Is Shawn Mendes’ Surprise New Song About Reconciling With Ex Camila Cabello? Lyric Breakdown

Finding inspiration in real life? Shawn Mendes dropped surprise single “What the Hell Are We Dying For?”

on Friday, June 9, and fans quickly started dissecting the lyrics — and its potential connection to his ex Camila Cabello.

“‘WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DYING FOR ?’ OUT NOW. Started writing this song yesterday morning with my friends in upstate New York & finished it only a few hours ago,” 

the “Stitches” crooner, 24, wrote via Instagram early on Friday. “Felt important to me to share with you guys in real time 

Mendes teased the release of the track several hours earlier on Thursday, June 8, uploading an Instagram photo of the Manhattan skyline cloaked in smoke amid the Canadian wildfires. 

(New York City and many East Coast cities have been under an air quality warning since Tuesday, June 6, as a result of the forest fires blowing smoke in its direction.

 The air, which has made it difficult for residents to breathe, has smelled like a burning campfire and makes the sky look orange.)