"Needle and Thread" is an unreleased song by Melanie Martinez. It was recorded in the sessions of her third studio album, PORTALS, however, it was later scrapped.
The full song leaked on November 5, 2021, and the official export of the first demo leaked on December 25, 2023.
Theme[]
The theme of this song centers on the complexities of a relationship that has come to a breaking point. The lyrics describe the struggle of the protagonist to detach from someone they were once deeply connected to. They express a desire to mend the emotional damage and uncertainty while simultaneously feeling the need to cut ties and move forward. This is similar to "Magnets" and "Glued".
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Think it's time I cut the line
And lift the blinds, and pull myself together
Took too long to move along
It feels so wrong to abandon all the effort
[Pre-chorus 1]
Bringing out the blade and trimming all the strands
Tying all the loose ends, pulling rubber bands
Thimble on my thumb is a mess, man
Covering the blood on his hands
Can't believe I fell for turning all the screws
Never really worked, always wouldn't do
All the corridors we went through
Only led me right back to you
[Chorus 1]
As long as we're connected
By thread on shredded fabric
Gonna wanna patch it, stitch it back together
Wear you like a sweater, baby
As long as we're untangled
My feelings will unravel
Wouldn't it be easy? Fix it with a needle
Wear you like a sweater, baby
[Verse 2]
It's too hard, I'm hanging on
Just by the yarn, uncover all the lessons
There's no harm in tearing off broken cloth
To sever the connection
[Pre-chorus 2]
Bringing out the blade and trimming all the strands
Tying all the loose ends, pulling rubber bands
Thimble on my thumb is a mess, man
Covering the blood on his hands
[Chorus 2]
As long as we're connected
By thread on shredded fabric
Gonna wanna patch it, hide under the covers
Hold you like a blanket, baby
As long as we're untangled
My feelings will unravel
Wouldn't it be easy? Go back to the comfort
Hold you like a blanket, baby
[Outro]
As long as we're connected
By thread on shredded fabric
Gonna wanna hang it, sew a tapestry
Stare at it forever, baby
As long as we're untangled
My feelings will unravel
Why can't it be easy? Sew a tapestry
Look at you forever, baby
[Verse]
Think it's time I cut the line
And lift the blinds, abandon all the effort
Think it's time I cut the line
And lift the blinds, abandon all the effort
[Pre-chorus]
Bringing out the blade and trimming all the strands
Tying all the loose ends, pulling rubber bands
Thimble on my thumb is a mess, man
Covering the blood on his hands
Bringing out the blade and trimming all the strands
Tying all the loose ends, pulling rubber bands
Thimble on my thumb is a mess, man
Covering the blood on his hands
[Chorus]
As long as we're connected
By thread on shredded fabric
Gonna wanna patch it, stitch it back together
Wear you like a sweater, baby
As long as we're untangled
My feelings will unravel
Wouldn't it be easy? Fix it with a needle
Wear you like a sweater, baby
[Verse 1]
Think it's time I cut the line
And lift the blinds, and pull myself together
Took too long to move along
It feels so wrong to abandon all the effort
[Pre-chorus 1]
Bringing out the blade and trimming all the strands
Tying all the loose ends, pulling rubber bands
Thimble on my thumb is a mess, man
Covering the blood on his hands
Can't believe I fell for turning all the screws
Never really worked, always wouldn't do
All the corridors we went through
Only led me right back to you
[Chorus 1]
As long as we're connected
By thread on shredded fabric
Gonna wanna patch it, stitch it back together
Wear you like a sweater, baby
As long as we're untangled
My feelings will unravel
Wouldn't it be easy? Fix it with a needle
Wear you like a sweater, baby
[Verse 2]
It's too hard, I'm hanging on
Just by the yarn, uncover all the lessons
There's no harm in tearing off broken cloth
To sever the connection
[Pre-chorus 2]
Bringing out the blade and trimming all the strands
Tying all the loose ends, pulling rubber bands
Thimble on my thumb is a mess, man
Covering the blood on his hands
[Chorus 2]
As long as we're connected
By thread on shredded fabric
Gonna wanna patch it, hide under the covers
Hold you like a blanket, baby
As long as we're untangled
My feelings will unravel
Wouldn't it be easy? Go back to the comfort
Hold you like a blanket, baby
[Outro]
As long as we're connected
By thread on shredded fabric
Gonna wanna hang it, sew a tapestry
Stare at it forever, baby
As long as we're untangled
My feelings will unravel
Why can't it be easy? Sew a tapestry
Look at you forever, baby
[Verse]
Think it's time I cut the line
And lift the blinds, abandon all the effort
Think it's time I cut the line
And lift the blinds, abandon all the effort
[Pre-chorus]
Bringing out the blade and trimming all the strands
Tying all the loose ends, pulling rubber bands
Thimble on my thumb is a mess, man
Covering the blood on his hands
Bringing out the blade and trimming all the strands
Tying all the loose ends, pulling rubber bands
Thimble on my thumb is a mess, man
Covering the blood on his hands
[Chorus]
As long as we're connected
By thread on shredded fabric
Gonna wanna patch it, stitch it back together
Wear you like a sweater, baby
As long as we're untangled
My feelings will unravel
Wouldn't it be easy? Fix it with a needle
Wear you like a sweater, baby
Official versions[]
| Version | Associated project | Leak date | Producer(s) | Creation date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "needle and thread v0.1.mp3" (demo 1) | PORTALS | December 25, 2023 | One Love | 2020-2021 | 3:04 |
| "needle and thread v0.2.mp3" (demo 2) | PORTALS | Unleaked | One Love | 2020-2021 | Unknown |
| "needle and thread v1" (final) | PORTALS | November 5, 2021 | One Love | February 2021 | 3:38 |
Trivia[]
- The line, "All the corridors we went through, only led me right back to you" could refer to Melanie's ex-partner, Verde, as Melanie revealed that Verde was her first kiss, and they eventually ended up together years later.
- "Magnets" also mentions similar circumstances.
- Rain sound effects can be heard throughout the song.
- "LIGHT SHOWER" has similar sound effects.
[]
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 • Fragile (unconfirmed) • 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 |
| 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 • Portals: The Game • Melanie Madness |
| Tour | PORTALS Tour • The Trilogy Tour |