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.
Loveless Girl
Pale Waves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless girl
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless girl
Haven't seen you in a while
And your hair used to call so perfectly
Its making me wonder
What you did in those years I didn't see you
Did you make your television breakthrough?
You never liked it when I wanted attention sometimes
I'll pretend you look fine, we'll laugh awkwardly
Make conversation about our families
Loveless girl, that's what you used to call me
That's all I'll ever be
I wonder if you changed your mind?
Am I different this time?
Loveless girl
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless girl (I'll ever be)
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless girl (I'll ever be)
You've not changed in the way that you look at me
But I was never who you wanted me to be
You always said I was so cold
But only with you though
Only with you though
Loveless girl, that's what you used to call me
That's all I'll ever be
I wonder if you changed your mind?
Am I different this time?
Loveless girl
Lately I've been wondering if you'd come back
You're so predictable, I hate that
I've really changed, no I don't feel the same
I never thought we'd make it anyway
Loveless girl, that's what you used to call me
That's all I'll ever be
I wonder if you changed your mind?
Am I different this time?
Loveless girl
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless girl (I'll ever be)
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless girl (I'll ever be)
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless girl (I'll ever be)
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless
Oh, loveless girl (I'll ever be)
The lyrics to Pale Waves's song Loveless Girl describe the aftermath of a past romantic relationship. The singer begins by addressing the person directly, calling them a "loveless girl" and expressing surprise at their changed appearance. This introduces a sense of distance between the two and hints at the passage of time since their split. The singer then reminisces about their relationship, recalling the other person's aversion to attention and their attempts at small talk. The chorus reiterates the title phrase "loveless girl" and the singer wonders if this is all they will ever be to the other person, and whether or not the other person has changed their opinion of them in the time since their relationship ended.
The second verse begins with an acknowledgement of the other person's continued gaze, but also asserts that the singer was never who the other person wanted them to be. This may suggest that the singer's partner was controlling or demanding in some way, and that the singer felt like they could not be themselves in the relationship. The chorus repeats again, but the final verse introduces a change in perspective. The singer admits to wondering if the other person will come back, but also acknowledges that they have changed and that they do not feel the same way they did before. The song ends with a final repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the idea that the two will always be loveless to each other.
Overall, the lyrics to Loveless Girl touch on themes of disillusionment, regret, and the passage of time. The singer realizes that they will always be labeled a "loveless girl" by this person, and that the two will never be able to recapture what they once had. This is a common experience for many people who have gone through breakups or drifted apart from former romantic partners. The song's melancholic tone and wistful outlook capture the longing that can accompany memories of lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, loveless
The singer is feeling empty and unloved
Oh, loveless girl
The focus is on a girl who also feels empty and unloved
Haven't seen you in a while
The singer is reconnecting with this person after a long time
You look much older
The person has aged since the last time they saw each other
And your hair used to call so perfectly
The person's appearance has changed since the last time they saw each other
Its making me wonder
The singer is curious about what has happened to this person
What you did in those years I didn't see you
The singer is wondering what the person's life has been like
Did you make your television breakthrough?
The singer is wondering if the person has achieved success in their career
You never liked it when I wanted attention sometimes
The singer recalls that the person did not appreciate when they sought attention
I'll pretend you look fine, we'll laugh awkwardly
The singer will pretend to be okay with how the person looks, despite feeling awkward
Make conversation about our families
The two are catching up on each other's family lives
Loveless girl, that's what you used to call me
The person used to refer to the singer as 'loveless girl'
That's all I'll ever be
The singer feels trapped by this label
I wonder if you changed your mind?
The singer is curious if the person's opinion of them has changed
Am I different this time?
The singer is concerned about how they are perceived
You've not changed in the way that you look at me
The person still looks at the singer in the same way as before
But I was never who you wanted me to be
The singer recognizes that they were never able to meet the person's expectations
You always said I was so cold
The person used to say that the singer was emotionally distant
But only with you though
The singer is implying that they were only cold towards this person
Lately I've been wondering if you'd come back
The singer is considering if the person will return to their life
You're so predictable, I hate that
The singer dislikes how they can always anticipate the person's actions and behavior
I've really changed, no I don't feel the same
The singer believes they have undergone a significant transformation since they last saw the person
I never thought we'd make it anyway
The singer never believed that their relationship would succeed
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ciara Louise Doran, Heather Patricia Baron-Gracie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind