"DEATH" by Melanie Martinez - Song Meanings and Facts (2024)

by SMF·Published · Updated

Melanie Martinez fans rejoice, as the highly-creative songstress finally has a studio album on the way,“Portals”, which comes nearly four years after its predecessor, 2019’s“K-12”.As with her previous outings, this forthcoming LP will be backed by Atlantic Records, whom the NYC artist signed with in 2012.

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You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Melanie Martinez's DEATH at Lyrics.org.

And its lead single, which was made public on 17 March 2023 – i.e. a couple of weeks before the album itself – is titled“Death”.And to note, Melanie has beenteasing this trackfor about a month leading up to its release, with it originally being known as “Back from the Dead”.

Melanie Martinez, At It Again

The multi-talented and, may we say esoteric Melanie Martinez, who plays guitar andprograms songsas well as sings, wrote and produced“Death”.In that latter sense, she worked alongside a regular collaborator in CJ Baran, who is also from New York though more specifically a part of Long Island known as Melville.

The Lyrics of “Death”

Melanie Martinez is an artist who tends to rely on eye-catching imagery.Such is definitely the case with the visuals associated with this song.And the reason we’re pointing that out is because whereas this track may have been officially described as one centered around the concept of“death is life”, it’s obvious that the lyrics aren’t all literal, if at all.

For instance, at the beginning of the first verse, the vocalist puts forth that “they’re craving my name in the grave again”.The first part of that assertion would imply that she is referring to death, i.e. her name being inscribed on a tombstone.

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But saying that they are doing so “again” would indicate that Melanie dying is a metaphor.That is to say that this is something which has happened to her at least once in the past.But we know that a person being buried, i.e. being the subject of a funeral as presented in the first verse, is actually a one-time thing.

Later on, pre-chorus gives the impression that the primary addressee is a romantic interest, though such is never actually specified.What is made clear though is this being a person whose absence has a negative effect on Melanie and who is “always on (her) mind”.And usually when we find such sentiments in song, it would be in reference to the vocalist’s sweetheart.

So once you’re able to weave through all of the death- and afterlife-related lingo present in this song, what it actually reads like is Melanie likening being without the addressee to dying.And if interpreted in such a manner, then her being “back from the dead”, as implied in the second verse, is another way of saying that she has not given up on this relationship.

“Back from the dead, back from the dead
I’m back from the dead, back from the dead”

Indeed, as far as the second verse is concerned, the addressee is depicted, once again in an indirect way, as being a toxic partner. In other words, he or she engages in “witchcraft to pull [Melanie] in”, which we will take as Martinez being able to ascertain that this individual desires her presence.

But then, when she is around, they “run away in fear of ghosts”. So it reads a lot like she’s dealing with someone who, more simply explained, has mutual feelings for her alright but is afraid of commitment.

Related posts:

  • Meaning of “Void” by Melanie Martinez
  • Melanie Martinez’s “Evil” Lyrics Meaning
  • Melanie Martinez’s “Nymphology” Lyrics Meaning
  • Melanie Martinez’s “The Contortionist” Lyrics Meaning
  • “Tunnel Vision” by Melanie Martinez
  • “Spider Web” by Melanie Martinez
  • Melanie Martinez’s “Womb” Lyrics Meaning
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  • “Milk of the Sirens” by Melanie Martinez
  • “Back from the Dead” by Melani Martinez

7 Responses

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  1. C says:

    March 18, 2023 at 10:24 am

    She’s talking about death literally. Pertaining to her character CryBaby who’s the character in all her writings in previous albums besides the After School EP.

    Reply

  2. Anonymous says:

    March 27, 2023 at 6:34 am

    Does anyone know what the instruments used are?

    Reply

    • Anonymous says:

      March 27, 2023 at 11:16 pm

      It say it in the description of the audio.I belive it’s the cello, the drum and a guitar

      Reply

  3. Anonymous says:

    April 4, 2023 at 2:00 am

    Her character cry baby is immortal that is why she is saying again because she has died and had many bodies before

    Reply

  4. Ashlyn Village says:

    May 16, 2023 at 6:48 pm

    I am very confused about what is going on with her music right now. I am used to her character crybaby and now I am listening to something else. Now, I am not saying this change is bad, cause the music is good. I’m just confused on what is going on with the character. Can someone help me understand?

    Reply

  5. Sparrow says:

    July 22, 2023 at 4:21 am

    What does she mean “I flicker the light so they understand” ???

    Reply

  6. Lavender says:

    July 30, 2023 at 11:12 pm

    From my perspective she means it as a way to make the individual sort of “wake up” to the true meaning so they fully “understand” it. ( I’m not 100% sure though.

    Reply

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"DEATH" by Melanie Martinez - Song Meanings and Facts (2024)

FAQs

Does Melanie Martinez have a song about daddy issues? ›

Daddy Issues is a song recorded by Melanie Martinez for the deluxe of her debut album, Molly.

What does Melanie refer to herself as in Portals? ›

Martinez takes the form of her alter-ego Cry Baby (established from her previous albums Cry Baby and K-12) who is reborn as a "pink-skinned, four-eyed fairy creature that's stuck between Earth and the afterlife".

What is Melanie Martinez's music about? ›

Martinez's songs are often based on personal experiences. Martinez described her own music as "very dark and honest" and "hip hop/trap inspired beats with creepy nostalgic childlike sounds such as baby pianos, music boxes, and toys".

What is the meaning of the portals album? ›

The album's name suggests a significant change from one life to the next. “PORTALS” begins with “DEATH,” a song dedicated to the dissolution of a past self. The lyrics proclaim “I'm back from the dead, back from the dead.” The choice of this song to introduce the album boldly defines its new era as a period of change.

What is tag you're it meaning? ›

"Tag, You're It" is about kidnapping, drugging and a suggested sexual assault, and that's what's happening in the new video. Melanie, in her Cry Baby garb, is chased by an ice cream man wearing a wolf mask. He drugs her with ice cream and hauls her lifeless body into his truck.

What is the most listened song from Melanie Martinez? ›

Song TitleStreamsDaily
Play Date823,466,654460,843
Pacify Her494,060,900377,134
Dollhouse439,945,193314,478
Pity Party406,620,171205,716
86 more rows
3 days ago

Why does Melanie have four eyes? ›

Melanie Martinez reveals on why she chose to have four eyes for “The Creature” and pink as the color of its skin in an interview with Rolling Stone Japan: “Pink will be the color of my soul. The reason why I gave the character multiple eyes is because I wanted to show that I can see more than us humans.”

Why did Melanie Martinez turn into a creature? ›

This creature was a character created by Martinez and follows a storyline created with her previous albums. The singer's debut album “Crybaby” showed the character's early childhood, “K-12” was the character's school-aged years, and now, “PORTALS” maps out the character's death and the aftermath.

Why does Melanie Martinez wear a mask? ›

I had a thought that it would be really fun. to fully commit to the character. I know a lot of people miss seeing my face, but it's been the most fun playing this character. because I get to show the concept of immortality.

What is Crybaby's story? ›

The song is an overall critique on how parents tend to neglect their children in unintentional ways, with Martinez bringing up things like alcoholism and the desire to be the picture perfect family being some of the big issues, “Kids are still depressed when you dress them up/And syrup is still syrup in a sippy cup ( ...

Who is Cry Baby's mom? ›

Will PORTALS have a movie? ›

Melanie Martinez confirms the PORTALS film is cancelled.

What are PORTALS about? ›

This genre-bending anthology takes place during a series of world-wide blackouts, after which millions of mysterious cosmic anomalies appear everywhere across the planet. While many flee from the objects, the real terror sets in as people are drawn toward - and into - them.

How many songs will be in PORTALS? ›

It was important for me to show the immortality of being a human with this record—to give people hope that there's life after death.” Across 13 tracks largely written in her home's “portal room”—a space she describes as “an entry point for benevolent spirits to come and rest on their journey”—PORTALS is a synthy ...

What is the name of Melanie's creature? ›

You may have been wanting to read about the song or album with the same names. Cry Baby (alternately spelled as Crybaby), also known as The Creature is an empath and the central character of the Cry Baby universe. She is portrayed by Melanie Martinez. Being an empath, Cry Baby doesn't die, but rather reincarnates.

Did Crybaby go through the portal? ›

Portals is described as a new era and many fans, who are already used to her making “strange” characters are still kind of surprised at this new one that came after her last song in k-12 that depicted both Angelita and Crybaby going through a portal.

What is the longest song in Portals? ›

Track list
No.TitleLength
1."DEATH"5:06
2."VOID"4:07
3."TUNNEL VISION" 🅴4:44
4."FAERIE SOIRÉE"2:43
9 more rows

What happened to Angelita in Portals? ›

During The Trilogy Tour, several tombstones can be seen, including Angelita's grave. It has "RIP ANGELITA" written on it, confirming that she has passed away.

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