If I Can't Have You

"If I Can't Have You" is a song about a girl that Shawn Mendes is obsessed with: I can't write one song that's not about you Can't drink without thinking about you Unfortunately the girl doesn't seem to feel the same way. I'm trying to move on, forget you, but I hold on Everything means nothing, everything means nothing, babe The infatuated singer just can't get her out of his mind.

Shawn Mendes penned the song with his regular writing partners Scott Harris and Teddy Geiger. Their previous collaborations include his hit singles "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back," "Treat You Better" and "In My Blood." The fourth credited songwriter is soul and R&B singer Nathaniel Mercereau, who has worked a lot with Leon Bridges. He previously contributed to the writing of Mendes' "Lost In Japan."

Mendes and company originally wrote the song for Dua Lipa. But as he played it in the studio, he realized it tied in with the mood he wanted for his new music, so the Canadian decided to keep it for himself.