Lost Cause

Album: Happier Than Ever (2021)
Charted: 14 27
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Songfacts®:

  • Here, Billie Eilish dismisses a former flame who can't get his life together. During the kiss-off song, Eilish admits to the dude she was once attracted to him, but gradually cottoned that he's immature and unlikely to change. After they started dating, the singer realized he's self-centered:

    I used to think you were shy
    But maybe you just had nothing on your mind
    Maybe you were thinkin' 'bout yourself all the time


    Pretends to be tough and uncompromising when he's really just lazy:

    I know you think you're such an outlaw
    But you got no job


    And doesn't show her any affection:

    Gave me no flowers
    Wish I didn't care


    Now Eilish sees he's a lost cause.
  • The reference to Eilish's ex thinking himself to be "such an outlaw" has similarities to her 2019 hit "Bad Guy." There, the dude believed himself to be:

    A tough guy
    Like it really rough guy
    Just can't get enough guy
    Chest always so puffed guy


    But Eilish pointed out to him it is she who is the "bad guy" that is in control of their relationship.
  • Eilish's older brother and regular collaborator Finneas produced the track, giving it a slow-moving, jazz-inspired instrumentation. Finneas also programmed the drums and played the following instruments:

    Synthesizer
    Synth bass
    Electric guitar
    Bass
  • Billie Eilish directed the video, which finds her partying with friends and hanging out in a Los Angeles mansion. The girls turn the place into their playground as they twerk, enjoy a game of Twister, shoot off silly string and water guns, and snack on potato chips.

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