In an interview prior to the Eurovision contest, Skaat explained what the song was about to him. He said, "The song 'Milim' is about separation of any kind. Separation of lovers, of a family. In Hebrew, 'Milim' means words. The words are the most memorable thing we have after a separation, words are very powerful and they are engraved in our minds and hearts. Sadly, my beloved grandfather suddenly passed away the week of the Israeli pre-selection competition, which gave the lyrics of 'Milim' a very personal and difficult meaning to me." The song lyrics seem to suggest that the person singing the song has been left alone while his or her loved one has left, perhaps permanently. Household items and architectural details are mentioned throughout the song—fallen ceiling, scratched handles, arranged books, and windows with cracked glass. The song contains the refrain, "Hish'art li rak milim" (English version: "You left me only words"), which is repeated throughout the chorus.
