In "Favourite T-Shirt," Ella Mai sorts through a breakup the way she sorts through a closet, finding that the past clings to everything she touches. She tries to cut him off, even cutting her hair and acting out, but keeps circling back because the attachment feels permanent. The stained T-shirt becomes the song's central image: something worn, faded, and marked by his mistakes, yet still the one she reaches for. Love is complicated, but she keeps choosing him anyway, wearing the damage like it is brand new.
Favourite T-Shirt Lyrics by Ella Mai
(Mustard on the beat, ho)
I’m clearing out my closet, I’m still smelling your scent
I never knew that I could be so attached to a man
Unopened boxes full of pain inside
Ain’t tryna run back all them tears I cried
But I’m clearing out my closet
Time I deal with the fact, fact
That you’re here with me
Even though I made you leave
Hard for me to replace what we had
No, I couldn’t erase you like that
Just like a stain on my T-shirt
I tried to wash it out, but it won’t work
Always reminded of your dirt
I tried to scrub it off, but it get worse
It’s still my favourite T-shirt
Love is complicated, but I’m still choosing you
Who cares if it’s faded? I’ma wear it like new (Favourite T-shirt)
Love is complicated ’cause I’m still stuck on you (Favourite T-shirt)
Who cares if it’s faded?
I cut you off and then I cut all my hair
Don’t even smoke, but now there’s smoke in the air
I’m breaking mirrors, damn, that’s seven long years
Don’t wanna see myself without you, I fear
I pull up on you and you know how I do
I forget you love my crazy, now I’m fucking on you (Yeah)
I’m in a circle, running laps back to you
‘Round and ’round I go again ’cause I’m still loving you
Just like a stain on my T-shirt
I tried to wash it out, but it won’t work
Always reminded of your dirt (Your dirt)
I tried to scrub it off, but it get worse (Worse and worse)
It’s still my favourite T-shirt
Love is complicated, but I’m still choosing you
Who cares if it’s faded? I’ma wear it like new (Favourite T-shirt)
Love is complicated ’cause I’m still stuck on you (Favourite T-shirt)
Who cares if it’s faded?
It’s like they know we need a real love
And then they go do something real dumb (Dumb)
It’s wearing on you and you can’t remove
The dirt and the truth
Then we get stupid for ’em, damn, why?
Make you believe that they the good guy (Guy)
It’s wearing on you and you can’t remove
The dirt and the truth, the truth, the truth
Just like a stain on my T-shirt
I tried to wash it out, but it won’t work (I tried, I tried, I tried)
Always reminded of your dirt (Your dirt)
I tried to scrub it off, but it get worse (Oh)
It’s still my favourite T-shirt
Love is complicated, but I’m still choosing you
Who cares if it’s faded? I’ma wear it like new (Favourite T-shirt)
Love is complicated ’cause I’m still stuck on you (Favourite T-shirt)
Who cares if it’s faded? (Favourite T-shirt)
