The third track on Billie Eilish’s brand new album is an ode to the very popular Japanese animated movie ‘Spirited Away.’ The song title “Chihiro” is a reference to the character of the same name from the movie. In the song, Billie Eilish is chasing a love that seems to keep running from her.
Billie Eilish released her third studio album ‘HIT ME HARD & SOFT’ on May 17, 2024. The album has been in the works for a few years since ‘Happier Than Ever’ album release in 2021. As per Billie, the title of the album is literal–“hits you hard and soft both lyrically and sonically, while bending genres and defying trends along the way.” The album had no singles before its release as Billie wanted her fans to experience it all at once.
Billie Eilish has professed her love for ‘Spirited Away’ movie and how it has inspired her own artistic style; “Just the way that all that animation is, like No Face…it’s like so “spirit away”…it is so weirdly unrealistic but realistic..it was so dope.”
Listen to “CHIHIRO” by Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish “CHIHIRO” Lyrics Review and Song Meaning
In the song, Billie Eilish laments about a lover from afar. They are separated by some force between them and Billie is longing for closure.
Said you won’t forget my name
Once they were inseparable. They vowed to never leave each other’s side. But time has a funny way of testing our relationships.
There were signs of trouble in their relationship. They said they could not cope with this relationship anymore. They said it was becoming a way just to sustain this affair. Billie hoped this was not the case. Is the door still open for them? Can they open the door for Billie once more?
In the third verse of the song, Billie Eilish begins to question her reality altogether. When they were glued together that Summer, did that mean nothing?
They told me they were only curious
This can be interpreted in two ways. On one hand, Billie Eilish could be referring to her heterosexual relationship in which she feels as if she was played by her partner. Curiosity got them into this situation they are stuck in now. On the other hand, Billie Eilish might be referring to her bisexual tendencies. At the time, they were bi-curious and it was innocent fun. But now, emotions are involved and it is not fun and games anymore. In the same context, Billie’s cry to “open the door” for her could also allude to ‘coming out of the closet’ or being open about her bisexuality.
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comments below. Read the complete lyrics on Genius.