Show & Tell
Melanie Martinez Lyrics


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You pull me by my hair so I don't go nowhere
Tell me you love me, but you treat me like I'm never there
You say the cruelest words, and yes, they break my heart
'Cause I'm over here working my ass off

Why is it so hard to see? (Why?)
If I cut myself, I would bleed (ouch)
I'm just like you, you're like me
Imperfect and human are we

Show and tell
I'm on display for all you fuckers to see
Show and tell
Harsh words if you don't get a pic with me
Buy and sell (buy and sell me, baby)
Like I'm a product to society
Art don't sell
Unless you fucked every authority

You beg and cry for more, and yet I'm on the floor
There are strangers takin' pictures of me when I ask "No more"
It's really hard for me to say just how I feel
I'm scared that I'll get thrown away like a banana peel

Why is it so hard to see? (Why?)
If I cut myself, I would bleed (kill me)
I'm just like you, you're like me
Imperfect and human are we

Show and tell (show and tell)
I'm on display for all you fuckers to see (fuckers to see)
Show and tell (show and tell)
Harsh words if you don't get a pic with me
Buy and sell (buy and sell)
Like I'm a product to society
Art don't sell
Unless you fucked every authority

Show and tell, ah-ah-ah-ah
Why can't you fucking hear me?
Show and tell, um
Are you listening yet?

Show and tell (show and tell, baby)
I'm on display for all you fuckers to see (fuckers to see)
Show and tell (oh)
Harsh words if you don't get a pic with me
Buy and sell
Like I'm a product to society




Art don't sell
Unless you fucked every authority

Overall Meaning

In 'Show & Tell', Melanie Martinez sings about her experiences in the music industry and how she feels like she's just a product to society. The lyrics suggest that the industry is corrupt, and artists are nothing but a product that people buy and sell. She uses figurative language to describe how she's being used "You pull me by my hair so I don't go nowhere" indicating how she is being controlled and taken advantage of by people who are supposed to support her. Although it seems like she's living in the lap of luxury, she is actually insecure, and people just want to take pictures of her instead of listening to her music or understanding her as a human being.


Throughout the song, the theme of identity and individualism is present, and Martinez emphasizes the idea that even though she's a public figure, she is human too. She struggles with the pressure of being perfect, and people not understanding the real person behind her music. The chorus, "Show and tell, I'm on display for all you fuckers to see," reflects her frustration with the shallow entertainment industry and how it treats artists.


Ultimately, 'Show & Tell' is a commentary on the darker side of the music industry and how it affects artist's mental health and well-being. The song highlights the superficial nature of fame and the damaging effects that come with it.


Line by Line Meaning

You pull me by my hair so I don't go nowhere
You exert control over me so I can't resist


Tell me you love me, but you treat me like I'm never there
You say you love me, but your actions show you don't value me


You say the cruelest words, and yes, they break my heart
You hurt me with your words and it's painful


'Cause I'm over here working my ass off
I'm putting in effort and working hard


Why is it so hard to see? (Why?)
Why can't you understand me and my struggles?


If I cut myself, I would bleed (kill me)
I'm just like you and feel pain


I'm just like you, you're like me
We're both human and imperfect


Show and tell
I'm being showcased and judged


I'm on display for all you fuckers to see
I'm being publicly displayed and ridiculed


Harsh words if you don't get a pic with me
You're cruel if you don't gain something from me


Buy and sell me, baby
I'm treated like a commodity and sold for profit


Like I'm a product to society
I'm seen as an object rather than a human being


Art don't sell
My creativity and expression have no monetary value


Unless you fucked every authority
Unless I conform and obey those in power


You beg and cry for more, and yet I'm on the floor
You demand more from me despite how much I've given


There are strangers takin' pictures of me when I ask "No more"
I'm constantly being watched and my privacy violated


It's really hard for me to say just how I feel
I struggle to express myself and feel vulnerable


I'm scared that I'll get thrown away like a banana peel
I'm afraid of being discarded and forgotten like trash


Why can't you fucking hear me?
Why won't you listen to me and my struggles?


Are you listening yet?
Are you finally paying attention to me?




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Melanie Adele Martinez, Michael Leary

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@_ilikecurlycows_

Lyrics:

You pull me by my hair, so I don't go nowhere
Tell me you love me, but you treat me like I'm never there
You say the cruelest words, you used to break my heart
'Cause I'm over here working my ass off
Why is it so hard to see? (Why?)
If I cut myself, I would bleed (kill me)
I'm just like you, you're like me
Imperfect and human, are we?
Show and tell
I'm on display for all you fuckers to see
Show and tell
Harsh words if you don't get a pic with me
Buy and sell (buy and sell me, baby)
Like I'm a product to society
Art don't sell
Unless you fucked every authority
You beg and cry for more, he had 'em on the floor
There are strangers takin' pictures of me when I ask, "No more"
It's really hard for me to say just how I feel
I'm scared that I'll get thrown away like a banana peel
Why is it so hard to see? (Why?)
If I cut myself, I would bleed (kill me)
I'm just like you, you're like me
Imperfect and human, are we?
Show and tell (show and tell)
I'm on display for all you fuckers to see (fuckers to see)
Show and tell (show and tell)
Harsh words if you don't get a pic with me
Buy and sell (buy and sell)
Like I'm a product to society
Art don't sell
Unless you fucked every authority
Show and tell
Why can't you fucking hear me?
Show and tell, um
Are you listening yet?
Show and tell (show and tell, baby)
I'm on display for all you fuckers to see (fuckers to see)
Show and tell (oh)
Harsh words if you don't get a pic with me
Buy and sell
Like I'm a product to society
Art don't sell
Unless you fucked every authority



