"Night Mime" is an unreleased song by Melanie Martinez. It was originally intended for the 2013 EP, but the project was eventually scrapped. The song was later planned to be included on Melanie's debut album Cry Baby, but it was later cut from the album.[1] Melanie then started pitching the song to other artists in 2016.
The Cry Baby version was leaked on June 4, 2021. The pitch demo leaked on January 24, 2016, the same month it was recorded. The 2013 EP studio version has yet to leak.
Background[]
The song was initially written and recorded in 2013 for Melanie's unreleased EP from the same year. This version was produced by SmarterChild. The EP's release was later scrapped.
It was later re-recorded for inclusion on Melanie's debut album, Cry Baby, this time being produced by Robopop. Melanie mentioned this song in a post on Facebook in early 2014.[2] This suggests that the song was intended to be released on an early draft of the album along with the other songs mentioned. However, the song was later scrapped from the project, which was mentioned on her Dollhouse Tour (along with "You Love I") as early as June 15, 2014[3] and was later confirmed on July 6, 2014[4]. Though, it was performed again on October 12, 2014, at ACL Music Festival.
Following the release of Cry Baby, the song was reworked in early 2016 in hopes of pitching. The version intended for pitching was re-produced by SmarterChild.
Theme[]
This song promptly talks about a relationship between two lovers. The narrator's partner isn't giving them enough attention and is metaphorically forgetting the narrator's name, hence the lyric, "Forget my name at midnight". The narrator endorses this behavior because they think of themselves as a mime, meant to be seen, not heard. The narrator can't speak or has a certain amount of trouble telling their friend/lover what they would like to say. They have insomnia, making them sleepless or causing them to have difficulty when sleeping.
There are several theories about the theme of song; however, none of them have been proven.
- This song could be a reference to insomnia, the disorder of which the person diagnosed with it is unable to sleep and/or has trouble sleeping.
- Another theory is that the narrator of this song, also referred to as "Night Mime" throughout the track, is afraid of the dark and is fearful that monsters may come if they turn off all the lights, as suggested by the lyric, "Claustrophobic with no night light, night light".
- There is also a chance that Night Mime is staying up late because they are waiting on an answer from a loved one or wanting one from them, so they know that they are safe.
- It may also refer to mutism since a mime doesn't speak; it can only communicate through actions.
- It is also theorized that the song is a reference to social anxiety. People with social anxiety sometimes feel as if they are trapped inside a box, which can be related to the Imaginary Box mime act.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
(La hum, la shh)
Hold those bloodshot eyes
(La hum, la shh)
Dip them in Visine and lights
(La hum, la shh)
Forget my name at midnight
(La hum, la shh)
It's okay, I'm a mime
(La hum, la shh)
[Chorus]
I'm tongue tied in the night time
Silent, sleepless 'til the sunrise
Claustrophobic with no night light, night light
I'll just wait here for the sunrise creep and crawl back into my life
Until then I'll be the night mime, night mime
[Post-chorus]
Eh ah, eh ah
Eh ah, eh ah
[Verse 2]
Stay up late with broken minds
(La hum, la shh)
No text from you but I'll be fine (I'll be fine)
(La hum, la shh)
I fall asleep with ocean eyes
(La hum, la shh)
I say no words like a midnight mime
Mime, midnight mime, m-m-mime
(La hum, la shh)
[Chorus]
I'm tongue tied in the night time
Silent, sleepless 'til the sunrise
Claustrophobic with no night light, night light
I'll just wait here for the sunrise creep and crawl back into my life
Until then I'll be the night mime, night mime
