HFK Analysis- "Heaven in Hiding"

This explanation seems very plausible!

English Teacher KP

When we talk about how this could mean their relationship was a secret, I’m not sure the timeline but I do know that halsey’s ex boyfriend was working with her, he was their music producer, Lido and even making this album he was there listening to her as she poured out these lyrics about him and their relationship as she recorded it. And when you think about dating someone you work with, people often try to keep that a secret so that also could be one explanation there. I do know that Halsey when talking about this album she said she didn’t want to make it a slam against their ex. They will show their own faults and the relationship overall but not bringing the ex down which is interesting.

Nikki S

This is such a fascinating connection! Wow! Thanks so much for sharing!

English Teacher KP

Yeah that's kind of what I was trying to get at there at the end...that some parts of "heaven" are just meant for the other person! Thank you for saying that in a more articulate way!

English Teacher KP

Oh very cool! I definitely love how confident and empowered the speaker is here regarding sexuality!

English Teacher KP

I think it’s interesting in the song Halsey says “im a child of a” twice but in the poem they say the waitress must “*thinks* she’s a child of a” anyway so off topic but I read the poetry book before bed sometimes and I love the ones that connect to songs lol

Nikki S

Was reading Halsey’s poetry book called “I would leave me if I could” and there’s a poem called American Woman and it was inspiration for the song 3 AM from manic and has lyrics from The Prologue that we just listened to from HFK. It goes: My insecurity hurting me All these boys gonna flirt with me But my head down on a mattress Famous actress And she skrrrt’n me. There’s too much space Between her skirt And Me. “Let’s take some tabs of acid At Lake Placid,” I say certainly. Still too afraid to touch her But it’s Urgin’ me She says “you’re staring And quite frankly Shit is irking me.” I’m feeling hatred from the waitress as she’s serving me (all one line) She thinks I’m spoiled Probably thinks I’m some suburban me. (One line) Thinks I’m a child of a Money-hungry Prideful country Grass is green And is always sunny Hands so bloody Tastes like honey But we’re finding it hard to leave.

Nikki S

I also think of “heaven in hiding” as the parts of a relationship that usually are private to the masses. You could be in any kind of relationship, but typically the sexual aspects are the parts that stay “hidden”. Even if it feels like “heaven” to you, you probably aren’t broadcasting it.

Gabrielle Tecklenburg

For me, “flip the script” also alludes to Halsey’s gender swap of Romeo and Juliet. In the story of the album, Halsey’s character Luna is Romeo, and her love interest is a man named Solis (Juliet). I love the power Luna has, and I love that she knows her power and isn’t afraid to embody it. Halsey is a big proponent of female sexual liberation, and this song really shows that.

I agree with you about that line being a bit sad! In regards to the speaker somehow manipulating the subject, I definitely didn't take it that way, but I think it's a super interesting interpretation!

English Teacher KP

I don't know if this makes sense, but listening to this song now that I'm much older, it kind of sounds manipulative. Like the speaker is sexually manipulating the subject into staying. Just putting on this show, so they end up liking them instead of just...having someone you don't have to defeat sexually or convince of your worth. The line "I'm heaven in hiding" always sounds so sad to me.

Camila Dejesus