"MILK OF THE SIREN", originally titled "Sirens", is a song by Melanie Martinez featured as the sixteenth and final track on the deluxe edition of her third studio album, PORTALS. It was released as part of the deluxe version of the album on April 5, 2023, and was re-released on vinyl on November 11, 2024 as part of Urban Outfitters single’s day.
Background[]
The song originally was titled as "Sirens" in the beginning and was recorded during a time of isolation with collaborators, Kinetics and One Love. From October 2020 to April 2021 during their stay in Hawaii, the track was part of a Dropbox hack during the same year along with other unfinished songs.
Days after the release of PORTALS, Melanie updated her Instagram biography and added "♡ drink from the leche of sirens ♡" which is the opening line to the song.[1]
Later that day, a phone number that Melanie has once used as a way to promote PORTALS started texting people: "🥛🧜♀️TONIGHT 9pm PST/12am EST" indicating a release date for the song.
Theme[]
The song is a call for women to rise up and take control of their own lives without guilt or shame. It uses powerful metaphors, reminding women that they shouldn’t regret drowning any abusive sailors, sending a bold message of self-defense. The lyrics also touch on dark moments in history, like women burned at the stake and the colonization of the innocent, emphasizing the need to challenge oppressive systems. Ultimately, it empowers women to stop letting men control them and reclaim their own desires and power.
Lyrics[]
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Verse 1]
Engraved in our memory, the harm that was done
Our mothers, the witches they banished and burned
All of our sisters were killed and abused
By sword-swingin' men who would always accuse
The worst of a woman who fights for our right
To be where we belong at the front of the line
Tired of silence and bein' polite
Your legs turn to shimmerin' scales in the night
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
Don't feel bad when these fuckers all drown
[Post-chorus]
Let them drown
Let them drown
Let them drown
[Verse 2]
Tenderness worn on the skin like a dress
Nurture these men, pull them out of their mess
They steal the resources, destroy all the land
Belittle the power of the feminine hand
The milk from the rivers of every moon
Cradle you tight like you're back in the womb
Bury their souls in a cove by the light
Celestial dip, all that ego and pride
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Post-chorus]
Let them drown
Let them drown
Let them drown
[Outro]
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin'
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin'
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc (Drink from the leche of sirens)
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin' (Summon the sailors in town)
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc (Strangle the fear of decidin')
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin' (Which ones deservin' to drown)
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
(Don't feel bad when these fuckers all drown)
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Verse 1]
Engraved in our memory, the harm that was done
Our mothers, the witches they banished and burned
All of our sisters were killed and abused
By sword-swingin' men who would always accuse
The worst of a woman who fights for our right
To be where we belong at the front of the line
Tired of silence and bein' polite
Your legs turn to shimmerin' scales in the night
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
Don't feel bad when these fuckers all drown
[Post-chorus 1]
Aah-aah
Aah-aah
Aah, aah-aah
Aah
[Verse 2]
Tenderness worn on the skin like a dress
Nurture these men, pull them out of their mess
They steal the resources, destroy all the land
Belittle the power of the feminine hand
The milk from the rivers of every moon
Cradle you tight like you're back in the womb
Bury their souls in a cove by the light
Celestial dip, all that ego and pride
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Post-chorus 2]
Aah, mmm
Aah, mmm
Aah, mmm
Aah, ah-ah
[Outro]
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin'
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin'
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin'
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc (Drink from the leche of sirens)
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin' (Summon the sailors in town)
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc (Strangle the fear of decidin')
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin' (Which ones deservin' to drown)
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Verse]
Engraved in our memory, the harm that was done
Our mothers, the witches they banished and burned
All of our sisters were killed and abused
By sword-swingin' men who would always accuse
The worst of a woman who fights for our right
To be where we belong at the front of the line
Tired of silence and bein' polite
Your legs turn to shimmerin' scales in the night
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Verse]
They cover their ears, my love
When you sound the alarm
They plan for a storm
Be crystal clear, my love
It isn't cold to choose your own
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Verse 1]
Engraved in our memory, the harm that was done
Our mothers, the witches they banished and burned
All of our sisters were killed and abused
By sword-swingin' men who would always accuse
The worst of a woman who fights for our right
To be where we belong at the front of the line
Tired of silence and bein' polite
Your legs turn to shimmerin' scales in the night
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
Don't feel bad when these fuckers all drown
[Post-chorus]
Let them drown
Let them drown
Let them drown
[Verse 2]
Tenderness worn on the skin like a dress
Nurture these men, pull them out of their mess
They steal the resources, destroy all the land
Belittle the power of the feminine hand
The milk from the rivers of every moon
Cradle you tight like you're back in the womb
Bury their souls in a cove by the light
Celestial dip, all that ego and pride
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Post-chorus]
Let them drown
Let them drown
Let them drown
[Outro]
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin'
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin'
