Billie Eilish's best songs: What's the meaning behind the lyrics?
She's written some huge hits
Last updated 27th Nov 2025
From movie soundtracks to philosophical masterpieces, Billie Eilish has penned some absolute tunes in her time. Often teaming up with brother Finneas to write and produce award-winning music, the 'Bad Guy' singer has shown herself to have a real talent in songwriting. As is evident following the pile of trophies Billie's picked up during her career over the last decade.
From 'Bury a Friend' to 'What Was I Made For', each of her songs has a fascinating back story, from night terrors to feelings of betrayal. We take a look at what they all mean...
'Birds of a Feather'
No doubt one of Billie's most successful songs to date, 'Birds of a Feather', from Billie's most recent album 'Hit Me Hard And Soft', received over 1.775 billion streams on Spotify in 2024, making it the most-streamed song released that year! It went to Number 2 in the UK chart and has been certified 3x Platinum here.
The meaning is a pretty simple one... It's a love song. But in an interview on YouTube, in association with American Express, Finneas revealed: “We overthought this simple song so hard.”
Billie said: “With music my whole thing is, it’s for the listener to decide what it means. It doesn’t matter what I wrote it about, what Finneas wrote it about, as long as you interpret it how you need to. That’s all you need to know.
"So don’t take what I say to heart, but it’s almost like someone slamming you into a wall and being like “YOU LOOK REALLY PRETTY”. And you’re like ‘wow, that’s really a lot’. And that’s what I wanted the (first) verse to do. I wanted it to feel like toxic and love-bomby.”
In the song, Billie sings: 'I want you to stay / 'Til I'm in the grave / 'Til I rot away, dead and buried / 'Til I'm in the casket you carry / If you go, I'm going too, uh / 'Cause it was always you, alright / And if I'm turnin' blue, please don't save me / Nothing left to lose without my baby.
'Birds of a feather, we should stick together, I know / I said I'd never think I wasn't better alone / Can't change the weather, might not be forever / But if it's forever, it's even better / And I don't know what I'm cryin' for / I don't think I could love you more / It might not be long, but baby, I / I'll love you 'til the day that I die.'
'What Was I Made For'
Written for the 2023 Barbie movie soundtrack, 'What Was I Made For' went to Number 1 in the US and stayed there for 14 weeks, as well as spending one week at the top of the UK chart with a 2x Platinum certification here.
Obviously taking its inspiration from the movie plot, the ballad takes a deep dive into feelings of identity and belonging. It's after Barbie screenwriter and director Greta Gerwig played Billie and her brother Finneas 30 minutes of the movie and said she wanted them to write 'Barbie's heart song.'
Billie Eilish's Barbie song won countless awards, including an MTV VMA, a Golden Globe and two Grammys. The lyrics are incredibly thought-provoking:
'I used to float, now I just fall down / I used to know but I'm not sure now / What I was made for / What was I made for? / Takin' a drive, I was an ideal / Looked so alive, turns out I'm not real / Just something you paid for / What was I made for? / 'Cause I, I / I don't know how to feel / But I wanna try / I don't know how to feel.
'But someday, I might / Someday, I might / When did it end? All the enjoyment / I'm sad again, don't tell my boyfriend / It's not what he's made for / What was I made for? / 'Cause I, 'cause I / I don't know how to feel / But I wanna try / I don't know how to feel / But someday I might / Someday I might / Think I forgot how to be happy / Something I'm not, but something I can be / Something I wait for / Something I'm made for.'
'Bad Guy'
Certified 5x Platinum in the UK, meaning it's sold more than 3 million copies, 'Bad Guy' is one of Billie's most iconic tracks — and challenges men who give off "tough guy energy". From her debut album 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?', the song went to Number 1 in five countries and Number 2 in four more. The lyrics read:
'White shirt now red, my bloody nose / Sleepin', you're on your tippy toes / Creepin' around like no one knows / Think you're so criminal / Bruises on both my knees for you / Don't say thank you or please / I do what I want when I'm wanting to / My soul? So cynical / So you're a tough guy / Like it really rough guy / Just can't get enough guy / Chest always so puffed guy / I'm that bad type / Make your mama sad type / Make your girlfriend mad tight / Might seduce your dad type / I'm the bad guy / Duh.'
'Bury a Friend'
In a TikTok video recorded for MTV, Billie said 'Bury a Friend' is written from the perspective of a monster under your bed. She said it's based on dreams and night terrors, telling MTV: "I wanted it to feel like sleep paralysis. The video repeats over and over because it's almost like have a recurring nightmare."
You can watch the video below. In it, you'll hear the lyrics:
'What do you want from me? Why don't you run from me? / What are you wondering? What do you know? / Why aren't you scared of me? Why do you care for me? / When we all fall asleep, where do we go? / Come here / Say it, spit it out, what is it exactly / You're payin'? Is the amount cleanin' you out? Am I satisfactory? / Today, I'm thinkin' about the things that are deadly / The way I'm drinkin' you down / Like I wanna drown, like I wanna end me.'
The song has been certified 2x Platinum in the UK, reaching Number 6 in the chart here.
'No Time to Die'
Written for the 2021 James Bond movie of the same name, 'No Time to Die' focuses on the betrayal between 007 and love interest, Madeleine, at the beginning of the film. Written by Billie and her brother Finneas, she said the lyrics just came to them:
'I should've known / I'd leave alone / Just goes to show / That the blood you bleed / Is just the blood you owe / We were a pair / But I saw you there / Too much to bear / You were my life / But life is far away from fair / Was I stupid to love you? / Was I reckless to help? / Was it obvious to everybody else / That I'd fallen for a lie? / You were never on my side / Fool me once, fool me twice / Are you death or paradise? / Now you'll never see me cry / There's just no time to die.'
In an interview with GQ, Hans Zimmer said he knew Billie and Finneas’ song was “the right way to go”, insisting producers fly the siblings over to the UK to watch the film, so they could get to work on polishing it. Hans told GQ: "It felt hugely personal. It felt really well crafted. We just spent the day adding little orchestral touches."
At the BRIT Awards in 2020, Hans then took to the stage, along with Billie and Finneas to perform the song.
The song, from the soundtrack, went to Number 1 in the UK and has been certified Platinum.
'Therefore I Am'
From her second studio album 'Happier Than Ever', 2020's 'Therefore I Am' went to Number 2 in the UK and the US and has been certified Platinum here. The title bears resemblance to the famous philosophical quote 'I think, therefore I am', by René Descartes.
Through the lyrics, Billie appears to be telling her haters that she doesn't need validation. She is comfortable enough in her own skin without it:
'Stop, what the hell are you talking about? Ha / Get my pretty name outta your mouth / We are not the same with or without / Don't talk 'bout me like how you might know how I feel / Top of the world, but your world isn't real / Your world's an ideal / So, go have fun / I really couldn't care less / And you can give 'em my best, but just know / I'm not your friend or anything, damn / You think that you're the man / I think, therefore I am / I'm not your friend or anything, damn / You think that you're the man / I think, therefore I am.
'I don't want press to put your name next to mine / We're on different lines, so I / Wanna be nice enough / They don't call my bluff 'cause I hate to find / Articles, articles, articles / Rather you remain unremarkable (got a lotta) / Interviews, interviews, interviews / When they say your name, I just act confused.'
'Wildflower'
Billie's latest song 'Wildflower' was released in February 2025. It's the fourth song to be released from her third album 'Hit Me Hard And Soft' and was written by both Billie and her brother, Finneas. It went to Number 7 in the UK and has since been certified Platinum.
'Wildflower's song meaning is pretty deep. It's about consoling a friend through a break-up, only to start dating the guy she's split from. Yikes!
