"Rocking Horse" is an unreleased song by Melanie Martinez. It was recorded in the sessions for her debut studio album, Cry Baby, however, it was later scrapped.
The full song was leaked on May 10, 2021, and the first demo leaked on February 15, 2021. The second demo leaked on March 1, 2022.
Background[]
The song was first mentioned in August 2014 when Melanie referenced some of the song's lyrics on Twitter.[1]
Theme[]
This song is from the perspective of a woman who has received an abortion and claims it was a miscarriage out of fear of her husband divorcing her. The guilt of the cover-up haunts her and she cannot escape the thoughts of what her son could have been like had she given birth.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
I'm in the process of counting sheep
But they're all so bloody
My hushed little baby still makes a peep
There's a ghost in the nursery
I'm haunted even when you’re never there
And I'm taunted by your teddy bear
Like it's talking and it's asking me
Why you never came home
[Pre-chorus 1]
I missed my shower
I miss your cradle
I miss your carriage
I miss carriage,
"I miscarriaged,
Mi-miscarriaged"
And you never came home
[Chorus]
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
[Verse 2]
I'm in the process of apologies
There's a husband who doesn't know that I'm guilty
There's a hushed little secret inside of me
And a ghost in the nursery
Oh honey, you'll never see your son become a star
Or the money you spent on that box of cigars
And I'm sorry you never got to hand them out, out
[Pre-chorus 2]
This is for all the horses
Never given a horseman
Never grew to be Porsches
This is for all divorces
That were caused by abortions
Babies having babies
And babies having abortions
[Chorus]
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
[Bridge]
Rocking horse
Rocking horse
Oooh
Back and forth
You never came home
Rocking horse
Rocking horse
Oooh
Back and forth
And you never came home
[Chorus]
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
[Verse 1]
I'm in the process of counting sheep
But they're all so bloody
My hushed little baby still makes a peep
There's a ghost in the nursery
I'm haunted even when you’re never there
And I'm taunted by your teddy bear
Like it's talking and it's asking me
Why you never came home
[Pre-chorus 1]
I missed my shower
I miss your cradle
I miss your carriage
I miss carriage,
"I miscarriaged,
Mi-miscarriaged"
And you never came home
[Chorus]
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
[Verse 2]
I'm in the process of apologies
There's a husband who doesn't know that I'm guilty
There's a hushed little secret inside of me
And a ghost in the nursery
Oh honey, you'll never see your son become a star
Or the money you spent on that box of cigars
And I'm sorry you never got to hand them out, out
[Pre-chorus 2]
This is for all the horses
Never given a horseman
Never grew to be Porsches
This is for all divorces
That were caused by abortions
Babies having babies
And babies having abortions
[Chorus]
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
[Bridge]
Rocking horse
Rocking horse
Oooh
Back and forth
You never came home
Rocking horse
Rocking horse
Oooh
Back and forth
And you never came home
[Chorus]
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
Back and forth
Back and forth
Move back and forth
Like a rocking horse
That rocking horse
That your daddy bought you
That you never saw
Goes back and forth
Official versions[]
| Version | Associated project | Leak date | Producer(s) | Creation date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "rocking horse 01" (demo 1) | Cry Baby | February 15, 2021 | One Love | August 24, 2014 | 3:58 |
| "rocking horse 02" (demo 2) | Cry Baby | March 1, 2022 | One Love | 2014 | 4:02 |
| "rocking horse 03" (final) | Cry Baby | May 10, 2021 | One Love | 2014 | 4:02 |
| "rocking horse 04" (instrumental) | Cry Baby | February 15, 2021 | One Love | 2014 | 4:02 |
Trivia[]
- This song contains a sample of "All the Places" by Pete Rock.
- Sounds of a creaking rocking horse can be heard throughout the song.
