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.
reasons to live
Pale Waves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing remained, just a stranger in these clothes
The joke of the party, drinking all alone
With no one beside me, the only place I've ever known
Don't say, "I'm gonna stay this way"
I hit rock bottom with nothing left to give
You picked me up when I was down on the floor
You showed me how to love myself a little more
I'm scared to go to sleep, demons watching over me
How am I supposed to breathe when I feel this fuckin' weak?
You are the medicine to get me by
You are the therapy to ease my mind
When I fall, you catch me every time
When I'm falling, you come calling
Don't say, "I'm gonna stay this way"
I hit rock bottom with nothing left to give
All love forgotten, finding reasons to live
You picked me up when I was down on the floor
You showed me how to love myself a little more
Don't say, "I'm gonna stay this way"
Don't say, "I'm gonna stay this way"
I hit rock bottom with nothing left to give
All love forgotten, finding reasons to live
You picked me up when I was down on the floor
You showed me how to love myself a little more
You are the medicine to get me by
You are the therapy to ease my mind
When I fall, you catch me every time
When I'm falling, reasons to live
The lyrics of Pale Waves' song "Reasons to Live" describe a person who is feeling lost and alone, standing in the rain with nowhere to go. They describe feeling like a stranger at a party, drinking alone, and feeling like they have hit rock bottom. However, in the chorus, the lyrics take a turn towards hope as it becomes clear that the singer has found someone who is there to help them through these difficult times. The person they have found provides them with a reason to live, a reason to keep going when everything feels too hard.
The verse "I'm scared to go to sleep, demons watching over me, how am I supposed to breathe when I feel this fuckin' weak?" speaks to the mental health struggles that the singer is facing. They feel like their problems are closing in on them, and they don't know how to escape. However, the chorus emphasizes the importance of finding help and support. The person they have found has become their medicine and therapy to ease their mind.
Line by Line Meaning
I was standing in the rain, I had nowhere to go
Feeling lost and alone, unsure of the direction to take in life
Nothing remained, just a stranger in these clothes
Having lost one's sense of individuality, left feeling like just another face in the crowd
The joke of the party, drinking all alone
Feeling like an outcast, unable to connect with others and resorting to self-destructive behaviors to cope with the pain of isolation
With no one beside me, the only place I've ever known
Feeling a deep sense of loneliness, as if being alone is the only way of life one has ever known
Don't say, "I'm gonna stay this way"
Desperately hoping for a change in one's circumstances and asking for support in reaching that point
I hit rock bottom with nothing left to give
Feeling like one has reached the bottom of life with nothing left to offer
All love forgotten, finding reasons to live
Desperately searching for reasons to hold on to life and find hope again in the midst of feeling completely forgotten and unloved
You picked me up when I was down on the floor
Finding a supportive person or community that helped lift one out of the depths of despair and give hope for a better future
You showed me how to love myself a little more
Having someone who was able to teach one how to love oneself in the midst of feeling completely lost and hopeless
I'm scared to go to sleep, demons watching over me
Feeling haunted and tormented by internal demons that prevent one from finding peace or rest, causing feelings of anxiety and fear
How am I supposed to breathe when I feel this fuckin' weak?
Feeling so powerless and defeated that one cannot even find the energy to breathe or get through each day
You are the medicine to get me by
Finding a person or source of support that is able to provide a healing and calming effect to help navigate through the challenges of life
You are the therapy to ease my mind
Finding a supportive community or person who is able to provide a sense of ease and peace to help cope with internal struggles
When I fall, you catch me every time
Feeling supported and carried through life's challenges even when feeling completely powerless
When I'm falling, reasons to live
Being given hope and purpose that provides a reason to hold on to life even in the midst of extreme challenges
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ciara Doran, Heather Baron-Gracie, Zakk Cervini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paul Thomas
This video is cute. You can tell they were having a good time goofin' around. From what Heather's been saying in interviews, it sounds like they had a blast working on this new album. And I'm here for it! That pop-punk sound is awesome.
empireman
First time of hearing.
Just no diff to Pink, bland pop 👅
Glomgore
She looks so comfortable too! Can tell they really enjoyed themselves and I love this track, super upbeat tempo. Its like 2002 with Avril all over again
Gelaos
I like how authentic this video feels, as if we're driving with them. Music videos are often carefully produced and feel somehow "disconnected" from reality whereas Reasons To Live is more relatable.
Leanne Campbell
There's nothing authentic about riding around in a Limo drinking 'Champers, bands have been doing this crap since the 80s, its boring now! 🥱
AngelicusImmortus
That’ll be down to the camera man in the car 😂😂
ohalistair
You must be new here because this is literally a super common premise for a music video, especially amongst alternative music, and has been for like four decades.
Jason
You said almost exactly what I was feeling
Drunk Panda
The way I see it, it’s all very candid and casual. Like something a friend would send you while they’re on a trip. It’s not “picture perfect” or produced, rather just unfiltered and raw. I’m especially reminded of this when Heather is constantly shaking off and fixing her hair which you don’t really see in other videos because as you said, they’re produced to look perfect. And that’s what I love about this video. It’s less a product, more a view of friends having a good time.
Anonymous Candle
I love how much this band has grown in the last few years and how their music just keeps getting better and better with each new song