Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever (Sheet Music)

Well, Billie Eilish has done it again! Happier Than Ever is an awesome and surprising song that keeps the listener on their toes. You think you understand where this song is going until about half way through when suddenly the vibe changes. Billie takes you on a ride as she takes you through an old fashioned ukulele ballad that ramps up into an epic rock anthem that just keeps getting more and more intense. What a way to convey your emotions, Billie!

So besides the obvious reasons that this song is crazy-cool, there are a bunch of things about Happier Than Ever that surprised and, to be honest, confused me.

What song-form is Happier Than Ever?

While transcribing this song, I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on form-wise. You may really disagree with the form of my lead sheet for Happier Than Ever. It starts out with a section that really sounds like a verse, but it repeats later in the song (unlike pretty much anything else)... And that's when it hit me! Happier Than Ever is not in a classic pop form (verses and choruses), it's in an old school jazz form! (at least the first half) So I decided to mark the sections as A, B, etc. In my opinion, the first half of the song is in an AABCA form.

What about the second half of the song? While listening, I was like "is Happier Than Ever through-composed!?" So I decided to just go by what it feels like... It starts out with a very strong verse. You can't convince me that the "you called me again, drunk in your Benz" isn't a verse! ...Now the "I don't relate to you" part is SUCH a pre-chorus! And of course "I don't talk sh** about you on the internet" - What a chorus! But can you definitively name any of these sections if they never repeat? That's why this song has got me so excited - it made me start thinking about identifying song sections by the way they feel, not the placement, or when they repeat. And this is why I'm sticking with my analysis, even if Billie wouldn't agree.

...But let's go on! After the chorus, there's a section that, based on the way it feels, I would call another pre-chorus. That's why I called it pre-chorus 2. But listen to it, it's SUCH a pre-chorus. And is it "pre" a chorus? No! It's "pre" an instrumental that feels like a chorus, which finishes out the song.

What time signature is Happier Than Ever in?

Why is this song so epic? One of the many reasons is that half way through, the song switches from a 4/4 time signature to a 12/8 time signature. For those of you that aren't familiar with time signatures, 4/4 means there are 4 beats in every measure, so you can think of it like the drummer is counting to 4 over and over again... And with 12/8, they're counting to 12. What's interesting is that 12/8 is definitely more common in that old-timey style, especially ukulele ballads, and 4/4 is more common in rock. Did she switch those on purpose? I suppose we'll never know.

Why didn't we notice how weird this song is?

The coolest thing about this song is that with all the non-traditional stuff going on, no one probably noticed it. No one's thinking about the weird form of the song or the time signature change, because it's just such a good song. This is proof that good song writers can just break all the rules.

Ever since Olivia Rodrigo's "Brutal," we've been wondering... Is rock coming back?! Well after the release of Happier Than Ever, I'm convinced. It's time for us all to dust off our electric guitars, because they're making a comeback.

Happier Than Ever - Lyrics [by Billie Eilish]

(with a form according to me)

[A]

When I'm away from you

I'm happier than ever

Wish I could explain it better

I wish it wasn't true

[A]

Give me a day or two

to think of something clever

To write myself a letter

To tell me what to do

[B]

Do you read my interviews?

Or do you skip my avenue?

When you said you were passing through

Was I even on your way?

[B]

I knew when I asked you to

Be cool about what I was telling you

You'd do the opposite of what you said you'd do

And I'd end up more afraid

[C]

Don't say it isn't fair

You clearly weren't aware that you made me miserable

So if you really wanna know

[A]

When I'm away from you

I'm happier than ever

Wish I could explain it better

I wish it wasn't true

(Switch to 12/8 time!)

[Verse]

You call me again

Drunk in your Benz

Driving home under the influence

You scared me to death, but I'm wasting my breath

'Cause you only listen to your f*cking friends

[Pre-Chorus]

I don't relate to you

I don't relate to you, no

'Cause I'd never treat me this sh*tty

You made me hate this city

[Chorus]

And I don't talk sh*t about you on the internet

Never told anyone anything bad

'Cause that sh*t's embarrassing, you were my everything

And all that you did was make me f*cking sad

So don't waste the time I don't have

And don't try to make me feel bad, I could talk about

Every time that you showed up on time

But I'd have an empty line 'cause you never did

Never paid any mind to my mother or friends

So I shut them all out for you 'cause I was a kid

[Pre-Chorus II]

You ruined everything good

Always said you were misunderstood

Made all my moments your own

Just f*cking leave me alone

[Instrumental]

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Check out this super cool music video for Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish: