The Hidden Meaning Of Billie Eilish’s “goodbye” | Genius News

Billie Eilish’s debut album, 'WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?,' is a thoughtfully crafted project which culminates with “goodbye.” As Genius contributor mariokarter13 points out, the song’s lyrics are entirely comprised of lines from the previous songs on the album-but in reverse tracklist order.
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Jacques Morel, Senior Correspondent
Tia Hill, Producer
Jer Paulin, Shooter/Editor
Hillary Crosley Coker, Senior Producer
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[@ChrisNeufeldMusic]

I love that album. As dark as it is, it has a lot of great moments. And I agree that “Goodbye” is the perfect ending to that album.

[@seaasuxx]

Cuz it’s called goodbye 😂

[@ChrisNeufeldMusic]

Chelsea F Well, of course.

[@lisakinderovo3654]

i thought that she was going to go away...idk...maybe.....the rooftop...

[@unknxwnlpm]

Nobody: Genius: *HIDDEN MEANING OF FINDING NEMO*

[@dragondrawer3305]

Legit- wait I gotta go check lmao

[@CarissaJenkins]

Lmfaoooo riiight

[@phoebenatasha1528]

I just turned the amount of likes to 1k wow that was so satisfying

[@kawaiielephant7772]

But what is?!

[@shimizufuck]

but like, what is the meaning?

[@jj9533]

Genius is pushing for views. If you LISTEN to Goodbye you will realize that they are in fact lyrics from the other songs. Did we need explaining? No

[@taylorw4735]

@norah rhodes How can you not realize that though?? It's pretty blatant.

[@planetvnus]

Taybug Susan yeah she even sings the lines the same way like in the original songs

[@glxtch3544]

666 likes btw

[@viv2301]

ikr

[@KhristineLindsey]

i agree

[@sebastiannicholis3417]

I interpret “goodbye” as kind of when you wake up after a series of dreams, and recapping bits and pieces of each dream

[@ZestyBarnacle69]

Damn. THIS COMMENT SECTION IS WAY BETTER THAN THIS VIDEO.

[@angelinvert]

smart...

[@jocelynmclaughlin5404]

YES

[@dkotadixon6776]

There really is no hidden meaning. It's just Billie being Billie

[@afrospider]

D'Kota Dixon i think it’s supposed to symbolise how when you wake up from a dream and you can’t remember it all except the smallest things, or how your life flashes before your eyes

[@saberfan]

How can you say theres no hidden meaning when this video is about the hidden meaning of goodbye

[@Destiny-ts5sj]

Ur so right. Billie is Billie. No one can Change that.

[@tsunam1479]

D'Kota Dixon THERE ARE 911 LIKES ON THIS! I WANT TO LIKE THIS COMMENTS, BUT I DONT WANT TO MESS UP THIS MASTERPEICE

[@user-fo2dd1xk2m]

“Be like a mental hug” WELL DONE BILLIE BECAUSE THATS CERTAINLY WHAT IT IS FOR ME

[@IdK-fm6fz]

The

[@lsjaowhwbkwhwksha5926]

always

[@kingbopit9318]

----- yes yes me too

[@ronald19721]

That's crazy this album was perfectly planned

[@lorenzatittoni2217]

Yes omg I freaking love it

[@lsjaowhwbkwhwksha5926]

true true

[@blueboynv]

to me it kinda felt like the monster of the album was telling us “don’t leave me be” and basically trying to convince us to stay by saying all the nice things (the music) they’ve given us

[@sabsdelgado]

nathan vega EXACTLY how I interpreted it!

[@melvanamassalley8872]

nathan vega EXACTLY

[@thatmomentwhenyourealiseyo3430]

nathan vega and then at the end of the song the monster has the realisation that you’re not gonna stay and says “I’m the bad guy”! Holy crap!

[@blueboynv]

That moment when you realise, You done fucked up i didn’t really feel it like that but if you do that’s cool

[@mqxiine]

The lyrics are “dont leave me please” lol

[@ant7481]

It wouldn't be hidden if you just payed attention.

[@chippy5457]

Not gonna lie, Billie is a genius. Like when I was listening to Goodbye for the first time, I did realize the lyrics was the first of every song and honestly it's the most iconic way to ever end an album. As a songwriter, I will say I have tried my best to tie certain songs together, but this, this is so incredibly smart and beautiful and gets me every time.

