☝️ Key Points
- The song 'The 30th' is about a traumatic event, specifically a car accident, and its consequences from the perspective of a close person.
- The singer's emotional conflict is highlighted through the lines where he has to deal with the aftermath of the accident and the fact that the person affected doesn't remember it.
- The repetition of certain lines shows the singer's fear and concern, but also his love and affection for the affected person.
- A series of hypothetical questions emphasizes the randomness and unpredictability of life, showing the singer's worry and relief that the person has survived.
- Overall, the song lyrics are an emotional reflection on trauma, love, and survival.
Interpretation
The lyrics of "The 30th" by
Billie Eilish are about a traumatic event, specifically a car accident and its consequences. The singer tells the story from the perspective of someone close to the accident victim.
The lines "Sometimes you look the same / Just like you did before the accident / When you're staring into space / It's hard to believe you don't remember it" describe the emotional conflict of the singer, who has to deal with the aftermath of the accident and the fact that the person affected doesn't remember it.
The repetition of the lines "And I know you don't remember calling me / But I told you, even then you looked so pretty / In a hospital bed / I remember you said you were scared / And so was I" shows the singer's fear and concern, but also their love and affection for the person affected.
The lines "What if it happened to you on a different day? / On a bridge, where there wasn't a rail in the way? / Or a neighborhood street where the little kids play? / Or the Angeles Crest in the snow or the rain? / What if you weren't alone? There were kids in car / What if you were remote? No one knows where you are / If you changed anything, would you not have survived? / You're alive, you're alive, you're alive" pose a series of hypothetical questions that emphasize the randomness and unpredictability of life. They show the singer's concern about what could have happened and their relief that the person survived. Overall, the lyrics are an emotional reflection on trauma, love, and survival.