The lyrics include: 'She was cryin’ on my shoulder / All I could do was hold her / Only made us closer until July / Now, I know that you love me / You don't need to remind me / I should put it all behind me, shouldn't I? / But I see her in the back of my mind all the time / Like a fever, like I’m burning alive, like a sign / Did I cross the line?'
Certificates, awards and nominations
Billie's songs have picked up a plethora of awards and many, many nominations over the years — including winning two Oscars, four BRITs and nine Grammys. Here's a run down of the biggest ones:
Academy Awards (The Oscars)
Billie has picked up two Oscars for Best Original Song, thanks to two huge movies she was asked to contribute to! One in 2022 for James Bond single 'No Time To Die' and another in 2024 for 'What Was I Made For?', which featured in Barbie.
BRIT Awards
Billie's been nominated for a total of nine BRIT Awards — taking home four of them. In 2025, her collaboration with Charli XCX 'Guess' took the trophy for Song of the Year.
Golden Globes
'No Time To Die' and 'What Was I Made For?' cleaned up at the Golden Globes in 2022 and 2024 too, taking home the trophy for Best Original Song.
Grammy Awards
Billie's received a staggering 32 Grammy nominations over the years, with nine trophies coming home with her in total. 'Bad Guy' won Song of the Year in 2020, 'No Time To Die' won Best Song Written for Visual Media in 2021 and 'What Was I Made For?' won that same award in 2024, as well as bagging Song of the Year.
MTV VMAs
The 'Birds of a Feather' singer has picked up loads of nominations at the MTV VMAs too — 32 to be exact! In 2019 'Bad Guy' won Best Editing, while in 2021 'Lo Vas a Olvidar' (with Rosalía) won Best Latin and 'Your Power' won Video For Good.
In 2022 'Happier Than Ever' won Song of the Year and in 2024 'What Was I Made For?' won Video For Good.
Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards
Proving she's popular with the kids too, Billie's picked up five Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, including Favourite Song in 2020 for 'Bad Guy', in 2022 for 'Happier Than Ever' and in 2024 for 'What Was I Made For?' Not bad at all!
Guinness World Records
Billie holds many Guinness World Records, but some of the most notable ones linked to her songs include 'Youngest musician to write and record a James Bond theme song' and 'Most Grammys won for Song of the Year'. She's also the 'Youngest double Oscar winner'!
Which songs has Billie worked on with her brother?
Billie Eilish fans will know her brother Finneas is a huge part of her life — and that's at work too! Growing up with just four years between them, and having been home-schooled together, it's no wonder they're close. The siblings have worked together on most of Billie's music, including 'Bad Guy', 'Bury A Friend', 'No Time To Die', 'Therefore I Am', 'Birds of a Feather' and 'Wish You Were Gay', which they wrote when Billie was just 14!
Finneas has written or co-written songs for other artists too, including Justin Bieber's 'Lonely', 'Never Felt So Alone' by Labrinth, 'Used To This' by Camila Cabello and 'Are You Gone Already' by Nicki Minaj.
Take a look at Billie Eilish's amazing career:
Early life
The US songstress was born on 18th December 2001 to Maggie Baird and Patrick O'Connell. Before Maggie Baird became Billie's momager, travelling on every tour with her, she was a ground-breaking actress and screenwriter. Coming from a famous family, Billie was always destined for fame!
2015: 'Ocen Eyes'
Releasing her first track to Soundcloud would have been a gamble for other singers, however the singer-songwriter released 'Ocean Eyes' herself, at age 14, in 2015. A definite 'bad guy' move, as it allowed her to have autonomy over her work and career.
The track has since been certified 3x Platinum.
2017: Debut EP
'Don't Smile At Me' was released in 2017, when Billie was only 16, to critical acclaim. For her first album, the success was unprecedented. Following suit, her breakthrough hit 'When The Party's Over' entered the Official Chart as a Top 40 hit, proving that her success was only going to exceed from here.
