Treat You Better

“Treat You Better” serves as the lead single for Shawn Mendes' second studio album. The single released on June 3, 2016. The song rocketed up the iTunes charts to number 3 within hours of release, in part, due to Shawn’s #BetteroniTunes drive, encouraging fans to buy it directly from the Apple service. Lyrically, Mendes sings to his romantic interest, promising to be a better boyfriend than the one she currently has. There was some speculation that this song was about Camila Cabello, the Fifth Harmony member who was rumored to have been dating Mendes in 2016. Both of them, however, insist that they’re just friends. In Seventeen, Mendes did talk about how he’s matured since his last album, referencing a past relationship: I have songs about growing up, about ex-relationships—ex-relationship, I should say. I haven’t had relationships. A couple of songs about relationships with girls since fame. This song’s instrumentation is heavy on guitar. Teddy Geiger and Scott Harris helped pen the lyrics (they were behind two of the major hits on Mendes' previous album Handwritten). Gieger contributed to production alongside Dan Romer, a veteran in the music industry who’s also worked with film, most notably scoring 2011’s Beasts of the Southern Wild.

[Verse 1] I won't lie to you I know he's just not right for you And you can tell me if I'm off But I see it on your face When you say that he's the one that you want And you're spending all your time In this wrong situation And anytime you want it to stop [Chorus] I know I can treat you better than he can And any girl like you deserves a gentleman Tell me, why are we wasting time On all your wasted cryin' When you should be with me instead? I know I can treat you better Better than he can [Verse 2] I'll stop time for you The second you say you'd like me to I just wanna give you the loving that you're missing Baby, just to wake up with you Would be everything I need and this could be so different Tell me what you want to do [Chorus] 'Cause I know I can treat you better than he can And any girl like you deserves a gentleman Tell me, why are we wasting time On all your wasted cryin' When you should be with me instead? I know I can treat you better Better than he can Better than he can [Bridge] Give me a sign Take my hand, we'll be fine Promise I won't let you down Just know that you don't Have to do this alone Promise I'll never let you down [Chorus] 'Cause I know I can treat you better than he can And any girl like you deserves a gentleman Tell me, why are we wasting time On all your wasted cryin' When you should be with me instead? I know I can treat you better Better than he can Better than he can Better than he can