Shawn Mendes pays tribute to Liam Payne on stage with heartbreaking 'Heart of Gold' speech

21 October 2024, 15:27

By Sam Prance

Shawn Mendes's 'Heart of Gold' lyrics are about the experience of losing a close friend.

Shawn Mendes has paid tribute to Liam Payne with an emotional speech and song at his recent concert in New York.

Since it was confirmed that Liam Payne had passed away last week (Oct 16), many of Liam's family, close friends and celebrity peers have paid tribute to him in person and on social media. All of Liam's One Direction bandmates shared moving messages on Instagram and stars including Halsey, Jade and Rita Ora have all spoken out about Liam.

Now, Shawn Mendes has joined them by stopping a show and dedicating a new song called 'Heart of Gold' to Liam.

• Read more: Louis Tomlinson vows to be there for Liam Payne's son Bear in emotional tribute
• Read more: Zayn says he's "lost a brother" in emotional tribute to Liam Payne following his death

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Performing at the Brooklyn Paramount on his intimate For Friends and Family tour on 18th October, Shawn paused the concert to deliver a speech about Liam. Videos of Shawn's emotional speech have since gone viral on social media.

Shawn began by saying: "When we heard the news about Liam, it felt completely devastating. I got to meet Liam a couple of times and he was a beautiful soul and his eyes gleamed. There was beauty shining through his eyes."

Shawn then started describing his new song 'Heart of Gold', explaining: "It's about grieving those we miss with tears and it's also about celebrating them and who they were and what they've left in this world."

Tearing up, Shawn said: "I just want to take a second to send so much love to him wherever he is up there. Liam, we love you! And the world is crying for you brother and we're all praying for your son and family and I miss you, man."

He then dedicated his performance of 'Heart of Gold' to Liam by saying: "This one's for you tonight Liam from all of us."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shawn wrote 'Heart of Gold' about "a childhood friend who passed away from a drug overdose".

In the song, Shawn sings: Honestly, it's been a while since I thought of you / In the end we didn't talk much / I didn't know what you were going through / I'm sorry that I wasn't there.

In the chorus, Shawn sings: You had a heart of gold, yeah / You had a heart of gold / You left too soon, it was out of your control / Underneath your skin and bone / You had a heart of gold.

Shawn Mendes - Heart of Gold (Live at Friends & Family Only - London)

As two young stars in the music industry, Shawn and Liam used to cross paths regularly and they often spoke kindly of each other in interviews.

Read Shawn's full 'Heart of Gold' lyrics below.

Shawn Mendes - 'Heart of Gold' lyrics

VERSE 1
Honestly, it's been a while since I thought of you
In the end we didn't talk much
I didn't know what you were going through
I'm sorry that I wasn't there
To hug your mama at the funeral
Brian said he broke down
But he promised it was beautiful

PRE-CHORUS
And when we were young, we didn't care
We shot for the stars, I'll see you up there

CHORUS
You had a heart of gold, yeah
You had a heart of gold
You left too soon, it was out of your control
Underneath your skin and bone
You had a heart of gold

VERSE 2
I didn't cry
I didn't even feel the pain
But then it hit me all at once
When we talked about you yesterday

PRE-CHORUS
When we were young (When we were young)
We didn't care (We didn't care)
We shot for the stars (We shot for the stars)
I see you up there

CHORUS
You had a heart of gold, yeah
You had a heart of gold
You left too soon, it was out of your control
Underneath your skin and bone
You had a heart of gold

OUTRO
When we were young, we didn't care
Oh, we shot for the stars, I see you up there
You had a heart of gold, yeah, we didn't care
Oh, we shot for the stars, you know I’ll see you up there
You had a heart of gold

Read more from Capital Buzz here:

• Shawn Mendes reveals he was almost a father in emotional 'Why Why Why' lyrics
• One Direction fans share Liam Payne memories and tributes following his death
• Harry Styles' mum Anne remembers Liam Payne in moving three word tribute
• Are Sabrina Carpenter's 'Sharpest Tool' Lyrics about Shawn Mendes?
• Every song Liam Payne wrote for One Direction

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