Billie Eilish channels ‘Spirited Away’ in new song ‘Chihiro’ about lost love

‘Chihiro’ is the third track on Eilish’s third album, ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft,’ which dropped today, May 17.

Billie Eilish's highly-anticipated third album, ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft,’ dropped today, and fans are already dissecting the emotional depth of track number three, ‘Chihiro.’ 

The song's title is reportedly a reference to the lead character in Hayao Miyazaki's beloved animated film, ‘Spirited Away.’ The nine-time Grammy winner has previously expressed her admiration for Ghibli movies

In ‘Chihiro,’ Eilish delves into the uncertainty surrounding the relationship's status, questioning if the spark has truly vanished or if there's still a chance to rekindle the flame, reflected in lines like “Open up the door, can you open up the door?”

A month before the release of her album, the singer teased fans by revealing a section of her Ghibli film inspired song. During an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, Eilish went off-script and shared a 15-second snippet of a track. 

The snippet included the lyrics: “Today, maybe tomorrow/ Open the door for me/ I know you said before/ You can't cope with it no more.” 

A self-proclaimed admirer of Hayao Miyazaki's work, Eilish has even playfully admitted to having a childhood crush on the dragon character in ‘Spirited Away.’

Here are the lyrics for ‘Chihiro.’

[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
Feeling sorrow
I got change (Yeah)
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 turned around, but it wasn't your face
Said I need to be alone now, I'm taking a break
How come when I returned, you were gone away? (Gone away)

[Bridge]
I don't, I don't know
Why I called
I don't know you at all
I don't know you, no, I don't
I don't, I don't know
What I thought
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 waiting in the garden
Contemplating, beg your pardon
But there's a part of me that recognizes you
Do you feel that 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?

[Outro]
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"
(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")
(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)
(Don't say that)
Mhm