During a recent conversation, John Mayer and Shawn Mendes discussed an experience not many others can relate to: having a high-profile ex write a hit song about you.

In the “Daughters” singer’s latest episode What’s life like with John Mayer? On the SiriusXM show, the two men — who are believed to have inspired bangers from artists like Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Camila Cabello and Sabrina Carpenter — acknowledged the “psychological toll,” as Mayer called it, of these songs , who open their private lives to public scrutiny.

“No one will understand,” Mayer began, acknowledging that he and his friend “will be generously rewarded for the things we have to deal with.” “You and I are both talking as people who have heard songs that – at least other people say – are allusions to us.”

Mendes agreed, saying, “It sucks to feel like that… It’s a weird feeling when you’re being written about and maybe the whole picture isn’t being expressed.”

As Mayer pointed out, it’s not exactly like the two musicians can talk about these topics with a professional who understands the pressures of celebrity life. “You’re talking to a therapist and you’re like, ‘Have you ever seen your ex-girlfriend on a billboard?'” the “Your Body Is a Wonderland” artist said with a laugh. “‘Let me tell you, it’s been a strange two weeks.'”

Nevertheless, it is Lyle, Lyle, crocodile Star said he wouldn’t let that stop him from falling in love with another songwriter. “The suffering that comes with hearing a song that talks about you in a way you don’t want to talk about isn’t nearly as nice when you’re falling in love with someone for the first time,” he agreed Mayer.

Neither artist named names, but both were in public relationships with very famous women in the music industry. Between 2012 and 2015, Mayer dated the “Teenage Dream” singer, whom he recently met at a Carpenter concert, and before that he was in a relationship with a certain Eras tour headliner, whose snappy ballad “Dear John” is from the Year 2010 is widely believed to be about the guitarist.

Speaking of the “Espresso” singer, Mendes has long been at the center of a love triangle with his “Señorita” duet partner and Carpenter. Cabello’s “June Gloom” and the Girl meets world The alum’s “Sharpest Tool” and “Taste” are about a pair of lovers who are still not over their exes, seemingly mirroring how Mendes was spotted with Carpenter several times in 2023, shortly before he broke things off with Cabello revived.

Without going into details, Mendes appeared to address the situation with Mayer. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that no one gets out of this life without getting hurt, and no one gets out of this life without hurting someone,” the “Mercy” singer said.

Watch Mayer and Mendes talk about how they are the inspiration for the songs below.