[@sincerelyjae]

I already figured this all on my own but thanks

[@rackyly5655]

Jae Lee good for u

[@dollviezs]

Same XD

[@CarissaJenkins]

Right 😂

[@calebscott4196]

Then why the hell did you watch the video let alone comment on it🤦‍♂️

[@ellainecorollo2113]

Same

[@cloverchan1008]

Tbh, the last three songs I've always interpreted as three different types of perspectives when a person is commiting suicide. 'Listen before i go' is in the perspective of the person about to kill themself, as with all of the 'sorry' lines and telling the person listening to 'tell their friends that they love them', things people do so that the friends when they find out don't think it was their fault. 'I love you' is the perspective of maybe a friend or s/o or family member finding out about the suicide of the person, and being in denial. The lines about the person not usually being so vulnerable and meek that might have come from their suicide note would feed into that denial of the person ever doing something like this 'Goodbye' is a little more difficult, but it could maybe represent the friend or victim's final thoughts reminiscing over their lives as a bittersweet kind of comfort. The three titles also go together very well as something a victim of suicide would say to someone. Sorry for the ramble, I've just wanted to talk about this little theory for a while

[@ammo209]

Loved it! I love you one was. A bit stretched but sure

[@lacibrooks1156]

This !! I agree

[@coolmemememe]

6:54 “i wanted it to sound like a sentence: Listen before I go, I love you, goodbye” hahah I caught that since the beginning but I did not know what it meant

[@Mareewashere]

Same thing with two of the Happier Than Ever tracks. Therefore I Am, Happier Than Ever!

[@billieeilishfan8321]

she's so big rn im so proud

[@carolapinkertgreatawakenin5653]

I think Halleluja is the most covered Song

[@tonyf.8166]

I believe a study shows that it actually is.

[@rommelp5781]

When I first listened to I love you. My brain immediately thought of Hallelujah. Like I legit was about to say “Hallelujah” then I noticed. It ain’t

[@mellovestodraw]

JRQP V sAME bro wtf

[@somekidf6483]

I knew I heard the hallelujah bit lmao I was going crazy with that part.

[@breadstick2810]

Same

[@jordanaw8125]

Yo same I thought maybe I was crazy

[@lauren9463]

some kid f my holy friend kept saying that 😂

[@maddyp4231]

Billie is iconic but we’ve been knowing this

[@emilylyonsbristow8491]

Maddy P so true 😂

[@honeyg8604]

Literally Billie helps me through EVERYTHING when I heard goodbye, I just lose my breath when I hear it.

[@thegaminggoblin1789]

"The next lyric is from the fifth track all the good girls go to hell" "All the good girls go to hell" "All the good girls go to hell" Edit: ooh wow I feel famous

[@tonyf.8166]

wow who was the big brained man in their operation to find this AMAZING easter egg Billie has so wisely left behind for us?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[@drytoast30]

@@tonyf.8166 -

[@shimizufuck]

nice

[@Danielsmith-ek8ng]

TheGamingGoblin1 this has 666 likes at the moment -

[@shimizufuck]

Daniel Chon not anymore

[@lux1975]

The “baby, I don’t feel so good” in Goodbye is sooooo hauntingggggg

[@trinityalbright7857]

if you rewrite the lyrics order starting with bad guy it kind of conveys a message: i'm the bad guy what is it about them? bite my tongue bide my time and all the good girls go to hell baby i dont feel so good don't you know i'm no good for you? wait a minute dont ask questions what do you want from me? told you not to worry take me to the rooftop it's not true

[@aylasilk4862]

trinity albright bit of a stretch

[@okayokay8837]

Omg yessssssssss

[@lsjaowhwbkwhwksha5926]

wow it's like a story or a conversation

[@cruxpirate1781]

Also if you replay it, it’s I’m the bad guy, and then, it’s not true. She said bad guy is about the lies we tell ourselves.

[@jenniselopez1926]

Cool not sure about the ending, i actually feel like if you say in reverse it tells more a story but i feel like its really dark and i hope billie doesnt feel like that

[@maddieg2336]

Who else already know ALL the lyrics to the whole album

[@elianejoly8973]

Maddie G meeeee 😂😂

[@CarissaJenkins]

Meeeee

[@snocone100]

To y'all hating that "goodbye doesn't have a meaning" he basically recaped a whole album in 7 minutes rather than watching 12, 3 minutes vids

[@thecircusgrounds]

Just listen to the songs. If ya didn't want to listen to the songs then why you following.

