"Numbers" is a song by Melanie Martinez that is featured as the fourth track on her fourth extended play, After School EP. It is also featured as the seventeenth track on the deluxe edition of Melanie's sophomore album, K-12.
Background[]
This track was first introduced as the longest song on the extended play.[2]
Theme[]
In an Instagram post, Melanie revealed the theme of this song,[3]
Numbers is about feeling underpaid and overworked In a system that treats you like you’re disposable. (10 of wands Energy)
Melanie Martinez
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Count up your portions, count up your checks
Feedin' your fam while you’re comin' at my neck
When ya gonna freeze with the cruel dramatics?
I'm not inspired by your foolish practice
Butter your bullshit, set up your fence
I’m just the chicken givin' you the egg
Soon, you're gonna see that your breath was wasted
Don't speak too soon on the doubts you're making
A big deal out of a little thing
Why should I try to conform to formulated paths
When clearly all my instincts led to something more magical?
[Chorus]
Am I just a number, 'cause it seems like that's your goal?
You push us past our limits just to watch decimals grow (Oh, ooh)
I need a reason why I’m looked at like a joke
Until I prove you wrong like I’ve done time and time before and
All your idle teaching and your criticisms lack
The potential to penetrate my solid, golden path to decide what my future is;
I'm my own clairvoyant
There’s no controlling me, imagination on ascend
[Verse 2]
Take me to Venus, let me explode
I'm ready to pop like a volcano
Jump over me like you're playing hot lava
Emotions on one-hundred-thousand, who's gonna
Shake me like soda creme? But, of course
Use all your words to distract from the source of
Where all the growth on the paper happens
Leave me alone in my own concoction
Prickin’ all my fingertips to carve out many roads
Pushin' out the petals from the bud of what I know
[Chorus]
Am I just a number, 'cause it seems like that's your goal?
You push us past our limits just to watch decimals grow (Oh, ooh)
I need a reason why I'm looked at like a joke
Until I prove you wrong like I've done time and time before and
All my intuition says is 'expansion comes first', but
Not just by material, I'm talkin' 'bout in here
My heart space and my cranium must be loved too, my dear
Don't push me to the edge until I'm useless and can't feel
[Bridge]
They replaced their search for knowledge
With the reach of many material gains
They lack the tenderness of the sensitive,
Empathetic, bodies cryin' from the pain
It's too late to grow their frame of mind, it seems that it's already made
No use in arguin' with someone who doesn't wanna prioritize birthing of creation
[Breakdown]
Am I just a number?
Am I just a number?
Am I just a number?
Am I just a number?
[Chorus]
Am I just a number, 'cause it seems like that's your goal?
You push us past our limits just to watch our numbers grow (Oh-oh)
I need a reason why I'm looked at like a joke
Until I prove you wrong like I've done time and time before and
All my intuition says is expansion comes first, but
Not just by material, I'm talkin' 'bout in here
My heart space and my cranium must be loved too, my dear
Don't push me to the edge until I'm useless and can't feel
[Verse 1]
Count up your portions, count up your checks
Feedin' your fam while you’re comin' at my neck
When ya gonna freeze with the cruel dramatics?
I'm not inspired by your foolish practice
Butter your bullshit, set up your fence
I’m just the chicken givin' you the egg
Soon, you're gonna see that your breath was wasted
Don't speak too soon on the doubts you're making
A big deal out of a little thing
Why should I try to conform to formulated paths
When clearly all my instincts led to something more magical?
[Chorus]
Am I just a number, 'cause it seems like that's your goal?
You push us past our limits just to watch decimals grow (Oh, ooh)
I need a reason why I’m looked at like a joke
Until I prove you wrong like I’ve done time and time before and
All your idle teaching and your criticisms lack
The potential to penetrate my solid, golden path to decide what my future is;
I'm my own clairvoyant
There’s no controlling me, imagination on ascend
[Verse 2]
Take me to Venus, let me explode
I'm ready to pop like a volcano
Jump over me like you're playing hot lava
Emotions on one-hundred-thousand, who's gonna
Shake me like soda creme? But, of course
Use all your words to distract from the source of
Where all the growth on the paper happens
Leave me alone in my own concoction
Prickin’ all my fingertips to carve out many roads
Pushin' out the petals from the bud of what I know
[Chorus]
Am I just a number, 'cause it seems like that's your goal?
