Unpacking Billie Eilish’s CHIHIRO Lyrics: A Deep Dive into Meaning and Inspiration

Billie Eilish’s much-anticipated third studio album, Hit Me Hard And Soft, dropped on May 17, 2024, revealing a new layer of her ever-evolving artistry.

This new album, which leaked early, is the follow up to Eilish’s first two acclaimed albums When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and Happier Than Ever.

Chihiro, co-written and produced by Billie and her brother Finneas, draws its name and thematic inspiration from the lead character in Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning film, Spirited Away.

The 2001 animated film has garnered a cult following in the US as have other movies from Miyazaki including Ponyo, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro and last year’s Oscar winner The Boy and the Heron.

The Grammy and Oscar-winning musician has always been one to weave fantastical tales through her music, but with Chihiro, she’s truly outdone herself with a hauntingly beautiful homage to Hayao Miyazaki’s animated masterwork Spirited Away.

The Genesis of “Chihiro”

Chihiro serves as the third track on Hit Me Hard And Soft. Billie Eilish has long been a fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, and this admiration shines through in her work.

In a 2019 interview, Billie Eilish expressed her deep connection to Spirited Away and how it influenced her artistic direction.

She described how the film’s unique blend of realism and fantasy profoundly impacted her creativity.

This connection is evident in Chihiro, where the song’s themes mirror the journey of the film’s protagonist, Chihiro Ogino.

Release and Production Details

Chihiro was released on May 17, 2024, as part of the album Hit Me Hard And Soft.

The song is a collaborative effort between Billie and Finneas, who have consistently pushed the boundaries of contemporary music.

Their synergy in writing and producing has once again yielded a track that is both emotionally and sonically compelling.

Chihiro Lyrics Analysis: A Journey Through Emotions

Chihiro lyrics are among Billie’s most abstract to date, offering a rich tapestry of emotions and imagery.

From the moment those first ethereal notes hit, you’re transported into Billie’s dreamlike interpretation of the beloved film.

Her delicate yet powerful vocals envelop you, begging “Open up the door, can you open up the door?” with an aching vulnerability reminiscent of Chihiro’s own journey into the spirit realm.

This repeated request to “open up the door” suggests a longing for understanding or escape, much like Chihiro’s desire to navigate the unknown world she finds herself in within Spirited Away.

The door symbolises a barrier to be overcome, a threshold between safety and the challenges ahead.

The chorus’s emotional depth lies in its repetition and simplicity. Billie’s delivery, marked by her characteristic breathy vocals, adds to the sense of urgency and vulnerability.

The lyrics are pure poetry, painting vivid imagery that bleeds into the next line like watercolors on canvas.

The Outro: A Reflection on Traps and Resilience

In the outro, Billie sings:

“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’.”

This section is poignant and introspective, reflecting a moment of realisation and confrontation with harsh truths.

The imagery of a “trap” suggests feelings of entrapment or manipulation, resonating with the themes of control and powerlessness that are central to both the song and the film Spirited Away.

Thematic Resonance with Spirited Away

Billie Eilish’s Chihiro draws heavily on the themes of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away.

The film follows Chihiro Ogino, a young girl who finds herself in a spirit world where she must navigate challenges and overcome fears to save her parents and return to her reality.

This journey is mirrored in the song’s exploration of emotional trials and the search for inner strength.

In the film, Chihiro’s transformation from a frightened child to a brave and resourceful hero is marked by her encounters with various spirits and the challenges they present.

Similarly, Billie’s lyrics convey a journey through emotional landscapes, marked by moments of doubt and the struggle for resilience.

Chihiro Musical Composition and Vocal Delivery

Chihiro musical composition features a blend of ambient, soft electronica, and subtle jazz influences.

This multi-layered instrumentation provides a rich backdrop for Billie’s vocal performance, which oscillates between delicate, almost whisper-like moments and powerful, emotive highs.

The ambient elements in Chihiro create an ethereal atmosphere, reminiscent of the dreamlike quality of Spirited Away, and the use of soft electronica adds a modern twist, grounding the song in contemporary music while allowing it to evoke a sense of otherworldliness.

The subtle jazz influences in the track add depth and complexity, enhancing the song’s emotional resonance.

These undertones can be heard in the nuanced instrumentation and the fluid, improvisational feel of some sections.

This fusion of genres showcases Billie and Finneas’s versatility and willingness to experiment.

The Broader Impact of “Chihiro”

Chihiro has already begun to make waves in the music industry and among fans.

Prior to its release, the song was featured in an advertisement for the Fortnite Festival, where fans could also purchase a Billie Eilish skin in the game.

This cross-media presence highlights Billie’s cultural impact and the wide-reaching appeal of her work.

Inviting Readers to Experience “Chihiro”

For those who have yet to immerse themselves in Chihiro, the song offers a deeply moving and introspective experience.

The lyrics to Chihiro by Billie Eilish invite listeners to explore themes of power, vulnerability, and resilience.

As you listen to the song, reflect on the intricate connections to Spirited Away and the broader implications of the emotional journey it portrays.

Whether you’re a long-time fan of Billie Eilish or new to her music, Chihiro is a track that promises to resonate on multiple levels.

Its blend of haunting melodies, profound lyrics, and rich production makes it a standout piece in Hit Me Hard And Soft.

From the very first twinkling notes, you can feel echoes of the film’s whimsical wonder.

But rather than falling into mimicry, Billie filters it all through her own singular artistic lens.

The result is an utterly spellbinding musical experience that will leave you feeling as if you too have walked through that ornate bathhouse door.

While some may be tempted to write off Chihiro as Billie’s “anime track,” that gross simplification misses the point entirely.

This is a work of profound depth and vision that cements her status as one of this generation’s most daring and accomplished songwriters.

Billie Eilish didn’t just pay lip service to one of her biggest influences; she poured her very essence into creating a rich, fully-realised universe all its own.

Conclusion

So go ahead, press play, and let Chihiro seep into your pores. With each rapturous listen, you’ll find yourself inching ever closer to unravelling its many mysteries.

Just don’t be surprised if you too start seeing strange spirits lurking in every shadow.

After experiencing the sheer magic of this song, the lines between reality and fantasy may never look quite the same.

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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, feelin’ sorrow
I got change (Yup), 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
Saw you turn around, but it wasn’t your face
Said, “I need to be alone now, I’m takin’ a break”
How come when I rеturned, you were gonе away?

Bridge
I don’t, I don’t know why I called
I don’t know you at all
I don’t know you
Not at all
I don’t, I don’t know why I called
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 waitin’ in the garden
Contemplatin’, beg your pardon
But there’s a part of me that recognizes you
Do you feel it too?
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
Wringing my hands in 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
(Wringing my hands in my lap)
(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”)
(Wringing my hands in my lap)
(Tell me it’s all been a trap)
(And you don’t know if you’ll make it back)
(No, don’t say that)
Hm-hm