"GOLDWING" (stylized in all caps) is the sixth track, included on Billie Eilish's sophomore studio album Happier Than Ever.
Theme[]
"GOLDWING" describes a young adult woman who is in an industry that sells sexual pictures of women. This young woman is considered "pure" because of her non-traumatic history as she has no trauma related to sexual things, which makes it easier for the industry to sell the pictures of her.
Spotify Synopsis[]
| “ | Uhm, "GOLDWING", I wrote the song that is kind of a metaphor for—y'know—a young women, especially "in the industry" or in—y'know—life that is pure, and I don't mean a virgin, I mean like a young non-exploited, non-traumatized person. A metaphor for that being—y'know—a gold-winged angel. | ” |
– Billie Eilish, via Spotify | ||
Synesthetic Perception[]
"GOLDWING" is perceived to be a gold in Billie's synesthesia[1] |
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
He hath come to the bosom of his beloved
Smiling on him, she beareth him to highest heav'n
With yearning heart
On thee we gaze o' gold-wing'd messenger of mighty Gods
[Verse 1]
Goldwing angel
Go home, don't tell
Anyone what you are
You're sacred and they're starved
And their art is gettin' dark
And there you are to tear apart
Tear apart, tear apart, tear apart
[Chorus]
You better keep your head down-down
Da-da-down-down, da-da-down-down
Better keep your head down-down
Da-da-down-down, da-da-down-down
[Verse 2]
They're gonna tell you what you wanna hear
Then they're gonna disappear
Gonna claim you like you a souvenir
Just to sell you in a year
[Chorus]
You better keep your head down-down
Da-da-down-down, da-da-down-down
Keep your head down-down
Da-da-down-down, da-da-down-down
Better keep your head down-down
Da-da-down-down, da-da-down-down
Keep your head down-down
Da-da-down-down, da-da-down-down
[Outro]
That's good!
Trivia[]
- This is the shortest song on the album.
- The intro consists of more choir-styled layered vocals until a vocal effects transition builds to the drop of the song, dissimilar of any other Happier Than Ever track.
- The song's intro samples text from an ancient Hindu verse, specifically a translation, Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, 3rd Group, Op. 26: No. 3. Hymn to Vena by Gustav Holst, hence the song's title in relationship to the hymn.[2]
- The original Vedic Sanskrit text is one of the four great canonical texts of Hindiusm, taken from a writing collection entitled The Rig Veda.
- The choir section of the song, originated from when she was in her childhood choir. They sang that section there and thought it was a beautiful symbolic way to bring it back.
- In A love Letter to Los Angeles, she had that choir perform the section for the concert.
Videos[]
References[]
| v • e Happier Than Ever | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
| Tracks | |
| Tours | |