Carousel
✬ Melanie Martinez Lyrics
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Will I catch up to love? I could never tell, I know,
Chasing after you is like a fairytale, but I,
Feel like I'm glued on tight to this carousel
Come, come one, come all,
You must be this tall
To ride this ride at the carnival
Oh, come, take my hand
And run though playland
So high, too high at the carnival
And it’s all fun and games,
'Til somebody falls in love,
But you've already bought a ticket,
And there’s no turning back now
Round and round like a horse on a carousel, we go,
Will I catch up to love? I could never tell, I know,
Chasing after you is like a fairytale, but I,
Feel like I'm glued on tight to this carousel
This horse is too slow,
We’re always this close,
Almost, almost, we’re a freakshow
Right, right when I’m near,
It’s like you disappeared,
Where’d you go? My dear, you're a freakshow!
And it’s all fun and games,
'Til somebody falls in love,
But you've already bought a ticket,
And there’s no turning back now
Round and round like a horse on a carousel, we go,
Will I catch up to love? I could never tell, I know,
Chasing after you is like a fairytale, but I,
Feel like I'm glued on tight to this carousel
Why did you steal my cotton candy heart?
You threw it in this damn coin slot,
And now I’m stuck, I'm stuck
Riding, riding, riding
Round and round like a horse on a carousel, we go,
Will I catch up to love? I could never tell, I know,
Chasing after you is like a fairytale, but I,
Feel like I'm glued on tight to this carousel
The lyrics of Carousel by Melanie Martinez are a metaphor for love and relationships, comparing them to a merry-go-round. The opening lines, "Round and round like a horse on a carousel, we go, Will I catch up to love? I could never tell, I know" illustrates the idea that love is uncertain and unpredictable – you can never tell where it will lead you. The singer feels stuck and "glued on tight" to the carousel, unable to get off despite the ups and downs of the ride.
The next verse invites the object of the singer's affection to come along and join her on the ride. The carnival theme continues with the reference to "playland" and the warning that only those who are "this tall" can ride. The chorus repeats the imagery of the carousel and describes the feeling of being trapped on the ride.
The bridge expresses frustration and confusion with the unpredictability of love. The metaphor of a "freakshow" suggests that being in love can be confusing and unpredictable, and the lines "you disappeared, where'd you go?" reinforce the idea that love can be fleeting and hard to hold onto.
Line by Line Meaning
Round and round like a horse on a carousel, we go,
Love is like a never-ending cycle that keeps repeating itself like a horse on a carousel.
Will I catch up to love? I could never tell, I know,
The songwriter is unsure if they will ever find true love or catch up to it despite their efforts.
Chasing after you is like a fairytale, but I,
The pursuit of the other person is like a dream, but the reality is different.
Feel like I'm glued on tight to this carousel
The songwriter feels trapped in this cycle of love and can't escape it.
Come, come one, come all,
This line is an invitation for anyone and everyone to join in the experience of love.
You must be this tall
To ride this ride at the carnival
The songwriter is implying that one must be at a certain level of emotional maturity to handle the ups and downs of a relationship.
Oh, come, take my hand
And run though playland
So high, too high at the carnival
This line describes the exciting and exhilarating feeling of being in love, but also acknowledges the potential for heartbreak.
And it’s all fun and games,
'Til somebody falls in love,
The songwriter is emphasizing that the playful nature of dating and flirting can quickly turn serious when someone falls in love.
But you've already bought a ticket,
And there’s no turning back now
Once someone has committed to a romantic relationship, they are in for the long haul.
This horse is too slow,
We’re always this close,
Almost, almost, we’re a freakshow
The songwriter is frustrated with the slow pace of progress in the relationship and feels like they are making a spectacle of themselves.
Right, right when I’m near,
It’s like you disappeared,
Where’d you go? My dear, you're a freakshow!
The other person seems to be playing games with the songwriter, giving them mixed signals and disappearing when things get too serious.
Why did you steal my cotton candy heart?
You threw it in this damn coin slot,
And now I’m stuck, I'm stuck,
Riding, riding, riding
The other person has taken the songwriter's heart and now they feel trapped and unable to escape this cycle of love.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEREMY DUSSOLLIET, MELANIE MARTINEZ, TIMOTHY SOMMERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind