Treat You Better

Album: Illuminate (2016)
Charted: 6 6
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Shawn Mendes is trying to get the attention of his crush on this pining love song.

    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 time when you should be with me instead?


    Shawn is insistent that he can love the girl better than her current boyfriend.
  • This song was co-written by Shawn Mendes, Scott Harris, and Teddy Geiger. Harris explained to Songwriter Universe the process of writing the tune. "I remember we wrote it in LA," he said. "Teddy had worked with Shawn before and Shawn was excited to get the three of us together. I've known Teddy for a while. My band actually opened up for him for six weeks one time. The vibe was immediately right. We all get along really well and it kind of came right out. It was actually a full-on reggae song until we switched the guitar part right before we recorded the demo."
  • Other songs about a guy who has a crush on someone else's girlfriend include "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield, "My Best Friend's Girl" by The Cars and "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5.
  • Shawn gave the first TV performance of the song at the iHeartRadio MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto, Canada on June 19, 2016.
  • Shawn has known Taylor Swift since she brought him on her 1989 tour as an opener. On his 18th birthday Taylor serenaded him with this song on Snapchat.
  • Shawn Mendes threw new light on this song when he said in his 2020 Netflix documentary Wonder that his back catalogue of songs are all about Camila Cabello. The pair got to know each other in the summer of 2014, when they were opening acts on Austin Mahone's tour. They first recorded together the following year on the single "I Know What You Did Last Summer," when Cabello was dating Mahone. That romance didn't end well as shortly after Mahone hooked up with Becky G, he claimed theirs was his first real relationship. On this song, is Mendes letting Cabello know that he would treat her better than Mahone?

Comments: 2

  • Bridget from CoI realized in the end, I didn't actually want to hang out with him.
  • Bridget from CoIt sounds like Mendes means well in this song. He's trying to get his crush out of a bad relationship. I can relate to the lyrics as well, seeing as I've had friends hanging out with bad people. It's been very stressful. Luckily, that's not happening anymore with me. But I do remember one time I tried to get my crush to hang out with me, even though he was already with someone. Awkward!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.