The song "Make Believe" by Joan Jett is about unrequited love and the pain that comes with it. The narrator confesses their feelings for someone, but the other person doesn't feel the same way. Despite their efforts to show their love and affection, it is only perceived as make-believe or pretend by the person they are in love with. The lyrics express frustration and heartbreak as the narrator realizes that their love is not reciprocated. They feel alone in their emotions, as the other person does not understand or acknowledge the depth of their feelings. The narrator longs for their love to be recognized and for the other person to feel the same way, but they are faced with disappointment and sadness. The repetition of the phrase "It's only make believe to you" emphasizes the disconnect between the narrator's genuine love and the other person's perception of it as something fake or illusory. The lyrics also mention the pain and insanity caused by this unrequited love, highlighting the emotional toll it takes on the narrator. Overall, "Make Believe" portrays the emotional struggle of loving someone who doesn't love them back and the anguish that comes with unreciprocated feelings.