[@okayokay8837]

Exactlyyyy

[@mariselarodriguez6189]

I absolutely love "ilomilo" by Billie Eilish 🤩🤩🤩

[@zoedepedro]

i think it was really great to hear each line compared side by side

[@VanezitaRamos]

I love how the songs they don’t have an explanation for they skip it lmaoooo

[@rackyly5655]

3:56 when i heard that at the end of the song “my strange addiction” i was like hey that kinda sounds like michael from the office haha guess i was right hehe

[@smileysview1915]

racky ly Cuz it is

[@h.h3110]

It’s like a lyric from every song there is nothing to explain

[@darbyscout6020]

How the heck, is she able to make the last song of an album make me wanna cry? That's how it feels. She has said before she wanted it to feel like a goodbye... AND IT DOES!!!

[@krsnmta]

why can’t y’all just enjoy the album lmao

[@justsomeone3747]

yeah even tho it does have a meaning genius didn't explain at all

[@aracelyalascagua1321]

Well I mean, Billie made these songs that have so meanings behind them but Goodbye is just Goodbye

[@justsomeone3747]

@@aracelyalascagua1321 well... ..not really. Goodbye does have a meaning and i posted a comment about it so you can go find it or i can copy and paste is for you here if you want

[@demianrednovak]

This makes me enjoy the album even more

[@JorgeReyes-yb9pr]

Billie eilish is just talent

[@fatphrogscreamingno6653]

My fav is I love you. It kinda relates to me with my crush

[@morbidlyangel]

Me too omg ;-;

[@randomshit1845]

Same!

[@creo.u]

This last song has a creepy babadook pic that is really hunting me👏🏾🤣

[@yum4259]

T.H it’s my lock screen picture

[@marcosa.6943]

it's my laptop screen picture since Billie posted on IG stories lmao

[@creo.u]

•pizza pop• are you fr😭 you brave

[@creo.u]

xdeadboyzz pfff i would get nightmares seeing pic evertime

[@creo.u]

wIdIt I know 😭 but like what she did with the song

[@somelikesstars]

Billie's such a genius 🥺🥰

[@loukianos6328]

wow! thanks for this video! it was like saying "wheres my phone?" when its in your hand!

[@maizeyc.5270]

Listen before I go makes me cry

[@ashannietextingstories4879]

Maizeyy and Kamdenn the whole album makes me cry 😂

[@bigmich6768]

Billie Eilish has more deep bars than some hip hop artists

[@MarkSierraMusic]

I get that there’s no “hidden meaning” but I love it for the idea of the wrapup. I’ve seen so many good ending songs for albums, bringing a whole load of emotions with it. Maybe they really do wrap up the album nicely. But to take that step back and see what you’ve just gone through I feel is a really good story telling element and it’s also just something rarely seen nowadays, I think especially in pop music. When I first heard it, it honestly made the album and their attention to those details that much better.

[@berthajkthatsnotmyname4898]

This is before I watch this but CANT WAIT TO LEARN NOTHING

[@lwendzib7297]

Love how well crafted this album is.

[@daniellehodes3249]

Its wrapping up all of the emotions she felt throughout the album and summing it up. Its my favorite song in the album

[@loverslost8188]

Goodbye is like a conversation is you read the lyrics a person begging someone not to go and the person giving them reasons why they should go

[@dajauzumaki7293]

Nobody This guy: *eelomeelo*

[@icantthinkofagayenoughuser6373]

That's, that's how its pronounced

[@user-lt9ll4xr7m]

Lmao that’s how it’s pronounced

[@maxbieri3073]

Eye-low-my-low is how I pronounce it.

[@okayokay8837]

Max Bieri it’s how everyone SHOULD pronounce it

[@cemre6491]

take control this is how its pronounced ?

[@memory_LF]

This is my favorite song in the album.

[@dannyv2230]

Seriously no song has made me feel as many emotions as I love you what a great song

[@itsliam3892]

someone’s rly pointing out the obvious here... everyone knew from the beginning that “goodbye” incorporated lyrics from each song 🤦‍♂️

[@pegasoseiya21]

I knew every single song was about and LITERALLY EVERYTHING

[@emmaventt]

I thought I was the only one who thought “I love you” sounded like “hallelujah” lol

[@adri.c4]

Goodbye is easily one of my fave songs

[@jamiecadmusguevara910]

Literally I feel like the song goodbye is just the conclusion to the other songs as the essay. Its explaining how she feels from multiple perspectives. And I love it. Someone who has some talent like this. Ooooo gives me chills

[@nonbinarybaby9192]

I love you, is the song that made me cry and helped me get over my breakups

[@nyaalfonsacarmelimorris2592]

😭😭😭 I can't! I just wanna hug Billie and cry. ❤️

[@zerownl876]

Billie Eilish looks so depressed now

[@squidwardsnose8538]

I think shes just a really deep thinker

[@deelight36]

Yes she does. Idk why she never seems happy.

