katyjohngraziaImage: Getty

John Mayer misses Katy Perry. 

That’s the only logical conclusion that can be drawn after the singer’s heart-on-his-sleeve interview with the New York Times, in which he confesses his new heartbreak ballad Still Feel Like Your Man is about Perry, and simultaneously admits to wanting to settle down and have a baby.

John and Katy dated one-and-off for around 18 months until they split for good at the start of 2014, and Mayer didn’t hesitate to confirm their relationship and break-up inspired his next release – the way Taylor Swift was inspired to write Dear John about their romance.

“Who else would I be thinking about?” John replied when asked if the song was about Katy. “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.”

The lyrics to the upbeat but somehow still sad Still Feel Like Your Man include:

“I still keep your shampoo in my shower / In case you wanna wash your hair / And I know that you probably found yourself someone somewhere / But I do not really care.”

Later in the interview, the 39-year-old describes his and the Rise singer’s relationship as “profound”.

“There were times [while writing the song] when tears came out of me, and I went, O.K., John, this is not about an on-again, off-again relationship. This is something more profound.”

Mayer, who also previously dated Jennifer Aniston, also laid all his cards on the table about his desire to become a family man.

“I wish there was somebody to throw me the 40th. I want the baby with the protective earphones,” he added, conjuring an image of a woman holding his offspring by the side of the stage at his concert.

Mayer even admitted he’s been living out of a hotel rather than renting a property alone, in a The Secret-esque move – so he’ll be ready to find a family home when he meets the right woman. “I want to say, ‘We’ll take it [a house],’” he said, adding, “I’m right on time for my career, and I’m running late for my life.”

The timing of Mayer’s confession comes just weeks after Katy and Orlando Bloom announced they’d ended their relationship. Could he be trying to woo her back? If so, he’s certainly not being subtle about it. Not that subtly has ever been John’s style.