[Post-chorus]
Eh ah, eh ah
Eh ah, eh ah
(La hum, la shh)
[Verse 1]
(La hum, la shh)
Hold those bloodshot eyes
(La hum, la shh)
Dip them in Visine and lights
(La hum, la shh)
Forget my name at midnight
(La hum, la shh)
It's okay, I'm a mime
(La hum, la shh)
[Instrumental]
[Verse 2]
Stay up late with broken minds
(La hum, la shh)
No text from you but I'll be fine
(La hum, la shh)
I fall asleep with ocean eyes
(La hum, la shh)
I say no words like a midnight mime
Mime, midnight mime
(La hum, la shh)
[Instrumental]
(La hum, la shh)
[Instrumental]
[Verse 1]
(La hum, la shh)
Hold those bloodshot eyes
(La hum, la shh)
Dip them in Visine and lights
(La hum, la shh)
Forget my name at midnight
(La hum, la shh)
It's okay, I'm a mime
(La hum, la shh)
[Chorus]
I'm tongue tied in the night time
Silent, sleepless 'til the sunrise
Claustrophobic with no night light, night light
I'll just wait here for the sunrise creep and crawl back into my life
Until then I'll be the night mime, night mime
[Post-chorus]
Eh ah, eh ah
Eh ah, eh ah
[Verse 2]
Stay up late with broken minds
(La hum, la shh)
No text from you but I'll be fine (I'll be fine)
(La hum, la shh)
I fall asleep with ocean eyes
(La hum, la shh)
I say no words like a midnight mime
Mime, midnight mime, m-m-mime
(La hum, la shh)
[Chorus]
I'm tongue tied in the night time
Silent, sleepless 'til the sunrise
Claustrophobic with no night light, night light
I'll just wait here for the sunrise creep and crawl back into my life
Until then I'll be the night mime, night mime
[Post-chorus]
Eh ah, eh ah
Eh ah, eh ah
(La hum, la shh)
[Verse 1]
(La hum, la shh)
Hold those bloodshot eyes
(La hum, la shh)
Dip them in Visine and lights
(La hum, la shh)
Forget my name at midnight
(La hum, la shh)
It's okay, I'm a mime
(La hum, la shh)
[Instrumental]
[Verse 2]
Stay up late with broken minds
(La hum, la shh)
No text from you but I'll be fine
(La hum, la shh)
I fall asleep with ocean eyes
(La hum, la shh)
I say no words like a midnight mime
Mime, midnight mime
(La hum, la shh)
[Instrumental]
(La hum, la shh)
[Instrumental]
Official versions[]
| Version | Associated project | Leak date | Producer(s) | Creation date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 EP version | 2013 EP | Unleaked | SmarterChild | 2013 | ~4:42 |
| "NIGHT MIME 1.0.m4a" (Cry Baby version) | Cry Baby | June 4, 2021 | Robopop | December 20, 2013 | 3:44 |
| Pitch demo | K-12 | January 24, 2016 | SmarterChild | January 2016 | 4:58 |
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- During the Dollhouse Tour, Melanie would perform the song before singing "Cry Baby" with a transition between them.
- This song's Cry Baby version, "Psycho Lovers" and "Mistakes" were recorded in the same session.
- The Cry Baby version of the song was exported twice by Robopop, once in low quality and once in high quality.
- The reason he did this is unknown.
- The Cry Baby version uses the same string stems used in "Mistakes".
References[]
- ↑ https://twitter.com/melmartinezfan1/status/485939823430344704
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/304606366290482/posts/512286915550459/
- ↑ https://hopelessandfluffy.blogspot.com/2014/06/melanie-martinez-dollhouse-tour.html?fbclid=IwAR01FtYuAPpBo2rdxqYthpBmloKa5qutwjbGd_WysHhlqRjiPVlKR4YRy9A_aem_Ad3BbUE4mm3DAqjwRy4hgkzqN8cL5Yq9m62fNFr3il7moegwbKsT-NNf-RYjFth5Kt0&m=1
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CR7xJdisaii/?igsh=cjVzaDE3d2V5Y2dr
[]
| v • e 2013 EP | |
|---|---|
| Featured tracks | A Million Men • A Thousand Words • Birthing Addicts • Bittersweet Tragedy • Bones Are Blue • Curly Cue • Dear Porcupines • I Think I'm Crazy • Intervals • Night Mime • Race • Rough Love • Time Flies |
| Related tracks | Can't Shake You • Heart at the Door • Last Chapter (Never Stayed for Love) • Mistakes • Until Sunrise • Wicked Words (with Jared Dylan) |
| Producers | Doveman • John Feldmann • Larzz Principato • Robopop • SmarterChild • Syience |