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc (Drink from the leche of sirens)
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin' (Summon the sailors in town)
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc (Strangle the fear of decidin')
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin' (Which ones deservin' to drown)
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
(Don't feel bad when these fuckers all drown)
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Verse 1]
Engraved in our memory, the harm that was done
Our mothers, the witches they banished and burned
All of our sisters were killed and abused
By sword-swingin' men who would always accuse
The worst of a woman who fights for our right
To be where we belong at the front of the line
Tired of silence and bein' polite
Your legs turn to shimmerin' scales in the night
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
Don't feel bad when these fuckers all drown
[Post-chorus 1]
Aah-aah
Aah-aah
Aah, aah-aah
Aah
[Verse 2]
Tenderness worn on the skin like a dress
Nurture these men, pull them out of their mess
They steal the resources, destroy all the land
Belittle the power of the feminine hand
The milk from the rivers of every moon
Cradle you tight like you're back in the womb
Bury their souls in a cove by the light
Celestial dip, all that ego and pride
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Post-chorus 2]
Aah, mmm
Aah, mmm
Aah, mmm
Aah, ah-ah
[Outro]
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin'
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin'
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin'
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc (Drink from the leche of sirens)
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin' (Summon the sailors in town)
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
Nothin' wrong with a little havoc (Strangle the fear of decidin')
It's fun when shit hits the fan
So guillotine their heads by shoutin' (Which ones deservin' to drown)
"Cut 'em off, leave waters red"
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Verse]
Engraved in our memory, the harm that was done
Our mothers, the witches they banished and burned
All of our sisters were killed and abused
By sword-swingin' men who would always accuse
The worst of a woman who fights for our right
To be where we belong at the front of the line
Tired of silence and bein' polite
Your legs turn to shimmerin' scales in the night
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
[Verse]
They cover their ears, my love
When you sound the alarm
They plan for a storm
Be crystal clear, my love
It isn't cold to choose your own
[Chorus]
Drink from the leche of sirens
Summon the sailors in town
Strangle the fear of decidin'
Which ones deservin' to drown
Official versions[]
| Version | Released on | Release date | Producer(s) | Creation date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Final | PORTALS (Deluxe) | April 5, 2023 | One Love | 2022-2023 | 4:25 |
| Demos | ||||||
| "vocoder.mp3" (vocoder test) | Unreleased | November 16, 2021 (leaked) | One Love | October 15, 2020 | 1:48 | |
| "sirens v1.mp3" (demo 1) | Unreleased | July 22, 2021 (leaked) | One Love | October 15, 2020 | 1:45 | |
| "sirens v2.mp3" (demo 2) | Unreleased | November 5, 2021 (leaked) | One Love | January 17, 2021 | 2:14 | |
| "sirens v3.mp3" (demo 3) | Unreleased | October 31, 2021 (leaked) | One Love | April 1, 2021 | 4:40 | |
| "sirens v4.mp3" (demo 4) | Unreleased | October 31, 2021 (leaked) | One Love | April 25, 2021 | 4:22 | |
Live performances[]
"MILK OF THE SIREN" was performed at:
- PORTALS Tour (debut performance)
- Heineken Silver Live Out 2023
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The song's official project file leaked on March 14, 2022, along with "Puzzles".
- This song took 900 takes to finish based on the file.
- In the sessions, Melanie stated that this was her favorite song to record for the album at the time.
- In the sessions, it can be heard that originally the outro was "turn waters red" instead of "leave waters red", apparently it was changed at the time of recording.
- In the sessions of the song, Melanie has changed the lyric "Don't feel bad when these fuckers all drown" many times, the previous lyrics were:
- "Don't think twice if they all have to drown"
- "Don't think twice when you watch them all drown"
- "You can laugh when you're watching them drown"
- "Don't feel bad when these motherfuckers drown"
- This song took 900 takes to finish based on the file.
- The Spanish word, "leche" is translated to "milk" in English; based on the context of the song, it is referring to breast milk of sirens.
- This song, "Field Trip", "Copy Cat", and "FAERIE SOIRÉE" are the only known songs by Melanie to use bilingual language.
- The intro of "TUNNEL VISION" is similar to the chorus of this song.
- The fourth version of this song and the voice memo of "Inconsistent Flame" were recorded during the same session.
- This is the longest deluxe track, while the shortest deluxe track is "PLUTO".
- Melanie stated that she would not include songs that had leaked before the album's release. However, despite this song being leaked prior to the album's release, it still made it onto the deluxe version of the album.
- During the first post chorus, a seal barking can be heard.
- The repetition of "let them drown" is also featured in "Cry Baby".
References[]
[]
v • e  | |
|---|---|
| Featured tracks | DEATH • VOID • TUNNEL VISION • FAERIE SOIRÉE • LIGHT SHOWER • SPIDER WEB • LEECHES • BATTLE OF THE LARYNX • THE CONTORTIONIST • MOON CYCLE • NYMPHOLOGY • EVIL • WOMB |
| Bonus tracks | THE HATCHING • POWDER • PLUTO • MILK OF THE SIREN |
| Scrapped tracks | Barely Juice • Corpse • Death • Dragon's Blood • Emerald • Fairy Dance • Fingers Crossed • Garden • Hawaii Space Guitar • Inconsistent Flame • Jinx • Labyrinth (version 1) • Labyrinth (version 2) • Magnets • Menace to Society • Mother of Pearl • Needle and Thread • Not Dead, Just Expired • Puzzles • Synchronicities • Tunnel Vision • Void • Walkie Talkie |
| Related tracks | Gravitate • Fragile |
| Characters | The Creature (Cry Baby) • Masked Dancers • Faeries |
| Producers | Melanie Martinez • One Love • CJ Baran • Verde • The 23rd • Pearl Lion • Simon Says • Cautious Clay (deluxe) |
| Extras | Egg hatching • Film • Merchandise • Portals Parfums • Melanie Madness |
| Tour | PORTALS Tour • The Trilogy Tour |