Ever the politically astute young celebrity, Billie Eilish offers scathing commentary on the state of society and on the all-too-common process of sacrificing friends when trying to save a relationship that has hit the skids. She laments that young people are more concerned with taking sides in “Johnny vs. Amber” than with the dissolution of Roe v. Wade. Nihilistically, she says that she’ll just turn on “Survivor” to watch people make each other suffer, deftly noting that the manufactured betrayals on the screen mean absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things.
First Released Live
What’s intriguing about this song, too, is that it wasn’t polished over and over again in the studio, take after take, until it fit some predetermined formula. She just recorded it one day by singing softly into her phone. Eilish mentioned in an interview that she was sitting in an airport one day while waiting for a late flight, and the idea just came to her that she and her brother, Finneas, should simply sing those songs during a concert. “TV” was one of those songs. Eilish also waxed nostalgic for the time when she was just 12 or 13 years old, producing with Finneas in one of their bedrooms, and she could just write what she wanted and sing what she wanted. She also noted that doing so grew more difficult as she became a bigger and bigger name.
Eilish also stated to Rolling Stone that the process of writing “TV” took months because she and Finneas were on tour, and there was precious little time for themselves between performing and attending all the accompanying events. Eilish said that they got the first verse and the chorus down on paper first and that the rest followed some time later. Shortly before the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Eilish was incensed and insisted that they add what the conservatives were planning to do to the lyrics of the song. With uncharacteristic melancholy, Eilish noted, as well, that her song lyrics acted as a “curtain of doom” because the law guaranteeing reproductive rights for all women in the United States had been overtured.
A Rare, Brave Performer
Eilish continues to be her own person as a performer. Few other artists of her stature would just perform unknown songs live with no filter and no production. That spontaneity is also behind her quirky manner of dress, lack of makeup, and the rest of the odd things that are both so against “normalcy” and part of her completely endearing personality.
Lyrics
I don’t wanna talk right now
I just wanna watch TV
I’ll stay in the pool and drown
So I don’t have to watch you leave
I put on Survivor just to watch somebody suffer
Maybe I should get some sleep
Sinking in the sofa while they all betray each other
What’s the point of anything?
All of my friends are missing again
That’s what happens when you fall in love
You don’t have the time, you leave them all behind
You tell yourself it’s fine, you’re just in love
Don’t know where you are right now
Did you see me on TV?
I’ll try not to starve myself
Just because you’re mad at me
And I’ll be in denial for at least a little while
What about the plans we made?
The internet’s gone wild watching movie stars on trial
While they’re overturning Roe v. Wade
Now all of my friends are missing again
‘Cause that’s what happens when you fall in love
You don’t have the time, you leave them all behind
And you tell yourself it’s fine, you’re just in love
And I don’t get along with anyone
Maybe I’m the problem
Maybe I’m the problem
Maybe I, maybe I, maybe I’m the problem
Maybe I, maybe I, maybe I’m the problem
Maybe I, maybe I, maybe I’m the problem
Maybe I, maybe I, maybe I’m the problem
Maybe I, maybe I, maybe I’m the problem
Maybe I, maybe I, maybe I’m the problem
Baby, I, baby, I, baby, I’m the problem
Baby, I, baby, I, baby, I’m the problem
Baby, I, baby, I, baby, I’m the problem
Baby, I, baby, I, baby, I’m the problem
Baby, I, baby, I, baby, I’m the problem
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Billie Eilish O’Connell / Finneas O’Connell
TV lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Listeners that enjoy this song about Aspiration may also enjoy the song Yall Means All by Miranda Lambert
Editor’s Note: This article was first published August 10th, 2022 and last updated April 5th, 2023.
