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.
Use Somebody
Shawn Mendes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Painted faces fill the places I can't reach
You know that I could use somebody
Yeah, you know that I could use somebody
Someone like you and all you know and how you speak
Countless lovers undercover on the street
You know that I could use somebody
Yeah, you know that I could use somebody
Someone like you (oh, oh)
Someone like you (oh, oh)
Someone like you (use somebody)
Oh, oh
Off in the night, while you live it up, I'm off to sleep, no
Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat
I hope it's gonna make you notice, yeah
I hope it's gonna make you notice
Someone like me, oh (oh, oh)
Someone like me, oh (oh, oh)
Someone like me, yeah (use somebody) (oh, oh)
You know that I could use somebody (oh, oh)
I've been roaming around, always looking down at all I see
The lyrics to Shawn Mendes's Use Somebody suggest a feeling of loneliness and isolation felt by the singer. He paints a picture of himself roaming around and always looking down, implying that he is lost and searching for something to fill the emptiness inside him. The painted faces that fill the places he can't reach suggest that these people are artificial and can't provide the connection he needs. Therefore, he longs for someone like the person he's addressing, someone who knows him and can speak to him on a deeper level.
The second verse continues with the idea that while the person he's addressing is out enjoying life, he's waging wars to find his place in the world of art and music. He wants this person to notice him and see that he's worth their attention, someone like him who also feels lost and searching for a connection. The chorus repeats the sentiment that both of them could use somebody and that they're looking for someone like each other.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been roaming around, always looking down at all I see
The singer has been wandering aimlessly, always looking at the ground below and feeling disconnected from the world around him.
Painted faces fill the places I can't reach
The singer sees people with fake personas in places he feels excluded from.
You know that I could use somebody
The singer is admitting that he needs someone in his life.
Yeah, you know that I could use somebody
The singer repeats his need for someone in a heartfelt manner.
Someone like you and all you know and how you speak
The singer wants someone who inspires him and shares his interests and values.
Countless lovers undercover on the street
The singer sees many people in secret relationships while he struggles to find someone.
Off in the night, while you live it up, I'm off to sleep, no
The singer feels left out when he sees other people having fun and being social while he stays home alone.
Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat
The singer is working hard to create music that is true to himself and his experiences.
I hope it's gonna make you notice, yeah
The singer hopes that his music will gain attention and recognition from others.
Someone like me, oh (oh, oh)
The singer feels like he is unique and hopes to find someone who appreciates him for who he is.
Someone like me, yeah (use somebody) (oh, oh)
The singer repeats his desire to find someone who values him.
You know that I could use somebody (oh, oh)
The singer repeats his need for companionship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Anthony Caleb Followill, Ivan Nathan Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@slipy03
I've been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see
Painted faces, fill the places I can't reach
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you, and all you know, and how you speak
Countless lovers under cover of the street
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you
Off in the night, while you live it up, I'm off to sleep
Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat
I hope it's gonna make you notice
I hope it's gonna make you notice
Someone like me
Someone like me
Someone like me, somebody
Someone like you, somebody
Someone like you, somebody
Someone like you, somebody
I've been roaming around,
Always looking down at all I see
@gabeduncanrules
I started crying on the first note
why didn't I expect this like how do you expect less than greatness from Shawn Mendes
IT'S SHAWN F*CKING MENDES
This made me so happy
@laurenbanuelos6324
the love of his life is somewhere out there and they don’t even know but they win at life. 😭😭
@echiebanget
Love this song + love Shawn = Happiness
@benitoarmy8591
His voice is so good I almost cried listening to this
@jessicas5040
Omg in literally crying he is so amazing
@slipy03
I've been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see
Painted faces, fill the places I can't reach
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you, and all you know, and how you speak
Countless lovers under cover of the street
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you
Off in the night, while you live it up, I'm off to sleep
Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat
I hope it's gonna make you notice
I hope it's gonna make you notice
Someone like me
Someone like me
Someone like me, somebody
Someone like you, somebody
Someone like you, somebody
Someone like you, somebody
I've been roaming around,
Always looking down at all I see
@sylvia8562
Can't u feel the pain in his voice?Cuz i can.
@dudaskrisztina2067
I can't bc it's perfect
@scarlett0340
yes :(
@kayleereeder4182
This is SO BEAUTIFUL and so full of emotion and passion. I love Shawn so much. 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