[@CokeEColi]

FBI I’m telling North Korea that you said that

[@aaronc618]

Dee Light she said in an interview once that she feels weak and powerless when she smiles

[@RandomIsMyLif3]

@@deelight36 depression or chronic depression is a lifelong mental illness...good things happenening to you doesn't fix anything..you gotta learn to live with it

[@epani9904]

IT'S JUST A RECAP OF THE WHOLE ALBUM WTF ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING asdfghjkl

[@arrianah3890]

Yes, I figured this out on my own and this is definitely one of my favorites from the album. For those who couldn't tell or didn't read the comments on Goodbye this was greatly appreciated. Thanks for the video ;)

[@eboneex630]

“dont u know im no good for u” 🥰

[@meerabasim1270]

I never knew that's why I stayed

[@susanpaz5591]

Billie is a genius

[@astynmcalister4208]

goodbye was for sure my favorite song on the album

[@jadaschenckgarcia5561]

I KNEW I WASNT TRIPPIN WHEN I THOUGHT “ I love you “ SOUNDED A LOT LIKE HALLELUJAH

[@jjjxo]

i can relate to the album so much it hurts

[@roniamit5828]

Billie is fucking genius

[@damarismendez4050]

she’s incredible

[@mishaeljohnson328]

boutta listen to this album again

[@_tyshana_]

this makes me love this song so much more

[@RASHY616]

Goodbye made me cry

[@isabellaorozcogtz3082]

Chills every time they played bil’s voice

[@nochillciera]

It’s my favorite song from the album without a doubt

[@thatgirllol1811]

It's amazing how many ways you can make a lyric sound different.

[@FlowerAcid]

this is true art. omfg.

[@goldsfakeandreallovehurts3731]

See I love you does sound like hallelujah thought was just me

[@dawnjaco622]

Listening to this by a lake is soo calming

[@naiateree8915]

so emotional. so raw. i love it.

[@masonwalkerr]

in "goodbye" when billie eilish is referencing "listen before i go" she is actually saying "take me to the moon" not "take me to the rooftop" .

[@sashalee5099]

THXXXXS I thought she was ending and not making anymore songs so I was devastated 😭😊I lv Billie as well

[@suicidalwolfie552]

i love the song "I Love You"

[@yeetorbeyeeted7980]

Ok so by now we should know that they dont ever mention the meaning but we still click

[@GameOver-sy8wu]

WoW who knew, that really needed a video...thanks genius you really are geniuses

[@mashaal8423]

I interpret the song as you have flashbacks before you die and this song (goodbye) is your suicide note before u die so u can apologies to all the people you’ve hurt

[@tuanamustafa8309]

This video i incredible ! Explained all songs' meaning woww

[@authybonita6867]

love this new album so much!!!! it's just sooooo meaningful and deep

[@nesyildirim8462]

i need to listen to this album again after this

[@kokoloko8507]

- okay so here’s my interpretation. Since the album was meant to explain the feelings of various dreams, “goodbye” would sort of be waking up from all of those dreams at once , and saying goodbye to all of the characters or people in the dreams or nightmares. Thus, a sort of Alice in wonderland sort of resemblance. Not really. But a little.

[@ellachi2106]

there wasn’t a hidden meaning in “goodbye” specifically. just the lyrics it incorporated from other songs on the album had different meanings

[@makaylatyler314]

She is such a genius Istg

[@esautrejo6089]

Awesome vid❤️❤️❤️

[@katiemooree]

That ending is the best ending I have ever heard. It gets me emotional and all it is are the lyrics from the songs. And then the album starts right back up after that!

[@elizabethcurry6982]

god i fucking love billie so fucking much

[@mrkeepr]

you can tell genius was shocked when they realized this

[@eye-lish2031]

Billie is the best singer ever

[@ryangravley4957]

Another very well done video from Genius!

[@angelesmariamedinamonasi8500]

a masterpice loved it

[@desiraimitchell4093]

Omg I know it’s not just me whose favorite song on the album is I love you ❤️

[@pebb9274]

This is ABSOLUTELY GENIUS

[@cocainesuperstar2972]

Everybody knew all the songs were on this, it’s legit so self explanatory

[@abdirisakawes6544]

BILLIE IS SICK

[@rileyhaveman894]

i thought i was the only that thought it sounded like hallelujah

[@chels-5457]

i love you is such a freaking beautiful song

[@sodaenjoyer3544]

Billie cant just END ME WITH A GOODBYE

[@aimeerodriguespio8128]

Wonderful explanation. I was just seeing and discoverying. So cool. 🤩

[@reemalhalbouni]

❤️❤️ nice rap to all the important things in the album