"Send My Love to John" is an imagined apology from a mother to her queer son. Sawayama writes of this song: "A lot of people need to hear the word 'sorry' from their parents and they're never going to get it, so I wanted to write from the perspective of a parent who regrets not supporting their child to the fullest extent." The title comes from a breakthrough moment in her friend's relationship with his mother, who acknowledged his long-term partner for the first time by ending a phone call with "send my love to John."

– J Holzen

Text:

Crossed the border, in the summer of '73

Left my mother to go after the American dream

Threw away my name

It's easier when it sounds the same

All I ever wanted was for you to have a better chance

Go to college, find a good girl that you take to a dance

Pictured you with her

But that was never who you were

And I'm sorry for the things I've done

A misguided love to my only son

Trying to protect you, but I guess I was wrong

So send my love, send my love to John

Saw the way the kids treated you every day at school

I should've blamed them, but instead I hid behind the Bible's rules

Pray to God above

But all you needed was my love

And I'm sorry for the things I've done

A misguided love to my only son

We both had to leave our mothers to get the things we want

So send my love, send my love to John

And I see that he takes care of you

From the food he makes, he's there for you

In all the ways I never was

And I'm sorry for the things I've done

A misguided love to my only son

But I love to see you happy, and right where you belong

So send my love

Send my love, send my love to John

J Holzen, Roman Wood, Asher Sizemore, Evé Sanchez, Cameron Slaugh, Mere Harrach, Olivia Moyer, and Ari H. Scott, cello

Audio and video by Nick Reeves • Thumbnail photo by Dylan Masariego