2018: First tour
The 'lovely' singer blew up and grew up in 2018! This was the year that saw the singer-songwriter embark on her 2018 tour. Billie boasted 74.7M Instagram followers, with a fanbase of 52M monthly listeners, growing her fanbase organically after that first Soundcloud release.
The singer's young fans also see her as a role model. The 'Wish You Were Gay' singer-songwriter has paved the way for young women, as an activist for LGBTQIA+ rights, feminism and mental health.
2018
Billie has inspired her Gen Z generation of young women by standing out and speaking up! Most notably by having her own distinctive, androgynous style, which in itself is making a stance for women's empowerment.
By just being herself and resisting gender norms, Billie has done her bit to reduce the societal pressure placed on women and their appearance. She has made a stand to push against this and make the path smoother for the women breaking into the music industry after her. Inspiring fans with her cutting lyrics, cool persona and success, Billie Eilish has become the voice of this generation.
2019: Debut album 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?'
Unsurprisingly, the US singer-songwriter scored Number 1 with her debut album 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?' in April 2019. Eilish broke a Guinness World Record for being the youngest woman at Number 1 on UK album charts, and for having the most simultaneous US Hot 100 entries by a female.
The album consists of HUGE tracks such as 'Bad Guy', 'Xanny', 'You Should See Me in a Crown', 'When the Party's Over' and 'Bury a Friend'.
2019: Coachella
2019 was the year that saw Billie's iconic Coachella performance. As well as being the year she cemented herself as a fashion icon, she wore head-to-toe Louis Vuitton and burst onto our TV screens in a Calvin Klein ad 'I Speak My Truth in #MyCalvins", sporting her iconic baggy look and opening up about why, saying "I never want anyone to know everything about me. I mean, that's why I wear big, baggy clothes," she says. "Nobody can have an opinion, because they haven't seen what's underneath".
2020: The Grammy Awards milestone
In 2020, our favourite 'bad guy' became the first artist since 1981 to do a full sweep at the Grammy's, winning all four major awards. Billie won Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album. She was the youngest to win these. At age 18, she made history, yet again!
2020: Bond theme 'No Time To Die'
2020 was Billie's year as the star also joined the Bond hall of fame! The US singer-songwriter became the youngest artist to be chosen to lend her voice for a Bond film. Her theme song 'No Time To Die' became Number 1 as well as featuring on the 2020 Bond film.
This placed Eilish alongside worldwide superstars Adele and Sam Smith who have been initiated into the Bond elite too, though Eilish did it at only half their age. Impressive!!
2021
In 2021, at the ripe age of just 19-years-old, Billie had already performed over 450 concerts on tour.
2021: Billie continues working with her brother Finneas
Billie continued to do things differently, being produced by her brother, making her career a family affair. Billie showed how doing things your own way can pay off. Finneas O'Connell is a singer-songwriter in his own right, and has reached his own success.
2021
Working with her brother, Billie and Finneas have written songs together, directed videos and even got Billie's mum onboard to help out! A family affair that will be expecting more stunning collabs from the sibling pair. If it will be anything like 'Everything I Wanted' we are here for it...
2021: New album and tour
Billie released her second album 'Happier Than Ever' on Friday 30th July 2021, featuring singles 'My Future', 'Therefore I Am', 'Your Power', 'Lost Cause', and 'NDA'. She'll also be the subject of a Disney+ documentary - 'Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles' - which will be released in September 2021, as well as taking her new record on tour around the world in 2022.
2021: Fragrance announcement
Billie delighted her fans in October 2021, revealing she would be releasing her very own fragrance called 'Eilish' - fast forward to today, and she now has three fragrances! Billie Eilish's first perfume, called 'Eilish', officially went on sale on 10th November 2021.
Billie later revealed in September 2022 that she would be releasing her second perfume Eilish No. 2. It was then on 28th September 2023 that she announced Eilish No. 3 - a limited edition perfume that served as the last of the Eilish collection. Similar to its predecessors, the bottle features a bust, however this time round the colour-scheme was dark red.
