Jade explains 'Unconditional' lyrics and meaning written for her mum

11 September 2025, 11:51 | Updated: 15 September 2025, 13:29

On her upcoming album Jade has a song written for her mum called 'Unconditional'. Here's everything she's said about the lyrics and their meaning.

In Jade Thirlwall's solo career so far, we've been blessed with 'Angel Of My Dreams', enchanted by 'Fantasy' and awakened by 'Midnight Cowboy' but, of course, we still want more.

All of her releases have been leading to the one thing Jade fans want more than anything, her debut solo album. After years of success in Little Mix, Jade is no stranger to the writing and releasing process but, as she delves into her solo work, she's reimagining her sound completely.

After the autobiographical music video for 'Angel Of My Dreams', we knew her music was going to come from a place close to home. Now, she's revealed that not only does her album include songs penned about her boyfriend Jordan Stephens but it also features songs written about and for her parents.

In particular, Jade has created the song 'Unconditional' which is about her mother.

Talking to our sister brand, Capital Buzz on their podcast Making The Album, Jade said: "It's a love letter to my mum. The day that I wrote 'Unconditional' my mum was in hospital. She's got lupus, and she's been in and out of hospital my whole life.

"The song is about wishing I could just fix her with my unconditional love. It's obviously sad but it's still got like disco element to it."

Explaining the writing process, she said: "I had a lot of fun actually making that song with Mike Sabbath and Pablo Bowman. I felt very safe and comfortable with them. During that session, I was literally in and out of the room on the phone to my brother in the hospital. It was all very touch and go."

Previously, she'd told Rolling Stone: "All my life I’ve had the frustration of not being the one who can help her or save her."

Jade was born in Newcastle upon Tyne town South Shields to her parents Norma Badwi and James Thirlwall. Her parents were married but divorced while she was young. She continued to live with her mum but her dad stayed present in her life.

The Northern singer has never been shy about her close relationship with her mum. Norma even featured in Little Mix's 'Strip' where Jade sings: Wanna talk about colour? / it’s the skin that I’m in yeah I get from my mama

Jade - 'Unconditional' lyrics

VERSE

Take a seat, this is your intervention
You're killing me with all your self-neglection
If I lose you now, then I lose it all
If you let me down, don't know who l'd call

PRE-CHORUS

You got me kickin', shakin' and screamin' for ya
Got nothin' you could do to make me leave

CHORUS

Ah, ah, ah, ah
Unconditional
I will hold your hand forever
Even if my heart explodes
Unconditional
I can't put you back together
But I'll always love you so

VERSE 2

If only my love could be your medication
I could fix you so much better than your own prescription
If I lose you now, then I lose it all
If you're going down, I can take the fall

CHORUS

Ah, ah, ah, ah
Unconditional
I will hold your hand forever
Even if my heart explodes
Unconditional
I can't put you back together
But I'll always love you so

BRIDGE

Unconditional
Oh-oh-oh-oh
I'll always love you so (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh

CHORUS

Ah, ah, ah, ah
Unconditional
I will hold your hand forever
Even if my heart explodes
Unconditional
I can't put you back together
But I'll always love you so

Read more about Jade Thirlwall here:

• Jade explains surprising hidden meaning behind 'Glitch' lyrics
• Are Jade's 'Natural at Disaster' lyrics about Jesy Nelson? Here's what Jade's said about the song
• Jade opens up about "awful" body shaming comments since leaving Little Mix
• Jade explains spicy meaning behind her 'Fantasy' lyrics
• Jade explains her 'Midnight Cowboy' lyrics and Ncuti Gatwa's cameo
• Jade Thirlwall Decodes Her 'Angel Of My Dreams' Lyrics
• Jade Thirlwall And Boyfriend Jordan Stephens' Relationship Timeline
• Everything We Know About Jade Thirlwall's New Songs And Their Music Videos

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