ways.
That's just simply growing up
Change is a natural part of life and is necessary to progress and develop into the person we are meant to be.
You have to see it as it has been giving to you
Viewing change as a blessing instead of a curse, because it presents opportunities for growth and new experiences.
Changing isn't a bad thing, it never was
Change can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be negative or harmful to a person's life journey.
But at the end of the day, you know, you're the same person
Even though our circumstances and life situations can change, the core of our identity remains the same, and we must never forget our essence.
I just pray to God that I'm still who I am
I want to stay true to my values and who I am, despite the challenges and trials of life.
Now I just need to, I need to understand
My focus and priority are to make sense of this journey and, in turn, understand my emotions, actions, and reactions better.
I really wanna understand, oh, who I am
This journey is about discovering the true essence of myself and understanding who I am beyond the surface-level changes that occur in life.
Lyrics Ā© WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Geoffrey Warburton, Scott Harris, Teddy Geiger, Shawn Mendes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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