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Billie Eilish new song, TV: the lyrics and the meaning

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During Billie Eilish’s concert on June 8th in Manchester, she surprisingly performed a new, unreleased song. “We haven’t played a new song live before it’s out since 2017 or 2018. This is one we just wrote, and we just wanted to play for you,” she said to the audience, which was, of course, more than happy to hear something new from the American artist. The song is titled TV, and it’s a sad, reflective song that talks about her life, her relationships, and the contrast between her and the outer world that she sees on TV. In this article, we will delve into the deep meaning of the lyrics.

You can find the official streaming of the song below.

Billie Eilish - TV (Official Lyric Video)
Watch this video on YouTube.

Billie Eilish, TV: the meaning of the lyrics

Billie Eilish is in a moment of domestic solitude. She sings about how she feels. She’s having a challenging moment with her romantic partner and now realizes that all her friends are missing. When you get into a romantic relationship, inevitably, you spend less time cultivating friendships. “You tell yourself it’s fine, you’re just in love,” she says in the chorus. It happens to most of us, but it’s still sad. It’s still something we would like to be different.

All of my friends are missing again
That’s what happens when you fall in love
You don’t have the time, you leave them all behind
You tell yourself it’s fine, you’re just in love

When you lose harmony with your loved one, you suddenly realize the substance of what’s left in your life. And if friends are gone, and you remain alone, things can be depressing. In the first verse, Billie talks about lying on the couch and letting time pass, perhaps watching tv.

I’ll put on Survivor just to watch somebody suffer
Maybe I should get some sleep
Sinking in the sofa while we all betray each other
What’s the point of anything?

And the TV is also the mean through which she sees the outer world. There are two explicit references to public life and our times: one is about the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial that caught the attention of the whole world, and the other one is about the current abortion debate, in which Billie mentions the famous Rod v. Wade sentence of the 70s that historically pronounced the law in favor of the abortion right, right that today is at risk. Those are the two lines that end the second verse:

The internet’s gone wild watching movie stars on trial
While they’re overturning Roe v. Wade

All this happens while Billie Eilish is living a sad moment of loneliness. And she feels unable to create connections again with the others. That’s how, sadly, the song ends: with the words “maybe I’m the problem.”

That’s, therefore, the real meaning of Billie Eilish new song, TV: if the relationship with your partner fades away, and you don’t keep friendships alive, you remain alone. And your whole life starts looking meaningless. The melody is slow and sad. Nevertheless, it seems just a moment. And expressing sadness without shame is always positive.

Read other popular song lyrics and their meaning on Auralcrave

The complete lyrics

I don’t wanna talk right now
I just wanna watch TV
I’ll stay in the pool and drown
So I don’t have to watch you leave
I’ll put on Survivor just to watch somebody suffer
Maybe I should get some sleep
Sinking in the sofa while we all betray each other
What’s the point of anything?

All of my friends are missing again
That’s what happens when you fall in love
You don’t have the time, you leave them all behind
You tell yourself it’s fine, you’re just in love

I don’t know where you are right now
But did you see me on TV?
I’ll try not to starve myself
Just because you’re mad at me
And I’ll be in denial for at least a little while
What about the plans we made?
The internet’s gone wild watching movie stars on trial
While they’re overturning Roe v. Wade

And all of my friends are missing again
‘Cause that’s what happens when you fall in love
You don’t have the time, you leave them all behind
You tell yourself it’s fine, you’re just in love

And I don’t get along with anyone
Maybe I’m the problem
Maybe I’m the problem

Maybe I, maybe I, maybe I’m the problem
Maybe I, maybe I, maybe I’m the problem

Published by Carlo Affatigato

Carlo has been a web content creator for over 10 years. He founded Auralcrave in 2015, envisioning it as a new space capable of offering different perspectives on topics that passionate all of us. With a scientific background, Carlo developed an interest in music, cinema, literature, and art at a young age, transforming it into a complementary dimension to his professional growth. For years, he was a music journalist specializing in electronic and dance music, writing for the most important Italian magazines (both online and print). Movies and TV series have been a true obsession in many phases of his life: during university, it was not uncommon for him to set the alarm in the middle of the night to watch classic films airing on TV. With the advent of the Internet, Carlo became a keen observer of web and social phenomena, addressing light topics such as advertising, trends, fashion, and general themes. He is the main author of Auralcrave and personally manages its social media, editorial line, book publication, resource management, and business expansion. A former engineer, life coach, husband, and father, he believes that every area of knowledge has interesting stories that deserve to be told and is convinced that doing so makes the world a better place.