Halley’s Comet

Billie Eilish's 'Halley’s Comet' is a poignant exploration of reluctant love and emotional vulnerability. The song's title references the famous comet that is visible from Earth every 75-76 years, using it as a metaphor for the rarity and significance of the feelings the singer is experiencing. Eilish is known for her ethereal voice and introspective lyrics, and this song is a testament to her ability to convey deep emotions in a hauntingly beautiful way.

The lyrics of 'Halley’s Comet' reveal a struggle between the head and the heart. Eilish sings about not wanting to want someone, indicating a resistance to her own feelings. The dreamscape she describes, where she is more honest with herself, suggests that her subconscious is more accepting of these emotions than she is in her waking life. The comet metaphor is particularly powerful because it implies that her feelings are both rare and overwhelming, much like the celestial event itself. The line 'But you're all it takes for me to break a promise' indicates a surrender to these feelings, despite her attempts to resist them.

Eilish's mention of sleepless nights and the time difference between her and the object of her affection adds a layer of complexity to the song. It speaks to the idea of longing and the sacrifices one makes when they're in love, especially in a long-distance relationship. The confession 'I was good at feeling nothin', now I'm hopeless' is a raw acknowledgment of her emotional transformation. The song ends with a quiet resignation to the feelings she has tried to push away, encapsulated in the lines 'I think I might have fallen in love / What am I to do?' This rhetorical question leaves listeners with a sense of the singer's emotional turmoil and the powerlessness that often accompanies love.