Halsey Wiki

"Forever...(Is a Long Time)" (stylized in sentence case) is a song performed by Halsey. It is featured as the fifth track on her third album, Manic. It was released on January 17, 2020 through Capitol Records.

Background[]

The song was announced on December 3, 2019 through social media[1]. In an interview with Zane Lowe Halsey explained that the song belonged to a trio with "Dominic's Interlude" and "I Hate Everybody":

"Every album of mine has what we call a trio: three songs smack in the middle that serve as a transition and are meant to be listened to in succession. On Manic, it’s 'Forever ... (is a long time),' 'Dominic's Interlude,' and 'I HATE EVERYBODY.’"
—Halsey explaining the trio[2]

In the same interview she also speaks about the duality and meaning of the song and how exactly it's paired with the other songs from the trio:

"On this song, I'm falling in love. The instrumental is major, all these beautiful twinkling tones, and birds are singing, everything’s sweet, it's Cinderella. And then I start getting in my own head. The piano comes in and it's this stream-of-consciousness train of thought that modulates from major to minor to show my mood shifting from optimistic to anxious. And now I'm sabotaging this relationship and feeling paranoid, this is going to be bad. And then [singer-songwriter] Dominic [Fike, on "Dominic's Interlude"] tells me I’d better go tell my man he’s got bad news coming."
—Halsey about the song's meaning[2]

On Twitter she revealed why she titled this song "Forever...(Is a Long Time)":

"'Forever...(is a long time)' is called that because it showcases the journey of falling in love and then sabotaging it with your own paranoia and insecurity. That’s why the music modulates from Major to Minor. [It was written on] the piano in my living room."
—Halsey on Twitter[3]

Lyrics[]

[Intro]
I spent a long time watering a plant made out of plastic
And I cursed the ground for growing green
I spent a long time substituting honest with sarcastic
And I cursed my tongue for being mean

[Verse]
And weightless, breathless restitute
Motionless and absolute
You cut me open, sucked the poison from an aging wound
Now fifty thousand war cadets
Would cower at this small brunette
To my surprise, not six feet high
Who'd reach and grab the moon if I
Should ask or just imply
That I wanted a bit more light
So I could look inside his eyes
And get the colors just right
Just right, just right, just

[Interlude]

[Outro]
Build love, build God, build provinces
Build calluses, break promises
'Cause I could never hold a perfect thing and not demolish it
What am I thinking? What does this mean?
How could somebody ever love me?
Talk to your man, tell him he's got bad news comin'


References[]

Manic
January 17, 2020 • Capitol Records
Songs
Standard 1 Ashley • 2 Clementine • 3 Graveyard • 4 You Should Be Sad • 5 Forever...(Is a Long Time) • 6 Dominic's Interlude • 7 I Hate Everybody • 8 3AM • 9 Without Me • 10 Finally // Beautiful Stranger • 11 Alanis' Interlude • 12 Killing Boys • 13 Suga's Interlude • 14 More • 15 Still Learning • 16 929
Deluxe Wipe Your TearsI'm Not MadBe KindWithout Me (Juice WRLD Remix)
Cut French songNightmare
Artist(s)
HalseyDominic FikeAlanis MorissetteSugaMarshmelloJuice WRLD
Tour
Manic World Tour