Hey, leave a message
Hey, call me back when you get this
Or when you’ve got a minute
We really need to talk
Wait, you know what?
Maybe just forget it
‘Cause by the time you get this
Your number might be blocked
“Stay” and blah, blah, blah
You just want what you can’t have
No way
I’ll call the cops
If you don’t stop, I’ll call your dad
And I hate to do this to you on your birthday
Happy birthday, by the way
“It’s not you, it’s me” and all that other bullshit
You know that’s bullshit
Don’t you, babe?
I’m not your party favor
Look, now I know we could’ve done it better
But we can’t change the weather
When the weather’s come and gone
Books don’t make sense if you read them backwards
You’ll single out the wrong words
Like you mishear all my songs
You’ll hear “stay” and blah, blah, blah
You just want what you can’t have
No way
I’ll call the cops
If you don’t stop, I’ll call your dad
And I hate to do this to you on your birthday
Happy birthday, by the way
“It’s not you, it’s me” and all that other bullshit
You know that’s bullshit
Don’t you, babe?
I’m not your party favor
Breaking Up on Your Own Terms
“Party Favor” by Billie Eilish captures the unapologetic honesty of ending a relationship that no longer serves you. The song opens with a voicemail message, setting a candid, conversational tone. Billie’s lyrics are direct and unfiltered, as she navigates the discomfort of breaking up—especially when it happens on the other person’s birthday. Through lines like “You just want what you can’t have” and “I’m not your party favor,” she asserts her boundaries, challenging the notion that she should be kept around for someone else’s convenience. The track cleverly juxtaposes sweet, ukulele-driven melodies with blunt, even biting, words, highlighting the contrast between outward politeness and inner resolve.
Song Credits
Songwriters: Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell
Release Year: 2017
Label: Darkroom/Interscope Records