@Timepi3ce_3001

MELANIE-  100%
SHOW & TELL- 100%
VISUALS-  100%
VOCALS-  100%
CHORUS-  100%
LYRICS-  100%
PRODUCTION-  100%
INSTRUMENTAL-  100%
CHOREOGRAPHY-  100%
DANCE-  100%
TALENT-  100%
INFLUENCE-  100%
STYLE-  100%
OUTFITS-  100%
BEAUTY-  100%
KING-  100%
K12- 100%
SLAYED-  100%
LET'S SHOW HOW MUCH WE LOVE AND SUPPORT MELANIE!! 💘💘💘



@thebingus7243

Bit of an analyzations here:

So the song itself is a message to her fans who dehumanize her and who she is. She is viewed as if she is a mere object to show around and both her passion for music is tossed around and ignored.

There's a reference here as well I believe to something that happened with her. Where some fans took a photo without her permission or anything and she had politely asked them not to afterwards and acknowledged how rude it was. Instead several people began to misinterpret the situation and call her a rude person who doesn't appreciate her fans. This goes with the song considering its all about people judging her harshly without context and treated as if she isn't even real.

And with all of this at the same time she struggles to show herself as shown by the end of the video where the doll of her is tossed to show it's internal organs. This can be seen as a representation of her of course being toyed with to the point she falls apart and her weaknesses are shown off like the organs where everyone had walked off after the weakness was expressed.

I can go on for a lyrical analysis and I might soon. I just adore this song and this album so yeah. Hope this helped with your interpretations~



@heeseungmyfav

You pull me by my hair, so I don't go nowhere
Tell me you love me, but you treat me like I'm never there
You say the cruelest words, you used to break my heart
'Cause I'm over here working my ass off
Why is it so hard to see? (Why?)
If I cut myself, I would bleed (kill me)
I'm just like you, you're like me
Imperfect and human, are we?
Show and tell
I'm on display for all you ##### to see
Show and tell
Harsh words if you don't get a pic with me
Buy and sell (buy and sell me, baby)
Like I'm a product to society
Art don't sell
Unless you ##### every authority
You beg and cry for more, he had 'em on the floor
There are strangers takin' pictures of me when I ask, "No more"
It's really hard for me to say just how I feel
I'm scared that I'll get thrown away like a banana peel
Why is it so hard to see? (Why?)
If I cut myself, I would bleed (kill me)
I'm just like you, you're like me
Imperfect and human, are we?
Show and tell (show and tell)
I'm on display for all you ##### to see (##### to see)
Show and tell (show and tell)
Harsh words if you don't get a pic with me
Buy and sell (buy and sell)
Like I'm a product to society
Art don't sell
Unless you ##### every authority
Show and tell
Why can't you ###### hear me?
Show and tell, um
Are you listening yet?
Show and tell (show and tell, baby)
I'm on display for all you #### to see (##### to see)
Show and tell (oh)
Harsh words if you don't get a pic with me
Buy and sell
Like I'm a product to society
Art don't sell
Unless you #### every authority

Sorry for tags I speak Robloxia Language.



All comments from YouTube:

@yuhh530innamornin

When the kids go "Ew." After seeing her on the floor, I feel like it's a metaphor saying now that everyone sees how she truly feels, they want nothing to do with her and will throw her out like a banana peel. This song has a good message behind it, but not everyone will understand.

@milliesmith1900

Ik it's sad :(

@funanimaltv1901

is it bad that i kinda laughed at that part

@kitestru

@@funanimaltv1901 no, you can’t really control what you laugh at.

@crona2035

@Millie Plays wat?

@kuromisanrio8837

Ikr?!

35 More Replies...

@chilledmeat8144

Melanie is being brutally real in this song. She shows us how she feels like she’s constantly put on display. Many celebrities are constantly judged and this is her showing that she feels like she’s being constantly watched and she can’t display who she really is. This is especially showed at the end of the video where the puppet’s guts are showing and suddenly everyone is disgusted by it and leaves it. They are all disgusted by what’s inside. Her being a puppet controlled by a teacher represents how society controls her and expects her to be someone who won’t make any mistakes.

@rexlumontad5644

Man that hit real deep there

@chasbelmont7096

GURL WHERES YOUR CROWN AMAZING I LOVE THIS COMMENT YOURE SPEAKING FACTS

@Bloomoftheflames

Fück society

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