It'll Be Okay

"It'll Be Okay" is a poignant ballad that delves into the complex emotions surrounding a breakup. The song is widely interpreted as a reflection on Shawn Mendes' real-life split from singer Camila Cabello. The lyrics articulate the painful process of accepting the end of a relationship while still holding onto a deep and abiding love for the other person. It explores the theme of a mature and amicable separation, where the focus is on minimizing the other person's pain and preserving a sense of mutual respect and care. The overarching message is one of hope and resilience in the face of heartbreak, suggesting that while the pain is immense, healing is possible and that the end of a romantic partnership does not have to signify the end of love itself. The song's title serves as a mantra, a form of self-assurance for both the singer and the listener that they will eventually be alright.

The song begins with a sense of uncertainty and impending pain, questioning the viability of a relationship and acknowledging the hurt that is to come. The narrator contemplates the difficult conversation about the future, recognizing that trying to numb the pain or ignore the problems is a futile effort. There's a palpable sense of resignation as the lyrics delve into the emotional turmoil of imagining a life where the two lovers no longer 'collide'. This thought is sickening, yet it is immediately followed by a glimmer of hope, an assurance that healing is possible and that 'the sun will rise' again. This juxtaposition of pain and hope is a central theme throughout the song.

The chorus offers a poignant and selfless expression of love amidst the sorrow of parting. The narrator promises to make the separation as easy as possible if their partner decides to leave. There is an acceptance that some wounds cannot be healed ('if we can't stop the bleeding'), and that it is better to let go than to force a relationship that is no longer working. The recurring line, 'I will love you either way,' underscores a mature and unconditional love that transcends the romantic relationship, promising a continued affection even after the breakup. This sentiment is a powerful testament to the depth of the connection that was shared.

The second verse paints a bleak picture of a shared future that is now lost, describing it as 'fading to black.' This imagery powerfully conveys the death of dreams and plans that were once cherished by the couple. The narrator emphasizes the immense pain of this loss, calling it the most painful experience. Despite this profound sadness, the pre-chorus is repeated, reinforcing the internal struggle between the agony of separation and the belief in eventual healing. The repetition of the chorus further solidifies the song's central message of acceptance and enduring love.

The bridge of the song explores the duality of love and loss, acknowledging that the experience may be 'so sweet' and 'so bitter' simultaneously. This reflects the complex emotions that accompany a breakup, where fond memories coexist with the pain of letting go. The song concludes with a final, heartfelt repetition of the promise, 'I will love you either way,' even if the future they envisioned together has disappeared. This ending leaves the listener with a feeling of bittersweet closure, a sense of peace found in the midst of heartbreak, and the quiet strength it takes to wish someone well even as you part ways.

"It'll Be Okay" was released on December 1, 2021, just two weeks after Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello publicly announced their breakup. This timing led many to believe that the song was written in response to their separation. The song was written by Shawn Mendes, Scott Harris, Mike Sabath, and Eddie Benjamin. It was produced by Mendes and Sabath, with additional production from Benjamin and Johan Lenox. Mendes announced the song's release on social media the day before it came out, sharing a short snippet of the track. In a later social media post, Mendes explained that he uses music as a way to access and understand his own truths, and he thanked his fans for their positive response to the song's vulnerability. The music video, directed by Jay Martin, was filmed in Mendes' hometown of Toronto and features him walking through the snowy streets at night, visually reflecting the song's melancholic and introspective mood.

"It'll Be Okay" has a relatively slow tempo of 76-80 beats per minute, which is characteristic of a ballad and contributes to its somber and reflective mood. The song's rhythmic structure is straightforward, with the piano providing the primary rhythmic foundation. The lyrical phrasing often follows the rhythm of the piano, creating a sense of unity between the music and the lyrics. The rhyme scheme in the verses is not strictly defined, leaning more towards a free verse style that allows for a more conversational and naturalistic lyrical flow. However, there are instances of end rhymes, such as in the opening lines, "Are we gonna make it? / Is this gonna hurt? / Oh, we can try to sedate it / But that never works, yeah." The chorus features a more structured rhyme scheme, which helps to make it more memorable and anthemic. The interplay between the free-form verses and the more structured chorus reflects the song's emotional journey from introspective questioning to a more resolute statement of acceptance.

