Heather and Ciara met at BIMM Institute and formed the band Creek in 2013 with guitarist Ben Bateman and bassist Ryan Marsden. Their song “Lust” gained local popularity and received radio airplay, leading to a number of local gigs. In 2014, band changed its name to Pale Waves and Hugo and Charlie joined soon after, in 2015. Heather has said that the band name comes from the title of a painting owned by her grandmother.
They were signed to record label Dirty Hit in 2016 and their first two singles, 2017's "There's a Honey" and "Television Romance", were produced by Matthew Healy of labelmates The 1975. Their first EP, All the Things I Never Said, was released in February 2018. In September 2018, they released their debut album My Mind Makes Noises.
Early in 2019, the band shared plans to release an EP that year, but decided later to focus on their second album. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020—as well as the decision to approach the new album with a different stylistic direction inspired by the music of the 1990s and 2000s—delayed the production and release of new music until late 2020.
The band’s second album, Who Am I?, was released on February 12, 2021, preceded by the single "Change”, which was released on November 10, 2020. It debuted at #3 on the UK Albums Chart.
Unwanted, Pale Waves' third album, was released on August 12, 2022. The album represents yet another stylistic leap for the band, this time adding pop punk influences to their evolving sound.
Alone
Pale Waves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've heard a lot of things
You and your reputation
Everyone knows you're fake
'Cause all of your mistakes
You and your own delusion
Call me up, call me up, but I won't pick up
Wish I could go back to the night when I met you
So I could tell you to go to hell
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Knew from the moment I saw you
You'd be an ultimate waste of time
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Starting to get to me
Hearing your fantasy
I feel your desperation
No matter how hard you try
Not gonna change my mind
Will somebody put me out of my misery now
You stay up, you stay out just to find someone
You've already come undone
Wish I could go back to the night when I met you
So I could tell you to go to hell
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Knew from the moment I saw you
You'd be an ultimate waste of time
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
What makes you think you could be all over me
Open your eyes, it's easy to see
I never gave you that impression
Call me up, call me up, but I won't pick up
It's the furthest thing from love
Wish I could go back to the night when I met you
So I could tell you to go to hell
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Knew from the moment I saw you
You'd be an ultimate waste of time
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Pale Waves’ song Alone is a bold declaration of independence from a toxic relationship. The lyrics convey the singer’s frustration with her partner’s reputation and their constant attempts to win her over despite her reservations. The verses build up to a defiant chorus where she declares that she would rather be alone than spend any more time with this person. The lyrics rest on a simple, straightforward melody that reinforces the song’s message.
The first verse sets the stage for the song, with the singer listing all the reasons why she doesn’t want to be around the other person. She has heard all about their reputation and knows that they're fake. They are deluded about themselves, and she wants nothing to do with them. The chorus of the song is the catchiest part, with the singer repeating several times how she would rather spend her entire lifetime alone than with this person.
The second verse focuses on the other person's obsession with the relationship, how they're always fantasying about it, and how they're desperate for her to stay with them. The singer recognizes that the other person is coming undone and is not going to change her mind. The bridge of the song pulls together all the different parts of the song and shows how the singer is not interested in the other person despite their attempts to woo her. Finally, the song ends with the chorus, emphasizing how the singer really would rather spend her entire lifetime alone than with this person.
Line by Line Meaning
Before you talk to me
I already know about your reputation and all the bad things you've done.
You and your reputation
Your reputation precedes you and it's not good.
Everyone knows you're fake
People can see through your facade and know that you're not being genuine.
It's the furthest thing from love
What you're doing is not love, it's the opposite.
Knew from the moment I saw you
I knew right away that you were going to be a waste of my time.
Hearing your fantasy
I can tell that what you're saying is not true and it's just your imagination.
No matter how hard you try
You're not going to change my mind or my opinion of you.
Will somebody put me out of my misery now
I just want this situation to be over and done with.
You've already come undone
You're already falling apart and it's not my problem to fix.
What makes you think you could be all over me
You seem to think you have some kind of power over me or that you can manipulate me, but you can't.
I never gave you that impression
You're mistaken if you think I ever gave you the idea that I was interested in you.
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
I would rather be by myself for the rest of my life than be with someone like you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Goldstein, Heather Baron-Gracie, Zachary Cervini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The_Dirtbike_Lover 1
LYRICS
Before you talk to me
I've heard a lot of things
You and your reputation
Everyone knows you're fake
'Cause all of your mistakes
You and your own delusion
Call me up call me up but I won't pick up
It's the furthest thing from love
Wish I could go back to the night when I met you
So I could tell you to go to hell
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Knew from the moment I saw you
You'd be an ultimate waste of time
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Starting to get to me
Hearing your fantasy
I feel your desperation
No matter how hard you try
Not gonna change my mind
Will somebody put me out of my misery now
You stay up you stay out just to find someone
You've already come undone
Wish I could go back to the night when I met you
So I could tell you to go to hell
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Knew from the moment I saw you
You'd be an ultimate waste of time
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
What makes you think you could be all over me
Open your eyes it's easy to see
I never gave you that impression
Call me up call me up but I won't pick up
It's the furthest thing from love
Wish I could go back to the night when I met you
So I could tell you to go to hell
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Knew from the moment I saw you
You'd be an ultimate waste of time
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
The_Dirtbike_Lover 1
LYRICS
Before you talk to me
I've heard a lot of things
You and your reputation
Everyone knows you're fake
'Cause all of your mistakes
You and your own delusion
Call me up call me up but I won't pick up
It's the furthest thing from love
Wish I could go back to the night when I met you
So I could tell you to go to hell
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Knew from the moment I saw you
You'd be an ultimate waste of time
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Starting to get to me
Hearing your fantasy
I feel your desperation
No matter how hard you try
Not gonna change my mind
Will somebody put me out of my misery now
You stay up you stay out just to find someone
You've already come undone
Wish I could go back to the night when I met you
So I could tell you to go to hell
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Knew from the moment I saw you
You'd be an ultimate waste of time
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
What makes you think you could be all over me
Open your eyes it's easy to see
I never gave you that impression
Call me up call me up but I won't pick up
It's the furthest thing from love
Wish I could go back to the night when I met you
So I could tell you to go to hell
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
Knew from the moment I saw you
You'd be an ultimate waste of time
I'd rather spend my entire lifetime alone
lady afros
This album looks like you're in hell, but you feel like you're walking in heaven.
Christopher Oliver
Love your new Album, you smashed it ! Got fond memories of watching you play at Manchester O2 Ritz, hope you be coming home again soon...
_httpLena
Está canción se canta con el alma!!
jordan pedersen
The hole albums guitar rifs are just gorgous 😍😍
Travis LoneBear
This album out yet? This has the chance to be my favorite song on the album
unparticular noise
Pop-punk is alive again! Thank you so much for this. I feel so much nostalgia and such strong emotions. I feel like I'm eighteen again.
츄
this helped me with my heartbreak so much. thank you pale waves.
Evie
this sounds like YUNGBLUD needs to collab with them. i can't explain it thats just the vibe
Chasity Fey Venske
I agree