You push us past our limits just to watch decimals grow (Oh, ooh)
I need a reason why I'm looked at like a joke
Until I prove you wrong like I've done time and time before and
All my intuition says is 'expansion comes first', but
Not just by material, I'm talkin' 'bout in here
My heart space and my cranium must be loved too, my dear
Don't push me to the edge until I'm useless and can't feel
[Bridge]
They replaced their search for knowledge
With the reach of many material gains
They lack the tenderness of the sensitive,
Empathetic, bodies cryin' from the pain
It's too late to grow their frame of mind, it seems that it's already made
No use in arguin' with someone who doesn't wanna prioritize birthing of creation
[Breakdown]
Am I just a number?
Am I just a number?
Am I just a number?
Am I just a number?
[Chorus]
Am I just a number, 'cause it seems like that's your goal?
You push us past our limits just to watch our numbers grow (Oh-oh)
I need a reason why I'm looked at like a joke
Until I prove you wrong like I've done time and time before and
All my intuition says is expansion comes first, but
Not just by material, I'm talkin' 'bout in here
My heart space and my cranium must be loved too, my dear
Don't push me to the edge until I'm useless and can't feel
Official versions[]
| Version | Released on | Release date | Producer(s) | Creation date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Final | After School EP • K-12 (After School – Deluxe Edition) | September 25, 2020 | Michael Keenan | 2019-2020 | 4:39 |
| Instrumental | Unreleased | December 9, 2020 (leaked) | Michael Keenan | 2019-2020 | 4:40 | |
| Demos | ||||||
| "Numbers.mp3" (demo) | Unreleased | March 14, 2022 (leaked) | Michael Keenan | November 20, 2019 | 4:36 | |
| "04 Numbers.mp3" (pre-release mix) | Unreleased | September 24, 2020 (leaked) | Michael Keenan | 2019-2020 | 4:40 | |
Live performances[]
"Numbers" was performed at:
- CAN'T WAIT TILL I'M OUT OF K-12 (debut performance)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This is the longest track on After School, while "Notebook" is the shortest track.
- On January 20, 2020, fans outside of the Campo Pequeno heard Melanie singing two unknown songs. These songs are now confirmed to be this song,[4] and "Test Me".
- Melanie's favorite part of the song is 2:36 to 4:39.[5]
- The way she described the song when she played it for people was, "You gotta get through the hike to get to the waterfall, and in my mind, the waterfall starts at 2:36!".[6]
- This song's BPM and key signature changes in the song.
- Throughout the song, the BPM is unsteady from 97 to 90 BPM. The key signature also fluctuates from 4/4 to 6/8.
- Sounds of keyboard typing can be heard at the beginning of the song.
- This song and "Glued" are the only tracks on After School EP to have acoustic versions, with "Numbers" being incomplete.
- It has a different intro where Melanie uses voice effects similar to when she says, “Am I just a number?” in the bridge.
- Melanie wrote this song during the K-12 Tour while she was recovering from laryngitis.
- The day the song was written was November 20, 2019, the same day she was supposed to perform in Seattle as part of the tour.
- The planet Venus is also mentioned in "FAERIE SOIRÉE".
References[]
[]
v • e  | |
|---|---|
| Featured tracks | Notebook • Test Me • Brain & Heart • Numbers • Glued • Field Trip • The Bakery |
| Scrapped tracks | Absorb • Clockwork • Copy Cat (ft. Tierra Whack) • Erase Her • Fire Drill • Function • History • Lost & Found • Paper Cut • Spin The Bottle • Trophy • Under The Desk |
| Related tracks | Chrysalis • Maze • The Tunnel |
| Characters | Abuelita • Bunnies |
| Producers | Blake Slatkin • Melanie Martinez (exec.) • Michael Keenan |
| Extra | K-12 • CAN'T WAIT TILL I'M OUT OF K-12 • All Hallow's Eve • Merchandise |
