"Lunchbox Friends" is a song by Melanie Martinez that is featured as the eighth track on her sophomore album, K-12. The music video, originally available as part of the film, was later separately released on January 10, 2020 and the song was released as a single on the same day.
Background[]
On May 17, 2016, Melanie posted a photo on Instagram with a caption of lyrics from the song. The post was later deleted in May 2019. On June 24, 2019, a snippet of this track was released exclusively in New York City, New York as an assignment, before being officially released worldwide. This was the first ever assignment.
On January 10, 2020, Melanie started a TikTok challenge for fans to show their best "handshake dance" to the song.[1] She also stated during a Q&A for her EP After School that Lunchbox Friends would be released as a single.[2]
Theme[]
Melanie stated in an interview years prior to the album's release, that the song would be about friends in school who do not actually want a close connection at all. These people have high standards for who can be considered their "friend" and require them to appear a certain way. They also gossip and spread rumors about people they don't actually know.
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Oh-oh no, oh-oh no
Oh-oh no, oh-oh no
[Verse 1]
You said, "Hey, girl, will you sit with me?
Table in the back, Cafeteria C
We can be friends if you wanna be
But only 'til the clock hits three
After lunch, we can walk to class
Talk about the boys that we want to smash
Talk about ways to get a little more cash
After that I'll ignore your ass, oh"
[Pre-chorus]
The hassle, the fighting, they all want a bite of me
Photos, more photos, then gossip 'bout hoes that they don't know
Oh, they talk shit though
[Chorus]
I don't want no lunchbox friends, no oh
I want someone who understands, oh, oh, no
Come to my house, let's die together
Friendship that would last forever, no oh
No lunchbox friends, no, oh, yeah
No lunchbox friends
Come to my house, let's die together
Friendship that would last forever, no oh
[Post-chorus]
No lunchbox friends, no oh
No lunchbox friends
Come to my, come to my
Friendship that would last forever
[Verse 2]
They want a fat ass in their brand new jeans
Want a baby in the back with the man of their dreams
That isn't the life for me
Gotta look like a fuckin' damn Barbie
Goin' on TV, people have high expectations of me
Wanna be my best friend then judge me if I smoke a little weed
Makes no fucking sense to me
[Pre-chorus]
The hassle, the fighting, they all want a bite of me
Photos, more photos, then gossip 'bout hoes that they don't know
Oh, they talk shit though
[Chorus]
I don't want no lunchbox friends, no oh
I want someone who understands, oh, oh, no
Come to my house, let's die together
Friendship that would last forever, no oh
No lunchbox friends, no, oh, yeah
No lunchbox friends
Come to my house, let's die together
Friendship that would last forever, no oh
[Breakdown]
No oh, no oh, no oh
Come to my house, let's die together
Friendship that would last forever
No lunchbox friends, no oh
No lunchbox friends
Come to my, come to my
Friendship that would last forever, oh
No oh, no oh, no oh, yeah
Come to my, come to my
Friendship that would last forever
[Outro]
No lunchbox friends, no oh
No lunchbox friends
Come to my, come to my
Friendship that would last forever
[Intro]
Oh-oh no, oh-oh no
Oh-oh no, oh-oh no
[Verse 1]
You said, "Hey, girl, will you sit with me?
Table in the back, Cafeteria C
We can be friends if you wanna be
But only 'til the clock hits three
After lunch, we can walk to class
Talk about the boys that we want to smash
Talk about ways to get a little more cash
After that I'll ignore your ass, oh"
[Pre-chorus]
The hassle, the fighting, they all want a bite of me
Photos, more photos, then gossip 'bout hoes that they don't know
Oh, they talk shit though
[Chorus]
I don't want no lunchbox friends, no oh
I want someone who understands, oh, oh, no
Come to my house, let's die together
Friendship that would last forever, no oh
No lunchbox friends, no, oh, yeah
No lunchbox friends
Come to my house, let's die together
Friendship that would last forever, no oh
[Post-chorus]
No lunchbox friends, no oh
No lunchbox friends
Come to my, come to my
Friendship that would last forever
[Verse 2]
They want a fat ass in their brand new jeans
Want a baby in the back with the man of their dreams
That isn't the life for me
Gotta look like a fuckin' damn Barbie
Goin' on TV, people have high expectations of me
Wanna be my best friend then judge me if I smoke a little weed
Makes no fucking sense to me
[Pre-chorus]
The hassle, the fighting, they all want a bite of me
Photos, more photos, then gossip 'bout hoes that they don't know
Oh, they talk shit though
[Chorus]
I don't want no lunchbox friends, no oh
I want someone who understands, oh, oh, no
Come to my house, let's die together
Friendship that would last forever, no oh
No lunchbox friends, no, oh, yeah
No lunchbox friends
Come to my house, let's die together
Friendship that would last forever, no oh
[Breakdown]
No oh, no oh, no oh
Come to my house, let's die together
Friendship that would last forever
No lunchbox friends, no oh
No lunchbox friends
Come to my, come to my
Friendship that would last forever, oh
No oh, no oh, no oh, yeah
Come to my, come to my
Friendship that would last forever
[Outro]
No lunchbox friends, no oh
No lunchbox friends
Come to my, come to my
Friendship that would last forever
Official versions[]
Version | Released on | Release date | Producer(s) | Creation date | Length | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Final | K-12 | September 6, 2019 | Michael Keenan | 2016 | 2:49 | |
Clean version | K-12 | September 6, 2019 | Michael Keenan | 2016 | 2:49 | |
Instrumental | Unreleased | May 6, 2020 (leaked) | Michael Keenan | 2016 | 2:49 | |
Demos | ||||||
Demo | Unreleased | Unleaked | Michael Keenan | May 17, 2016 | Unknown |
Gallery[]
To view the gallery of Lunchbox Friends, click here.
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Music video[]
The music video begins in the cafeteria of K-12 Sleepaway School, where Cry Baby and her friends are waiting in line to grab lunch. Kelly cuts through the line, pulling Cry Baby aside, and walking her to the table where her clique is sitting. She tells Cry Baby of all the benefits of being friends with her and makes her sit at the table after telling her that she'll "ignore [her] ass". Kelly's clique takes photos of Cry Baby and gossips about some of the other students. Cry Baby interrupts them as they are talking, telling them that she wishes to have a true, long-lasting friendship with someone who understands her problems, not "lunchbox friends". Kelly and her clique pretend to care about what Cry Baby is saying, but as Kelly looks to one of her friends, she can be seen shaking her head, as if she can't believe what she's hearing. All the other girls at the table then repeat part of Cry Baby's statement back to her, lying that their friendship "will last forever".
Cry Baby explains how Kelly and her clique want to look perfect and have a perfect family with "the man of their dreams", as the girls talk to each other while ignoring Cry Baby completely. After having enough, Cry Baby stands up, about to walk off. Kelly tries to protest but Cry Baby ultimately leaves before she can. Cry Baby dances around the cafeteria as Ben watches, clearly infatuated with her. Magnolia sees her dancing on top of a table and smiles, before Cry Baby jumps off and lays on Ben's table, smiling at him. She gets up again and sits with Magnolia, where both of their eyes turn black, showing each other that they are Empaths. They perform an intricate handshake before walking back to the table where Cry Baby's friends are seated. As of that point on, Magnolia is an official member of the group.
Cast[]
- Cry Baby: Melanie Martinez
- Magnolia: Zinnett Hendrix
- Kelly: Maggie Budzyna
- Chloe: Rebeka Péter
- Fleur: Zion Moreno
- Holly: Laurka Lanczki
- Lucy: Natalia Toth
- Rachel: Ágota Dunai
- Ben: Marsalis Wilson
- Celeste: Megan Gage
- Angelita: Emma Harvey
Errors[]
- When Melanie knocks a tray off the table, the scene cuts. When the scene cuts back, the tray cannot be seen on the floor.
Trivia[]
- When Melanie teased the lyrics in 2016, the original lyric was, "Come to my house, let's cry together". It is currently unknown why it was changed.[3]
- On Instagram, Melanie explained that the meaning of "die" is not literal, it is a metaphor for transformation or rebirth, like the death Tarot card.[4]
- "Strawberry Shortcake" transitions into this song.
- Each song on K-12 represents a different grade level in school, from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
- "Lunchbox Friends" represents seventh grade.
- In the description of the music video, Laurka Lanczki's name is misspelt as "Laura Lanczki".
- Melanie did a transition from this song and "DEATH" on 3/18/23 At Lollapalooza.