2022: Billie headlines the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival
Not only did Billie headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2022, she became the youngest female to ever do so. The exciting news was announced by Emily Eavis in October 2021, with her writing on X: 'We couldn't be happier to announce that the wondrous @billieeilish is headlining the Pyramid on the Friday at next year's Glastonbury Festival, becoming the youngest solo headliner in our history.
'This feels like the perfect way for us to return and I cannot wait!'
2022: Billie live streams her first European concert
In May 2022, Billie Eilish announced that she will be live streaming her first ever European concert. The singer was on her 'Happier Than Ever' Tour, and headed to Deutsche Telekom headquarters in Germany on 1st June. The show marked her first ever show in Europe.
Announcing the live stream, Billie said on Instagram: "Hi it's Billie! Telekom and I would like to invite you to a very special stripped-down show this summer in Europe. For everyone who can't make it, there will be a live stream by Telekom, so make sure to sign up to be notified."
2022: 'Happier Than Ever, The World Tour'
Billie Eilish kicked off her world tour in the US and brought her amazing shows to the UK and Ireland in June.
She played 13 dates across Belfast, London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Dublin.
2023: 'What Was I Made For?'
In July 2023, Billie released a new track called 'What Was I Made For?', which features on the soundtrack of the Barbie movie. It was later nominated for a Golden Globe. The song also won the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Song Written For Visual Media at the 2024 ceremony.
2023: 'bad guy' gains Diamond certification
In July 2023, Billie's smash hit single 'bad guy' became Diamond certified. Diamond certified songs are those which have exceeded 10 million sales. Announcing the news on Instagram, Billie wrote: 'bad guy went diamond………………………. HUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?????????? forever and ever grateful for this silly little song man. love you guys so much its stupid @finneas.' (sic)
2023: Billie releases the final perfume in the Eilish collection
In September 2023, Billie announced the third and final fragrance from her first collection. Called Eilish 3.0, the bottle resembles the two fragrances before it, however is dark red.
Revealing the perfume would be available from November 2023, the singer wrote: 'aaaaaaaaaaaand introducing Eilish No. 3 !! ;)) my first limited edition fragrance & the last in this collection!!🍒🍒out this november💋💋💋💋💋💋💋'. (sic)
2024: Billie wins two Grammy awards
At the 2024 Grammy Awards, Billie took home the Song of the Year and Best Song Written For Visual Media gongs, both for 'What Was I Made For?'
2024: Billie released her third album 'Hit Me Hard and Soft'
Billie Eilish took to Instagram to reveal that her third studio album is now finished. Sharing a series of photos, Billie wrote: ''my album is mastered.'
The singer later confirmed it would be called 'Hit Me Hard and Soft'. It has now been released, going Platinum just six months later.
2024: Billie performed at the Olympics Closing Ceremony
On 11th August, Billie Eilish performed at the Closing Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Before the event, there were several rumours circulating that the singer would be performing, along with The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Snoop Dogg. Despite the rumours, nothing was confirmed until the day that it took place.
2025: Billie performed at the 67th Grammy Awards
On 2nd February 2025, Billie took to the stage at the 67th annual Grammy Awards to entertain the star-studded audience. She performed 2024 single 'Birds of a Feather'.
2025: Billie brought her tour to the UK
Billie brought her 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' tour to the UK and Ireland in July 2025, visiting Glasgow, London, Manchester and Dublin.
2025: Billie announced 'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour' would be coming to cienemas
Billie Eilish announced she would be bringing her tour to cinemas in 2026, with James Cameron co-directing the movie. It will be released on 20th March 2026.
Now read:
Billie Eilish: Get to know the 'Happier Than Ever' singer
Everything you need to know about Billie Eilish's third album 'Hit Me Hard and Soft'
Billie Eilish's career story so far 🎶