Oh, it’s funny how/
The warning signs can feel like they’re butterflies..
In “Graveyard”, Halsey’s partner is physically abusive. She realizes this, yet it does not hinder her love for him. She says she will “follow him down to the graveyard”. This comes across as a powerful line, rather than a trite cliché, because there is a good chance that her relationship could lead to her harm or death. It is a song about abuse that contains a great use of extended metaphor.
Yet Halsey stays. Due to her upbringing, her genes, her misplaced attraction or devotion, to her, warning signs are indistinguishable from butterflies. Intellectually, she knows this. But sometimes our logic and our emotions don’t align. So, what then? Too often, we follow our emotions to our detriment. Halsey says it may lead her to the graveyard, but the excitement from the relationship is too good to give up.
If there is any solace to be taken from the song, it is that the author is singing in the past tense: “I would’ve followed you down to the graveyard.” Somehow she escaped the abuse, yet she admits to herself she probably would go down the same path again—regardless where the path leads.
The sound is at times both tender and urgent. She has an extremely unique voice, which is a plus for any artist. Like Sia, she is able to produce different versions of her song that make for great acoustic mixes and dance mixes. Often they sound quite different and can provide different experiences.
Halsey is one of the most talented performers of her generation. If she is lacking anything, it is that stand-out, iconic, sing-along hit. “Graveyard” is not a singalong, but it might be her best song.
Graveyard Lyrics
It’s crazy when
The thing you love the most is the detriment
Let that sink in
You can think again
When the hand you wanna hold is a weapon and
You’re nothin’ but skin
Oh, ’cause I keep diggin’ myself down deeper
I won’t stop ’til I get where you are
I keep running, I keep running, I keep running
They say I may be making a mistake
I would’ve followed all the way, no matter how far
I know when you go down all your darkest roads
I would’ve followed all the way to the graveyard
Oh, ’cause I keep diggin’ myself down deeper
I won’t stop ’til I get where you are
I keep running when both my feet hurt
I won’t stop ’til I get where you are
Oh, when you go down all your darkest roads
I would’ve followed all the way to the graveyard (no, oh)
You look at me (look at me)
With eyes so dark, don’t know how you even see
You push right through me (push right through me)
It’s gettin’ real
You lock the door, you’re drunk at the steering wheel
And I can’t conceal
Oh, ’cause I’ve been diggin’ myself down deeper
I won’t stop ’til I get where you are
I keep running, I keep running, I keep running
They say I may be making a mistake
I would’ve followed all the way, no matter how far
I know when you go down all your darkest roads
I would’ve followed all the way to the graveyard
Oh, ’cause I keep diggin’ myself down deeper
I won’t stop ’til I get where you are
I keep running when both my feet hurt
I won’t stop ’til I get where you are
Oh, when you go down all your darkest roads
I would’ve followed all the way to the graveyard
Oh, it’s funny how
The warning signs can feel like they’re butterflies
Oh, ’cause I keep diggin’ myself down deeper
I won’t stop ’til I get where you are
I keep running when both my feet hurt
I won’t stop ’til I get where you are
Oh, when you go down all your darkest roads
I would’ve followed all the way to the graveyard
Songwriters: Amy Allen / Ashley Frangipane / Jonathan Bellion / Jordan K Johnson / Louis Bell / Mark Williams / Stefan Johnson