Meaning of “When the Party’s Over” by Billie Eilish
“When the Party’s Over” is a song recorded and performed by American singer Billie Eilish. In this song, Billie, who is apparently fed up with the behavior of her lover, uses the phrase “I’ll call you when the party’s over” as a metaphor to let him know she’s got better things to focus on than him and the drama accompanying him.
In the following lines from the song’s bridge, Billie reveals that the relationship is over. However, it appears her boyfriend still isn’t sure he wants to end it.
“Once we both said our goodbyes
Let’s just let it go
Let me let you go”
In an interview she had with coup de main magazine in 2018, she shed more light on the song’s meaning. According to her, the lyrics aren’t really about her being sad that the relationship has collapsed.
She likened the lyrics to being in a loud environment and being on the phone with someone. You both can’t hear each other due to the loud noise in the background and on top of that, the person is “mad at you for some reason” and is yelling. So you get fed up with the whole situation and tell them this: “F**king leave me alone”.
She later told coupe de main that the track is more like a sequel to her 2017 song titled “Party Favor”. In “Party Favor”, Billie is getting out of a toxic relationship with her possessive boyfriend. Her goal is to get him out of her life.
Facts about “When the Party’s Over”
- Actor/songwriter/music producer Finneas O’Connell solely wrote and produced this track. O’Connell is the senior brother of Billie Eilish.
- O’Connell gained fame in the music industry co-writing and producing Billie’s songs.
- Billie receives no songwriting credit on “When the Party’s Over”. This is because she didn’t co-write the song.
- In addition to solely writing and producing this tune, O’Connell also played a number of instruments on the track.
- The tune was formally released on October 17, 2018.
- O’Connell revealed on Twitter that during the recording of the song, he and Billie did “hundreds and hundreds of vocal layers” on it. He said they hoped to create something unforgettable with the song because it is very important to them.
Below is the official music video for “When the Party’s Over”. The video received millions of views within 24 hours of being uploaded on YouTube.
Who sings the background vocals on “When the Party’s Over”?
The song’s backing vocals are sung by Finneas O’Connell.
Which album does “When the Party’s Over” appear on?
It appears on Billie Eilish’s debut album. That album is titled When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. And the singles “bury a friend” and “You Should See Me In a Crown” appear on that album.
what does “I could lie and say I like it like that” mean?
it means she lies about liking her home being quiet and alone.
Nice adobe after effects.
what is the black stuff she drinks in the video.
its fake if u look on her insta she put a video up of how they made it
No she actually took 3 gulps she mentioned it was charcoal and some other concoctions
what is the black stuff she drinks in the video. this is amazing video!
It’s xanthan gum & charcoal mixed.
It’s about being in love with someone who wont commit that uses you for a booty call.
That’s the way i’m hearing it too.
That’s exactly what it felt like to me. Gut punched me in my memories for sure!
This song takes you on a purity journey of the isolated dark path of pain, suffering and self preservation. When you hit rock bottom and surrendered all your super powers of self-worth into someone else’s hand you are in a deep dark place and the only freedom of escape in the narrow passage of hope is to numb the pain by popping pills. The black liquid is what you drink to pump the pills out of your stomach when you are rush to the ER. The irony that she drinks the black solution to save herself from the dark and lonely place. She wearing all white and is the scene of what you would wear at a mental ward on hold for forty-eight hours so the suicidal person doesn’t hurt themselves.
Everyone gets hurt… but when it happens to you it’s the first time of hell on earth. By walking through the pain… life is worth living and is quite beautiful. Perfection is over rate. <3
kys
Beautiful True
You nailed this on the head!
Outstanding explanation for real like I can honestly say that you did very good job for the fact on that song
I legit think this is about having an affair. The singer is the mistress. While her lover is with his or her partner.
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Video is creepy. After she drank the charcoal drink her eyes and actions are not nice.
The song is about her having a depressive episode… and she wants to be left alone. She’ll call you when the party is over
“call me friend but keep me closer” I’d do anything to know what that means.
I’m taking that it means the person tells one they are “just friends”, but they physically keep them intimately closer. Most likely liking someone who won’t commit.
I dunno what it means but a woman I like sent it to me… wtf
bro start commiting to your relationship rn
This comment has me lit lol! Bro… rn start committing! Like, seriously if a girl is sending you this, your actions or lack there of have consequences and although she might say that she’s fine she clearly isn’t if she has sent you this. If you really like her but ultimately cannot commit fully then let her go I guess?! I don’t know, the threads in these comments sections are supposed to be about debating on what the artist means when they string words together to make verses and bridges and choruses etc. not real life shit lol 😂 my inner romantic can’t take it.
I like this very emotional song. The song describes a toxic situationship between two people who are attracted to each other. But the guy sadly doesn´t want others to know about their relationship. A song many can relate to. She lies that she likes it when her bf isn´t around just to “keep” him. She knows he doesn´t care about her when he only wants to call her when the party´s over. Situationships are very lonely experiences that hurt. She deserves better and realizes that at the end of the song.
This is an awesome site! Thanks to all who are able to break songs down and explain them so well! It makes it much easier to follow and understand their meaning. Relating is what it’s all about! Thank you all!