"It'll Be Okay" is a piano-driven ballad that utilizes a combination of musical and literary techniques to create its emotional impact.

• Musical Arrangement: The song begins with a simple and atmospheric piano accompaniment and swelling, organ-like synthesizers, which creates an intimate and somber mood. As the song progresses, it builds with the addition of guitars, drums, strings, and layered vocals, leading to a more powerful and cathartic release of emotion, reminiscent of a Coldplay arena ballad.
• Vocal Delivery: Shawn Mendes' vocal performance is raw and emotional, conveying a sense of vulnerability and sincerity. His voice shifts from a gentle, almost hesitant tone in the verses to a more powerful and soaring delivery in the chorus, mirroring the song's emotional arc from quiet introspection to a more declarative statement of acceptance.
• Rhetorical Questions: The song opens with the rhetorical questions, "Are we gonna make it? / Is this gonna hurt?" These questions immediately establish a tone of uncertainty and vulnerability, drawing the listener into the narrator's emotional turmoil.
• Repetition: The recurring phrases "It'll be okay" and "I will love you either way" serve as lyrical anchors, reinforcing the song's central themes of reassurance and unconditional love. The repetition of these lines acts as a form of self-soothing and a promise to his former partner.

Released shortly after his highly publicized breakup with Camila Cabello, "It'll Be Okay" garnered significant media attention and resonated with fans who were following their relationship. The song was seen as a vulnerable and honest reflection on the end of their romance, and it provided a sense of closure for many of their followers. While not one of his biggest chart successes, the song did enter the charts in several countries, including peaking at number 57 in the UK. The music video, filmed in Toronto, also received a lot of attention for its simple yet powerful visuals. The song's emotional honesty and mature perspective on a breakup were praised by critics and fans alike. In his discography, "It'll Be Okay" stands out as one of Mendes' more personal and introspective tracks, showcasing his growth as a songwriter and his ability to convey complex emotions through his music. The song has been covered by several other artists and remains a poignant example of how musicians can process and share their personal experiences through their art.

The lyrics of "It'll Be Okay" employ several powerful metaphors and symbolic images to convey the song's emotional weight.

• "If we can't stop the bleeding": This is a poignant metaphor for a relationship that is irreparably damaged. The imagery of bleeding suggests a wound that is deep and ongoing, implying that the couple's problems are beyond fixing and that staying together would only prolong the pain.
• "The future we dreamed of is fading to black": This metaphor vividly illustrates the loss of shared hopes and aspirations. The 'fading to black' suggests a slow and painful death of the future they had envisioned together, much like the end of a film.
• "The sun will rise": This classic symbol of hope is used to contrast the darkness of the breakup. It represents the promise of a new day and the belief that healing and happiness are possible, even after a devastating loss.
• "A world where we don't collide": This phrase, which Mendes has identified as his favorite, uses the metaphor of a collision to describe their meeting and relationship. Imagining a world without this 'collision' is painful, but it's also a way of processing the separation and contemplating a new reality.

The most prominent recurring phrase in the song is the title itself, "It'll be okay". This phrase acts as a mantra of reassurance, repeated in the chorus to comfort both the person being left and the singer himself. It encapsulates the song's core message of hope amidst the pain of a breakup.

Another significant recurring phrase is "I will love you either way". This line is a powerful declaration of unconditional love that transcends the romantic relationship. Its repetition emphasizes the maturity and selflessness of the narrator's feelings, suggesting a bond that will endure even after the separation. This sentiment is echoed in the joint breakup statement released by Mendes and Cabello, where they stated they "will continue to be best friends."

The image of "the sun will rise" also serves as a recurring motif of hope. It appears in the pre-chorus as a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is the promise of a new day and the possibility of healing.