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.
Only Problem
Pale Waves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For hoping you would fix me
I'm foolish to believe
You could pick up the pieces
Push me, pull me back
When there's nothing left
'Cause that's what you do best
I'm thinking maybe you're the only problem
I can't figure out
Pulling me up from the bottom
Just to watch me drown
Now I guess I have to do this on my own
Baby, it's time to let you go
(Let you go)
I feel so pathetic
Forever thinking you were somebody else
Although I regret it
I can't help but to think of you now
Push me, pull me back
When there's nothing left
'Cause that's what you do best
I'm thinking maybe you're the only problem
I can't figure out
Pulling me up from the bottom
Just to watch me drown
Now I guess I have to do this on my own
Baby, it's time to let you go
Every bad thing I would do
It was always with you
But I stepped back
It was hard for me to see
That the problem wasn't me
It was you, you, you
I'm thinking maybe you're the only problem
I can't figure out
Pulling me up from the bottom
Just to watch me drown
Now I guess I have to do this on my own
Baby, it's time to let you go
The lyrics of Pale Waves's song 'Only Problem' tell the story of a person who is coming to a realization that their partner, despite being a source of comfort, is also the cause of their problems. The singer acknowledges their naive belief that their partner could fix them and pick up the pieces of their broken self, only to be disappointed upon realizing that their partner is actually the problem. The lyrics are full of contradictions and mixed emotions, as the singer admits feeling foolish and pathetic for not seeing the truth earlier but also regrets having to let go of the person who once made them feel better.
Line by Line Meaning
You can call me naïve
I know I'm inexperienced
For hoping you would fix me
I thought you could repair me
I'm foolish to believe
It was a mistake to assume
You could pick up the pieces
That you would help me recover
Push me, pull me back
You toyed with me
When there's nothing left
When I'm at my weakest
'Cause that's what you do best
That's your specialty
I'm thinking maybe you're the only problem
Maybe you're the root of my troubles
I can't figure out
I can't understand it
Pulling me up from the bottom
Bringing me back up when I'm down
Just to watch me drown
Only to let me sink again
Now I guess I have to do this on my own
I have to handle this by myself now
Baby, it's time to let you go
It's finally time to move on
I feel so pathetic
I'm beyond embarrassed
Forever thinking you were somebody else
Always believing a false version of you
Although I regret it
Even though I'm sorry
I can't help but to think of you now
I'm still thinking of you
Every bad thing I would do
All my negative actions
It was always with you
You were always there
But I stepped back
I reevaluated the relationship
It was hard for me to see
I didn't want to accept
That the problem wasn't me
That you were the issue
It was you, you, you
You were the cause
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Goldstein, Heather Baron-Gracie, Zachary Cervini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@V3M0N_
LYRICS
You can call me naïve
For hoping you would fix me
I'm foolish to believe
You could pick up the pieces
Push me pull me back
When there's nothing left
'Cause that's what you do best
I'm thinking maybe you're the only problem
I can't figure out
Pulling me up from the bottom
Just to watch me drown
Now I guess I have to do this on my own
Baby it's time to let you go
I feel so pathetic
Forever thinking you were somebody else
Although I regret it
I can't help but to think of you now
Push me pull me back
When there's nothing left
'Cause that's what you do best
I'm thinking maybe you're the only problem
I can't figure out
Pulling me up from the bottom
Just to watch me drown
Now I guess I have to do this on my own
Baby it's time to let you go
Every bad thing I would do
It was always with you
But I stepped back
It was hard for me to see
That the problem wasn't me
It was you you you
I'm thinking maybe you're the only problem
I can't figure out
Pulling me up from the bottom
Just to watch me drown
Now I guess I have to do this on my own
Baby it's time to let you go
@renchramos1557
My favorite song from the album!!
@weeewoot1770
Absolute banger.
@evie1919
AYE YO??? early 2000's are BACK BABY
@DjSharperimage
This song is so good!!! ❤
@NathanRyan.
i really like this one a lot
@NathanRyan.
i have been listening on repeat all day. thank you for making this
@deaz8653
Only problem and clean💕💕💕💕
@toniamaii
One of the best written songs I’ve heard❤in love with it
@brigittehermanni215
He sido fan de pale waves cuando sus videos no superaban el millón de vistas, Dios cada día crecen más y que gran talento tienen, algún día serán reconocidos como merecen 🖤
@V3M0N_
LYRICS
You can call me naïve
For hoping you would fix me
I'm foolish to believe
You could pick up the pieces
Push me pull me back
When there's nothing left
'Cause that's what you do best
I'm thinking maybe you're the only problem
I can't figure out
Pulling me up from the bottom
Just to watch me drown
Now I guess I have to do this on my own
Baby it's time to let you go
I feel so pathetic
Forever thinking you were somebody else
Although I regret it
I can't help but to think of you now
Push me pull me back
When there's nothing left
'Cause that's what you do best
I'm thinking maybe you're the only problem
I can't figure out
Pulling me up from the bottom
Just to watch me drown
Now I guess I have to do this on my own
Baby it's time to let you go
Every bad thing I would do
It was always with you
But I stepped back
It was hard for me to see
That the problem wasn't me
It was you you you
I'm thinking maybe you're the only problem
I can't figure out
Pulling me up from the bottom
Just to watch me drown
Now I guess I have to do this on my own
Baby it's time to let you go