Killing Boys

### Composer(s)

Ashley Frangipane, Happy Perez, Nate Ruess, Cashmere Cat, Benny Blanco, John Cunningham

## *Manic* Chronology

"**Killing Boys**" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song performed by Halsey. It is featured as the twelfth track on her third album, *Manic*. It was released on January 17, 2020 through Capitol Records. It is also featured on her third EP, *Manic: Revenge EP*.

## Background

The song was announced on December 3, 2019 through social media. In an Instagram livestream on December 3, 2019 Halsey named this song as one of her favorite songs of the album along with "929", "I Hate Everybody" and "Dominic's Interlude".

She explained the song's inspiration and meaning through Spotify's storyline feature:

"*A manic fantasy based on the moment after a breakup, where you and your friends get together and form a masterplan to make your enemy sorry they ever crossed you. But then ultimately deciding revenge is drinking poison and hoping it will cause the other person pain. 'I stop cause I don't wanna Uma Thurman your ass no more...' is my personal favorite line.*"
—Halsey

The song opens with an audio snippet from the 2009 horror film *Jennifer's Body*. In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music Halsey talked more about the song:

"*It’s about being so enraged that you’re like, I'm going to break into his house, go in his room, sit him down, and be like, 'Listen, motherfucker, you're going to talk to me right now.' Like, I'm going to wear a black hoodie. My friend's going to drive. It's pseudo based on a real story of when I actually did bust into somebody's house looking for answers about something. It was back in a time when I was really manic and would be like, 'No, my only option is to go over there and cause a scene.' It goes: 'I climb up to the window and I break in the glass/But I stop 'cause I don't want to Uma Thurman your ass.' It’s satirical, but I’m mad.*"
—Halsey

## Lyrics

[Intro: Amanda Seyfried & *Megan Fox*]

You're killing people

*No, I'm killing boys*

*Boys are just placeholders, they come and they go*

You're my best friend, and I wanna help you

But I won't let you kill again

*That's a lose-lose*

[Verse 1: Halsey]

Told me pick my battles and be pickin' 'em wise

But I wanna pick 'em all and I don't wanna decide

No more, no more, anymore

So we'll sneak in in the back and then we'll kick in the door

Tell me, have you ever keyed a Ferrari before?

Oh no, I don't anymore

[Chorus: Halsey]

And I'm not breakin', I won't take it

And I won't ever feel this way again

'Cause you don't need me anymore, woah

And I won't ever try again

And all I want in return is revenge

'Cause I don't need you anymore, woah

So where do you go?

[Verse 2: Halsey]

Pull up to the drive and I remember the codes

Yeah, the only fuckin' numbers you don't hide in your phone

No more, no more, anymore

Climb up to the window and I'm breakin' the glass

Then I stop, 'cause I don't wanna Uma Thurman your ass

No more, no more, anymore

[Chorus: Halsey]

And I'm not breakin', I won't take it

And I won't ever feel this way again

'Cause you don't need me anymore, woah

And I won't ever try again

And all I want in return is revenge

'Cause I don't need you anymore, woah

So where do you go?

[Outro: Halsey]

Woah, woah, woah, oh, oh

When I don't need you anymore

Woah, woah, woah, oh, oh

And I don't need you

## References

1. ↑ *Twitter* - "January 17, 2020"
2. ↑ *IG Lives* - "Halsey | Instagram Live Stream | 3 December 2019"
3. ↑ *Spotify* - "killing boys" by Halsey
4. ↑ *Apple Music* - Manic by Halsey

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