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.
Unwanted
Pale Waves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At making me feel like nothing
Making me feel unwanted
My distorted view on us
Is starting to get too much
I kept it locked away
So deep with the damage you caused me
You don't love anybody
I wanna prove that you still care
(I wanna prove that you still care)
But your silence fills the air
You're so good, yeah, you're so good (so good)
At making me feel like nothing
Making me feel unwanted (but I know)
You're no good, yeah, you're no good (no good)
And that's why I'm so guarded
You make me feel unwanted
You make me feel unwanted
Why did you keep me hanging on?
If you knew all along
I'd never fit your perfect life
You didn't compromise
And I'll never know why
I'm nothing but a goodbye
You're so good, yeah, you're so good (so good)
At making me feel like nothing
Making me feel unwanted (but I know)
You're no good, yeah, you're no good (no good)
And that's why I'm so guarded
You make me feel unwanted
You make me feel unwanted
You're so good, yeah, you're so good
At making me feel like nothing
Making me feel unwanted (but I know)
You're no good, yeah, you're no good (no good)
And that's why I'm so guarded
You make me feel unwanted
You make me feel unwanted
Yeah, you make me feel unwanted
You make me feel unwanted
The lyrics to Pale Waves's song "Unwanted" present a conflicted relationship where the singer is made to feel inadequate and unwanted by their partner. The lines "You're so good, yeah, you're so good/At making me feel like nothing/Making me feel unwanted" are repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the emotional toll this relationship has taken on the singer. The singer admits to having a "distorted view" of the relationship, but it becomes clear that their partner lacks empathy and is incapable of love.
The singer wants to prove to their partner that they still care but is met with silence, further highlighting the one-sided nature of the relationship. The second verse explores the singer's confusion and hurt as to why they were kept hanging on when their partner knew they would never fit into their perfect life. The repeated refrain of "You make me feel unwanted" illustrates how the singer's self-worth has been shattered by their partner's actions.
Overall, the lyrics to "Unwanted" deal with themes of emotional manipulation, self-doubt, and the struggle to let go of a toxic relationship. The song's melancholic melody and repetitive lyrics create a haunting and emotional effect, capturing the pain of unrequited love and the difficulty of moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
You're so good, yeah, you're so good
You are skilled at making me feel worthless or insignificant
At making me feel like nothing
You have the ability to make me feel unimportant or inferior
Making me feel unwanted
You cause me to feel unloved or unwelcome
My distorted view on us
My perspective of our relationship is flawed
Is starting to get too much
It's becoming overwhelming
I kept it locked away
I concealed my emotions about our relationship
So deep with the damage you caused me
The pain you inflicted upon me has deeply affected me
The lack of empathy
Your inability to understand or share my feelings is an issue
You don't love anybody
Your lack of love is not limited to me, but extends to others too
I wanna prove that you still care
I have a desire to show that you still have feelings for me
(I wanna prove that you still care)
Repetition to emphasize the desire to prove that you still feel something for me
But your silence fills the air
Your lack of response or communication causes tension and unease
You're so good, yeah, you're so good (so good)
Repetition to highlight your ability to make me feel worthless
And that's why I'm so guarded
That's why I am cautious and unwilling to be vulnerable
You make me feel unwanted
You cause me to believe that I am unloved or unappreciated
Why did you keep me hanging on?
Questioning why you continued to keep me in limbo
If you knew all along
If you were aware from the beginning
I'd never fit your perfect life
I was never a good match for the ideal life you had in mind
You didn't compromise
You refused to make any concessions or adjustments
And I'll never know why
I will never understand your reasoning
I'm nothing but a goodbye
To you, I am nothing more than a farewell
You make me feel unwanted
You cause me to feel unappreciated or rejected
You make me feel unwanted
Repetition to emphasize your power to make me feel unloved
Yeah, you make me feel unwanted
Confirming that you are responsible for making me feel unloved
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Goldstein, Heather Baron-Gracie, Zachary Cervini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rebelious Catlover
Lyrics
You’re so good yeah you’re so good
At making me feel like nothing
Making me feel unwanted
My distorted view on us
Is starting to get too much
I kept it locked away
So deep with the damage you caused me
The lack of empathy
You don’t love anybody
I wanna prove that you still care
But your silence fills the air
You’re so good yeah you’re so good (so good)
At making me feel like nothing
Making me feel unwanted (but I know)
You’re no good yeah you’re no good (no good)
And that’s why I’m so guarded
You make me feel unwanted
You make me feel unwanted
Why did you keep me hanging on?
If you knew all along
I’d never fit your perfect life
You didn’t compromise
And I’ll never know why
I’m nothing but a goodbye
You’re so good yeah you’re so good (so good)
At making me feel like nothing
Making me feel unwanted (but I know)
You’re no good yeah you’re no good (no good)
And that’s why I’m so guarded
You make me feel unwanted
You make me feel unwanted
LukeyG
Bringing back the early to mid 2000's Avril Lavigne pop punk vibe - lost in nostalgia enjoying this song!
pan dulce
Noooo 90s pop punk
DudeMan4000
Nostalgia is cheap. Make something original.
-°•𝙼𝚡.𝙽𝚢𝚡•°-
It kinda does sound like a song by Avril!
G Anderson
The first song I ever heard from Pale Waves was Television Romance, there and then I fell in love with the sound. I want you all to know I appreciate this. From my heart, across the world to yours.
Joshua Balsiger
That was my first song as well. Lol I saw the thumbnail and was like Lydia from Beetlejuice is in a band? Gotta give it a listen.
Off The Shelf Guy
Pale Waves is one of the few artists whose entire discography I will binge through on any given day.
Noise Pollution
John Cleese Disagrees
Travis LoneBear
I get that way at times
Hollow Autumn
@justin morgan yet here you are listening to it as well 🤦♂️