"Unwanted" is the sixth track from Avril Lavigne's debut album, Let Go. It was written by Lavigne and Clif Magness. The song was released as a single in 2002.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
All that I did was walk over
Start off by shaking your hands
That's how it went
I had a smile on my face and I sat up straight
Oh, yeah, yeah
I wanted to know ya
I wanted to show you
[Chorus]
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
You don't want me there, you just shut me out
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
If you had your way, you'd just shut me up
Make me go away
[Interlude]
(That I'm so unwanted)
[Verse 2]
No, I just don't understand why you won't talk to me
It hurts that I'm so unwanted for nothing
Don't talk words against me
I wanted to know ya
I wanted to show you
[Chorus]
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
You don't want me there, you just shut me out
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
If you had your way, you'd just shut me up
Make me go away
Make me go away
[Bridge]
I tried to belong, it didn't seem wrong
My head aches
It's been so long, I'll write this song
If that's what it takes
[Chorus]
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
You don't want me there, you just shut me out
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
If you had your way, you'd just shut me up
Make me go away
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
You don't want me there, you just shut me out
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
If you had your way, you'd just shut me up
Make me go away
Make me go away
[Outro]
Make me go away
Background[]
"Unwanted" by Avril Lavigne is an emotional rock song that explores themes of rejection, alienation, and the struggle for acceptance. In the song, the narrator addresses someone—possibly a romantic interest or their family—who has made them feel unwelcome and unworthy.
Key themes in the song include:
- Rejection: The narrator expresses the pain of feeling unwanted, as if they are not good enough or don't belong in the eyes of others.
- Defiance: Despite the hurt, there's an underlying tone of strength and defiance. The narrator refuses to let the rejection define them completely, as they assert their own worth.
- Desire for Acceptance: The song captures the universal longing to be accepted and understood, while grappling with the frustration of being judged or dismissed unfairly.
"Unwanted" resonates with listeners who have felt misunderstood or excluded, delivering a raw and relatable expression of these emotions through its angsty lyrics and powerful instrumentation.
Critical Reception[]
- Chuck Taylor A senior editor at Billboard, Taylor praised the song's musical sophistication and emotional vocals, and believed it had universal appeal.
- Sal Cinquemani A writer for Slant Magazine, Cinquemani described the song as "sweet".
- Jamieson Cox A writer for Pitchfork, Cox compared the song to late 90s Aerosmith B-sides and described it as a power ballad.
- KidsWorld KidsWorld called the song "the perfect song to drown your sorrows to when that guy from your class breaks your heart".
Some also considered the arrangement of singles from Let Go controversial, as "I'm with You" was thought by some to be the album's biggest potential hit.
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