Nathan Ilc

Mrs. Bulava

Senior composition

28 November 2022

Shawn Mendes “Stitches”

Shawn Mendes is a very popular singer in this day and age. His music has touched

millions of people around the U.S and across the world. His popularity isn't an accident, millions

of people agree that his music is real, relatable and truly touches their heart. His song “Stitches”

is a perfect example of how a song's lyrics can help a listener connect to an artist's message. This

song is about a boy who had his heart broken by a girl, and when she leaves he physically feels

the pain. Within the long we hear examples of this when Mendes sings, “your words cut deeper

than a knife” and “now that I'm without your kisses I'll be needing stitches”. In this song Shawn

Mendes has gone through a break up and is singing about how much he misses her, but now he

realizes that he's going under. However he knows he’ll be okay at the end of it all, there is an

example of this in the song when Mendes sings “I got a feeling that I'm going under but I know

that I'll make it out alive.” The song was written for everyone who has experienced a heartbreak

that's been full of emotion and would do anything to get that person back. His lyrics depict this

perfectly, “You watch me bleed until I can't breathe” he then sings about begging his ex to come

help “begging you to come help.” Shawn wants to let people know that even though the

heartbreak hurts right now this doesn't mean you can stop now because you're going under so

keep going because you'll make it out alive. An example would be “Got this feeling that I'm
going under, but I know that I'll make it out alive.” and then “If I quit calling you my lover, move

on.” The speaker is Shawn Mendes, a young boy who had his heart broken and just wants to

forget about her and all the pain she caused him “ needle and the thread gotta get you outta my

head. Needle and the thread, gonna wind up dead.” The tone of this song starts off as a sad,

depressing and bitter song but as the song comes to an end it becomes more powerful. Instead of

the song being sad and depressing as it is in the start it becomes empowering and uplifting. He

makes it seem sad and bitter when he sings “Your bitter heart cold to the touch” then near the end

of the song it became more empowering because he understood he had to move on “Now I'm

gonna reap what I sow. I'm left seeing red on my own.”

Shawn Mendes continues to write music that's relatable to the masses and touches

everyone of their hearts. He uses his music to send real heart felt emotions to others to feel as

well. His music will continue to impact the youth of today.