Billie Eilish Explains The Deeper Meaning Behind Her 'Chihiro' Lyrics

6 June 2024, 10:04 | Updated: 6 June 2024, 17:30

By Sam Prance

What are Billie Eilish's 'Chihiro' lyrics about? Here's how the song and music video are connected to Spirited Away.

Billie Eilish has opened up about the meaning behind her 'Chihiro' lyrics and how they are inspired by the film Spirited Away.

After weeks of anticipation, Billie Eilish's third studio album 'Hit Me Hard And Soft' is finally here. Written and produced with her brother and longterm collaborator Finneas, the album sees Billie explore brand new sonic and lyrical territory all while honing her signature artistry. From 'Lunch' to 'L'Amour De Ma Vie', there's something for everyone on the project.

One of the many tracks capturing fans' attention is 'Chihiro' and now she's released a music video for the song. Who is 'Chihiro' though and what are the lyrics actually about?

• Read more: Is Billie Eilish's New Album ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’ A Double Album?
• Read more: Billie Eilish Explains The Real Meaning Behind Her 'Lunch' Lyrics

What does 'Chihiro' mean? Who is Chihiro?

Billie Eilish splatters paint on limited edition album CDs

Billie Eilish's 'Chihiro' is named after the lead character of the Hayao Miyazaki film Spirited Away. In the beloved 2001 movie, a 10-year-old girl named Chihiro moves with her parents and enters a spirit realm where her parents turn into pigs. The film follows Chihiro as she gains a new understanding and appreciation of life as she tries to save herself and her family.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Billie said: "The song is loosely based off of that movie, which is one of my favorites. It’s kind of from her point of view, mixed with mine. The visuals in that movie are some of the best ever — all that Studio Ghibli shit is unbelievable."

She added: "There’s all those visuals of the train in the water after the flood, and it literally looks like an ocean with a train track. I had just watched Spirited Away and Finneas had made that beat. I love that movie. I’ve seen it so many times."

Billie Eilish - CHIHIRO (Official Music Video)

Like Chihiro, Billie appears to be sing about feeling lost in the song. In the moving chorus, Billie sings: Open up the door, can you open up the door? / I know you said before you can't cope with any more / You told me it was war, said you'd show me what's in store / I hope it's not for sure, can you open up the door?

In the outro, Billie adds: Running my hands up my lap / And you tell me it's all been a trap / And you don't know if you'll make it back / I said, "No, don't say that".

Unsurprisingly, 'Chihiro' contains many direct lyrical references to Spirited Away and fans have picked them out.

Long before releasing 'Chihiro', Billie has spoken several times about what Spirited Away means to her as a movie. Speaking about the art direction of her debut album 'WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?' in 2019 with Vice Australia, Billie said: "I owe most of it to Spirited Away and Miyazaki."

Describing the film, Billie added: "It is so weirdly unrealistic but realistic, when Finneas saw Spirited Away, he was so scared from the parents turning into pigs that he had to go to therapy for years because of it. I remember watching and being like “this is hard” and I watch it over and over and over…"

She ended by saying: "I thought it was so dope and I had the biggest crush on the dragon in that movie."

Billie Eilish - 'Chihiro' lyrics

VERSE 1
To take my love away
When I come back around
Will I know what to say?
Said you won't forget my name
Not today, not tomorrow
Kind of strange
Feeling sorrow
I got change (Yeah) You could borrow (Borrow)
When I come back around
Will I know what to say?
Not today, maybe tomorrow

CHORUS
Open up the door, can you open up the door?
I know you said before you can't cope with any more
You told me it was war, said you'd show me what's in store
I hope it's not for sure, can you open up the door?

REFRAIN
Did you take
My love away
From me? Me
Me

VERSE 2
Saw your seat at the counter when I looked away
(Way, way, way, way, way)
Saw you turned around, but it wasn't your face
(Face, face, face, facе, face)
Said I need to be alone now, I'm taking a brеak
(Break, break, break, break, break)
How come when I returned, you were gone away?
(Gone away, gone away, gone away...)

BRIDGE
I don't, I don't know
Why I called
I don't know you at all
I don't know you, no, I don't
I don't, I don't know
What I thought
I don't know you at all
I don't know you

REFRAIN
Did you take
My love away
From me? Me

INTERLUDE
And that's when you found me

VERSE 3
I was waiting in the garden
Contemplating, beg your pardon?
But there's a part of me that recognizes you
Do you feel that too?

PRE-CHORUS
When you told me it was serious
Were you serious? Mm
They told me they were only curious
Now it's serious? Mm

CHORUS
Open up the door, can you open up the door?
I know you said before you can't cope with any more
You told me it was war, said you'd show me what's in store
I hope it's not for sure, can you open up the door?

POST-CHORUS
Running my hands up my lap
And you tell me it's all been a trap
And you don't know if you'll make it back
I said, "No, don't say that"

OUTRO
(Running my hands up my lap)
(And you tell me it's all been a trap)
(And you don't know if you'll make it back)
(I said, "No, don't say that")
(Running my hands up my lap)
(And you tell me it's all been a trap)
(And you don't know if you'll make it back)
(Don't say that)

Read more about Billie Eilish here:

• Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard And Soft Tour: Ticket Prices, Presale Codes, Dates And Setlist
• Billie Eilish Launches Eco-Friendly 'Hit Me Hard And Soft' Album Vinyl Variants
• The Double Meaning Behind Billie Eilish's 'L'Amour De Ma Vie' Lyrics Explained
• Billie Eilish's Jaw-Dropping Met Gala Looks Through The Years
• Billie Eilish Says She's Still "Figuring Out" Her Sexuality Now

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