The song serves as a vulnerable lullaby dedicated to their son, , and partner, Alev Aydin . Key themes include:

: Despite its melancholy tone, the song concludes that their loved one (their son) is the only person who has "shown [them] how to love bein' alive". Official & Lyric Videos

: The lyrics reference past struggles with mental health, feelings of being "spineless" or drained by the music industry, and the lack of a stable childhood home.

: Halsey described the song as a way to get things off their chest that they would want their child to know if anything ever happened to them.

"Darling" is the seventh track from Halsey's fourth studio album, If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (2021). It is a folk-styled acoustic ballad written and produced with and Atticus Ross . Song Meaning & Themes