Carousel
Melanie Martinez - Lyrics


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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

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 itโ€™s all fun and games,
'Til somebody falls in love,
But you've already bought a ticket,
And thereโ€™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,
Weโ€™re always this close,
Almost, almost, weโ€™re a freakshow

Right, right when Iโ€™m near,
Itโ€™s like you disappeared,
Whereโ€™d you go? My dear, you're a freakshow!

And itโ€™s all fun and games,
'Til somebody falls in love,
But you've already bought a ticket,
And thereโ€™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 Iโ€™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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Melanie Martinez's "Carousel" describe the feeling of being stuck in a never-ending cycle of chasing someone. The comparison to a horse on a carousel is apt, as the imagery highlights the idea of going in circles and never really getting anywhere. The singer is unsure whether she will ever catch up to love and feels like she is stuck on this ride, unable to get off.


The carnival is also alluded to throughout the song, with its whimsical and playful atmosphere having an almost sinister undertone. The idea of a "freakshow" is introduced, suggesting that the singer is aware of the absurdity of the situation but is unable to break free from it. The line "Why did you steal my cotton candy heart?" further emphasizes this idea of whimsy and sweetness being taken away and replaced with something more mechanical.


Line by Line Meaning

Round and round like a horse on a carousel, we go,
Life is like a ride that never ends, constantly moving and changing.


Will I catch up to love? I could never tell, I know,
Not knowing if I will ever find love or if I am capable of love.


Chasing after you is like a fairytale, but I,
The pursuit of love feels magical, but it also feels unattainable.


Feel like I'm glued on tight to this carousel
Stuck in a cycle of chasing love and experiencing heartbreak.


Come, come one, come all,
Inviting everyone to join in on the ride of life.


You must be this tall
Having certain expectations and standards to be able to participate in the ride.


To ride this ride at the carnival
To be a part of life's experiences and adventures.


Oh, come, take my hand
A plea for someone to join in on this journey together.


And run though playland
To escape the mundane reality and enjoy the carefree moments in life.


So high, too high at the carnival
Feeling like we're living life at an overwhelming pace.


And itโ€™s all fun and games,
Life can feel like a game where we take chances and risks.


'Til somebody falls in love,
Until we experience the powerful emotions of love and heartbreak.


But you've already bought a ticket,
Once we've committed to something, there's no turning back.


And thereโ€™s no turning back now
Accepting the consequences of our choices and actions.


This horse is too slow,
Feeling like life is not moving fast enough or that time is running out.


Weโ€™re always this close,
Feeling like we're constantly chasing after something that is just out of reach.


Almost, almost, weโ€™re a freakshow
The constant pursuit of love can make us feel like we're abnormal or crazy.


Right, right when Iโ€™m near,
Feeling like we're getting closer to love, but then it disappears.


Itโ€™s like you disappeared,
Feeling like the pursuit of love is always taking a step forward and two steps back.


Whereโ€™d you go? My dear, you're a freakshow!
Feeling like the person we're chasing after is also caught up in the cycle of love and heartbreak.


Why did you steal my cotton candy heart?
Asking why someone took our innocent and naive heart and exposed it to the harsh reality of love.


You threw it in this damn coin slot,
Feeling like someone took advantage of our vulnerability and used us for their own benefit.


And now Iโ€™m stuck, I'm stuck
Feeling trapped in a cycle of chasing after love and experiencing heartbreak.


Riding, riding, riding
Going through the motions of life, even if it feels like a never-ending cycle.




Lyrics ยฉ Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEREMY DUSSOLLIET, MELANIE MARTINEZ, TIMOTHY SOMMERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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