Lyrically, the song is about the pitfalls and pressure of stardom. Mendes stated: "It's about how society can put celebrities up on a pedestal and watch them fall and it seems to be this entertainment thing. And it's hard."
Monster
Shawn Mendes & Justin Bieber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Raise me up into the sky until I'm short of breath, yeah
Fill me up with confidence, I say what's in my chest
Spill my words and tear me down until there's nothin' left
Rearrange the pieces just to fit me with the rest, yeah
But what if I, what if I trip?
What if I, what if I fall?
Just let me know
And what if I, what if I sin?
And what if I, what if I break? Yeah
Then am I the monster? Yeah
Just let me know, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I was fifteen when the world put me on a pedestal
I had big dreams of doin' shows and makin' memories
Made some bad moves tryna act cool, upset by they jealousy
Liftin' me up (liftin' me up), liftin' me up (yeah)
And tearin' me down (down), tearin' me down, yeah (down, down)
I'll take responsibility for everything I've done (yeah)
Holdin' it against me like you're the holy one (yeah)
I had a chip on my shoulder, had to let it go
'Cause unforgiveness keeps them in control
I came in with good intentions then I let it go
And now I really wanna know
What if I, what if I trip? (Oh)
What if I, what if I fall? (I fall)
Then am I the monster? (Am I the monster?)
Just let me know (let me know)
And what if I, what if I sin? (Oh)
And what if I, what if I break? Yeah
Then am I the monster? (Am I the monster?)
Just let me know (oh, please just let me know, yeah)
La-da-da, da-da (baby, what if I fall down?)
La-da-da, da-da-da, da
La-da-da-da, da-da
La-da-da, da-da-da, da
La-da-da-da, da-da (please don't let me fall)
La-da-da-da, da-da-da, da
La-da-da-da, da-da (oh, please don't let me fall)
La-da-da-da, da-da-da, da
In the song "Monster," Shawn Mendes expresses his vulnerability about being put on a pedestal and praised for his successes but ultimately fear of falling and becoming a monster. The opening lines suggest that someone has put him on a pedestal and given him confidence, but in doing so, they have made him feel like a monster if he fails. He questions himself, wondering if he falls or makes mistakes, does that make him a monster? The second verse of the song suggests that the pressures began at a young age when he began to pursue his dreams. He admits to making bad decisions in order to fit in and not be seen as an outcast, driving him to question if he was getting carried away or not. He refers to the feeling of being torn down by the people who raised him up, and he takes responsibility for his mistakes but pleads for the understanding of those who criticize him.
Furthermore, the song is an emotional collaboration with Justin Bieber about the difficult journey of growing up in the public eye. Mendes's been very honest about his own anxiety and mental health battles, making "Monster" an intensely close look at how growing up in the spotlight can take its toll on young people. Despite the criticism they face, the lyrics of the song show that the singer is responsible and willing to seek ways to grow and move on from the past. Overall, the song is about the struggle of balancing fame, public perception and personal authenticity, which many can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
You put me on a pedestal and tell me I'm the best
You have created an image of me that is flawless and always being the winner in every situation.
Raise me up into the sky until I'm short of breath, yeah
You escalate my status so much that it always makes me feel like there's so much pressure to maintain that status.
Fill me up with confidence, I say what's in my chest
You instill a great amount of self-assuredness in me, making me vocalize whatever it is that I'm feeling or thinking.
Spill my words and tear me down until there's nothin' left
However, in the process of raising me up, you also destroy me by tearing me down when I voice out my thoughts or feelings that don't align with the image you've created.
Rearrange the pieces just to fit me with the rest, yeah
You manipulate, edit and regulate who I am to ensure that I fit in flawlessly with your ideals of perfection.
But what if I, what if I trip?
What if I make a mistake?
What if I, what if I fall?
What if I fail?
Then am I the monster?
Does that make me a terrible person, unworthy of love or respect?
Just let me know
Tell me honestly, don't hide the truth from me.
And what if I, what if I sin?
And what if I do something wrong, something that is perceived as immoral or sinful?
And what if I, what if I break? Yeah
And what if I crumble under the pressure, my flaws are exposed, and I'm not able to maintain my image of perfection?
Then am I the monster? Yeah
Does that make me a monstrous creature?
I was fifteen when the world put me on a pedestal
At a young age, society idolized me, creating impossible expectations that would be difficult for anyone to achieve.
I had big dreams of doin' shows and makin' memories
I had my own dreams of success and happiness, but society's expectations overshadowed them.
Made some bad moves tryna act cool, upset by they jealousy
I made some poor decisions while attempting to fit in and look deserving of the pedestal society had placed me on.
Liftin' me up (liftin' me up), liftin' me up (yeah)
Society continued to raise my status and feed into the image of perfection.
And tearin' me down (down), tearin' me down, yeah (down, down)
However, any missteps or flaws were quickly torn apart by the same society that put me on a pedestal.
I'll take responsibility for everything I've done (yeah)
I am willing to take accountability for my actions and their consequences.
Holdin' it against me like you're the holy one (yeah)
Despite my attempts to own up to my mistakes, society continues to hold them against me and elevate themselves as superior beings.
I had a chip on my shoulder, had to let it go
I harbored feelings of resentment toward society and its unfair expectations but realized I had to let them go for my own well-being.
'Cause unforgiveness keeps them in control
Holding onto grudges only gave society more power over me and my emotions.
I came in with good intentions then I let it go
I started out with pure intentions of pursuing my dreams and living my life, but somewhere along the way, my priorities became misplaced.
And now I really wanna know
I am now curious about the true nature of my relationship with society, and whether or not I can continue to live up to their expectations.
La-da-da, da-da (baby, what if I fall down?)
A repetition of the chorus, where I question my fears and express vulnerability.
La-da-da, da-da-da, da
A continuation of the above line.
La-da-da-da, da-da
A continuation of the above line.
La-da-da, da-da-da, da
A continuation of the above line.
La-da-da-da, da-da (please don't let me fall)
A continuation of the chorus, where I plead with those around me to not let me falter.
La-da-da-da, da-da-da, da
A continuation of the above line.
La-da-da-da, da-da (oh, please don't let me fall)
A repetition of the above line, and a plea for help.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Adam King Feeney, Ashton Simmonds, Justin Bieber, Mustafa Ahmed, Shawn Mendes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LeendaDProductions
JUST TWO CANADIAN BOYS <3
@marwanazeem1483
CANADA IS AMAZINGGGGG
@abdellatifessaddiqiy2869
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnPaDBbDQf8
@aarambhaadhikari5178
@XO XO XO XO why you here then lol?
@k4134_nh
You mean the BEST 2 Canadian boys 😂
@bantillomarkaceb.2818
Eat by hailey
@daemonikkateylarii9731
Their voices blend so beautifully and harmoniously. Wish I would've found this song sooner.
@stotserk
It's true
@kj4856
Same
@mvelo6331
It is exactly 3 years since this music video has been released. Still an awesome song. Hope to see more of this collab.