Shawn Mendes fans are convinced his 'If I Can't Have You' lyrics are about Camila Cabello

3 May 2019, 12:48 | Updated: 3 May 2019, 12:51

By Sam Prance

There is a big clue in Shawn's 'If I Can't Have You' video that suggests it's about Camila...

Shawn Mendes fans think that he just confirmed his 'If I Can't Have You' lyrics and video are about Camila Cabello.

Shawn Mendes is back. Less than a year after he released his self-titled album Shawn Mendes, he is already ready to launch a brand new era. After opening up about his experiences with anxiety on his last lead single 'In My Blood', Shawn is keeping his honesty front and centre and putting his heart on his sleeve in 'If I Can't Have You'. The song sees Shawn confess that he is madly in love with someone. Who is it about though? Is it Camila Cabello or Hailey Baldwin?

Who are Shawn Mendes' 'If I Can't Have You' lyrics about?

Shawn Mendes 'If I Can't Have You' lyrics - Are they about Camila Cabello or Hailey Baldwin?
Shawn Mendes 'If I Can't Have You' lyrics - Are they about Camila Cabello or Hailey Baldwin? Picture: Island Records // John Shearer/Getty Images

Shawn Mendes is pretty private when it comes to his dating life but there have been rumours that he's had relationships with Camila Cabello and Hailey Baldwin. Fans believe that his music is littered with lyrical references to both of them. A couple of people think that 'If I Can't Have You' is about Hailey; Shawn released it one year after they attended the Met Gala together. However, most of the theories point to Camila.

In the lyrics, Shawn sings: "I can't write one song that's not about you". Many members of the Mendes army, are sure the he is alluding to past songs he's written about Camila on Shawn Mendes. If that weren't enough, Shawn directly references his Camila duet 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' video in the 'If I Can't Have You' video. At the end of the new video, he uses a running machine just like in IKWYDLS.

Perhaps the biggest clue of all though, is a comment which Shawn left, in a Q&A about the 'If I Can't Have You' video. A fan asked him: "Do you think we (mendes army) can guess who the song is about?" and Shawn replied: "I don't think you guys have to guess anything about me at this point. You know EVERYTHING!" Considering that the army are certain it's about Camila, this sounds like confirmation.

Watch the 'If I Can't Have You' video and check out the theories below.

Shawn Mendes - If I Can't Have You

Obviously, Shawn hasn't said anything official so all of these are just theories. One thing which we can agree on though, is that the song is a certified banger and we are living for it. Read the lyrics below to see who you think the song is about.

Shawn Mendes - 'If I Can't Have You' lyrics

CHORUS
I can't write one song that's not about you
Can't drink without thinking about you
Is it too late to tell you that
Everything means nothing if I can't have you?

VERSE 1
I'm in Toronto and I got this view
But I might as well be in a hotel room, yeah
It doesn't matter 'cause I'm so consumed
Spending all my nights reading texts from you

PRE-CHORUS
Oh, I'm good at keeping my distance
I know that you're the feeling I'm missing
You know that I hate to admit it
But everything means nothing if I can't have you

CHORUS
I can't write one song that's not about you
Can't drink without thinking about you
Is it too late to tell you that
Everything means nothing if I can't have you?
I can't write one song that's not about you
Can't drink without thinking about you
Is it too late to tell you that
Everything means nothing if I can't have you?

VERSE 2
I'm so sorry that my timing's off
But I can't move on if we're still gonna talk
Is it wrong for me to not want half?
I want all of you, all the strings attached

PRE-CHORUS
Oh, I'm good at keeping my distance
I know that you're the feeling I'm missing
You know that I hate to admit it
But everything means nothing if I can't have you

CHORUS
I can't write one song that's not about you
Can't drink without thinking about you
Is it too late to tell you that
Everything means nothing if I can't have you?
I can't write one song that's not about you
Can't drink without thinking about you
Is it too late to tell you that
Everything means nothing if I can't have you?

BRIDGE
I'm trying to move on, forget you, but I hold on
Everything means nothing, everything means nothing, babe
I'm trying to move on, forget you, but I hold on
Everything means nothing if I can't have you, no

CHORUS
I can't write one song that's not about you
Can't drink without thinking about you
Is it too late to tell you that
Everything means nothing if I can't have you? (Yeah)
I can't write one song that's not about you
Can't drink without thinking about you
Is it too late to tell you that
Everything means nothing if I can't have you?