"Signs" serves as a standout track on the deluxe edition of Tate McRae's album, SO CLOSE TO WHAT???. The song captures the chaotic energy of a relationship defined by mixed signals and unspoken rules. With lyrics like "I hate you means I need you more," McRae perfectly articulates the paradoxical nature of young love, where pushing someone away is often a desperate cry for them to pull you closer. The production complements this tension, blending upbeat pop elements with a lyrical undertone of frustration.
The core theme is the failure to communicate openly. Instead of saying what she feels, the narrator uses "silences" and contradictions, expecting her partner to decode them.
The line "Assumin' you're telepathic" acknowledges the absurdity of her behavior. She admits to "doin' it out of habit," realizing that expecting someone to read minds is "batshit" crazy but doing it anyway.
The song highlights the struggle between wanting intimacy ("wanna touch on you all day") and the defensive reflex to protect oneself ("Instead I'm pushin' you away").