8 by Billie Eilish

Album: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019)

Charted: 79

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This lullaby-like track was originally a slow, bare-boned song titled "See Through," featuring just Billie Eilish's raw vocal and the ukulele. Eilish's producer Finneas felt it needed to be quicker. He told Vulture the whole song is sped up 20 BPM, including the ukulele, "which is why it has that strange, kind of kooky feeling."
The song finds Billie Eilish singing about a boyfriend who looks at her "like I'm see-through." She realizes he doesn't love her so decides not to pursue the relationship any longer.
This is the eighth track on When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Billie and Finneas decided to change the title to "8" as they felt it was a song that people would be more likely to click on and listen to with that name rather than calling it "See Through."

Comments: 7

Billie Fan from Princeton, Nj, UsaBillie Eilish and Finneas peed in their pants! Everyone, save them.
Lwnsky from SwedenTbh i only searched up why its calles 8 becuz my as my nearest relization is in wish u were gay she said (12)step just for you (11) heys (10) fingrr tearin oit my hair (9) timrs you never made it there then she skipped 8 its so cool and so nice
Munaa from LondonHow did she come up with some good song. I literally felt it. Literally.
Smk from Atlanta, Ga@Amy - She uses a play on words for “8” - “I ATE (8) alone at 7; you were six minutes away.”
Amy from GermanyI have a question that has been bugging me for months. In "wish you were gay" the lyrics have every number from twelve to one and the only number that's missing is eight...which just happens to be the title of another song of hers which has no connection to its lyrics and meaning at all. I'm just confused.
Jazzyb from EnglandI love Billie Eilish a lot but I always have questions.
8. Turn it on its side: infinity. Is this a sign or clue to something?
Anonymous from UsaIn an interview she actually says that she wrote the song from the perspective of a past boyfriend. It’s not about how someone hurt her, it’s about how she hurt someone.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)The Stranglers

"Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)" by The Stranglers was written about the then Premier of Queensland, Joh Bjelke-Petersen. His political shenanigans were observed by the band during their first tour of Australia.

A Bar Song (Tipsy)Shaboozey

Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" is a country reworking of J-Kwon's hip-hop hit "Tipsy," with the setting changed from a club to a dive bar.

Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me)Train

Many assumed Train's breakthrough hit, "Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me)," is about a woman who leaves a relationship to find herself. Lead singer Pat Monahan actually wrote it after having a dream about his mother, who was "back in the atmosphere" after dying of cancer.

Billie JeanMichael Jackson

Quincy Jones wanted to change the title of "Billie Jean" to "Not My Lover" so it wouldn't be confused with the tennis star Billie Jean King. Michael Jackson refused.

(Don't Fear) The ReaperBlue Öyster Cult

Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult wrote "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" after he was diagnosed with a heart condition and started thinking about his own mortality.

Can I Kick It?A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest sampled the mellow groove of Lou Reed's 1972 classic "Walk On The Wild Side" on "Can I Kick It?" It fit their vibe, with Q-Tip and Phife Dawg trading lines about hanging out and having fun, the definition of "kickin' it."