--- description: John Mayer revealed that a new heartbreak-themed song on his upcoming album 'The Search for Everything' is about missing ex Katy Perry. title: John Mayer's Explains His Breakup Song About Katy Perry image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # John Mayer Explains Why His New Song Is About Missing Ex Katy Perry  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 23, 2017 5:39 PM CUT  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 23, 2017 5:39 PM CUT [John Mayer](http://content.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,2634565021001%5F2150666,00.html "undefined"), emotional troubadour extraordinaire, has a new album coming out next month and as expected, he has a lot of feelings about it — particularly a breakup song that alludes to his ex, [pop princess Katy Perry](http://time.com/4668387/katy-perry-grammys-2017/ "undefined"). In a sprawling interview with the [_New York Times_](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/23/arts/music/john-mayer-search-for-everything-interview.html?%5Fr=0 "undefined"), Mayer shared that the album’s first single, a wistful but catchy ballad by the name of “Still Feel Like Your Man” is about missing Perry after [their very public breakup](http://time.com/12457/celebrity-relationships-oscars-speeches-cate-blanchett/ "undefined"). “Who else would I be thinking about?” he said. “And by the way, it’s a testament to the fact that I have not dated a lot of people in the last five, six years. That was my only relationship. So it’s like, give me this, people.” In addition to apparently not dating much, Mayer also revealed in the interview that he recently quit drinking and is “very thoughtfully entering cannabis lifestyle.” He also shared with his characteristic candor that he’s ready to shed his reputation as a “bad version of a bad boy” for something a little more domestic. “I want the baby with the protective earphones,” he said. “I’m right on time for my career, and I’m running late for my life.” Perry, for her part, [recently split from actor Orlando Bloom](http://people.com/music/katy-perry-orlando-bloom-split/ "undefined") — so hold out hope, John. There might be hope for that baby bouncing by the side of the stage yet. Listen to Mayer’s new song below. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4711217/john-mayer-breakup-song-katy-perry/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4711217/john-mayer-breakup-song-katy-perry/"},"headline":"John Mayer Explains Why His New Song Is About Missing Ex Katy Perry","datePublished":"2017-03-23T17:39:06.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:42:11.151Z","description":"\"Who else would I be thinking about?\"","url":"https://time.com/4711217/john-mayer-breakup-song-katy-perry/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Entertainment","celebrities","Music","Katy Perry","Culture"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4711217/john-mayer-breakup-song-katy-perry/","name":"John Mayer Explains Why His New Song Is About Missing Ex Katy Perry"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Are Taking a ‘Respectful, Loving Space’ From Their Relationship","description":"Orlando Bloom Snuggled with Katy Perry’s Dog One Day Before They Announced Their Separation","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/0vrOCDoH/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2017-03-03T17:50:23.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/0vrOCDoH.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4711217/john-mayer-breakup-song-katy-perry/","duration":"PT47S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4711217/john-mayer-breakup-song-katy-perry/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```