"Starring Role" is a song originally by MARINA that Melanie Martinez covered on her YouTube channel, as well as during her Acoustic Tour, Dollhouse Tour, and first performance at ACL Music Festival.
Background[]
After Melanie removed many of her videos from her YouTube channel, "Starring Role" remained up for a long time but was removed later, on July 29, 2015.[1] It can be seen on her channel on the Web Archive.[2] She performed this song live multiple times in 2013 and 2014. She did a total of three renditions; one on piano (often done by someone else), one with a glockenspiel, and one doll-themed studio version.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
You're hard to hug, tough to talk to
And I never fall asleep
When you're in my bed
All you give me is a heartbeat
I've turned into a statue
And it makes me feel depressed
'Cause the only time you open up
Is when we get undressed
[Pre-chorus 1]
You don't love me, big fucking deal
I'll never tell you how I feel
You don't love me, not a big deal
I'll never tell you how I feel
[Chorus]
It almost feels like a joke to play out a part
When you are not the starring role in someone else's heart
You know I'd rather walk alone than play a supporting role
If I can't get the starring role
[Verse 2]
Sometimes I ignore you so I feel in control
'Cause really, I adore you and I can't leave you alone
Fed up with the fantasies that cover what is wrong
Come on, baby, let's just get drunk, forget we don't get on
[Pre-chorus 2]
You're like my dad, you get on well
I send my best regards from Hell
[Chorus]
It almost feels like a joke to play out a part
When you are not the starring role in someone else's heart
You know I'd rather walk alone, than play a supporting role
If I can't get the starring role
[Bridge]
I never sang for love, I never had a heart to mend
Because before the start began, I always saw the end
Yeah, I wait for you to open up, to give yourself to me
But nothing's ever gonna give, I'll never set you free
Yeah, I'll never set you free
[Chorus]
It almost feels like a joke to play out a part
When you are not the starring role in someone else's heart
You know I'd rather walk alone than play a supporting role
If I can't get the starring role
The starring role
[Verse 1]
You're hard to hug, tough to talk to
And I never fall asleep
When you're in my bed
All you give me is a heartbeat
I've turned into a statue
And it makes me feel depressed
'Cause the only time you open up
Is when we get undressed
[Pre-chorus 1]
You don't love me, big fucking deal
I'll never tell you how I feel
You don't love me, not a big deal
I'll never tell you how I feel
[Chorus]
It almost feels like a joke to play out a part
When you are not the starring role in someone else's heart
You know I'd rather walk alone than play a supporting role
If I can't get the starring role
[Verse 2]
Sometimes I ignore you so I feel in control
'Cause really, I adore you and I can't leave you alone
Fed up with the fantasies that cover what is wrong
Come on, baby, let's just get drunk, forget we don't get on
[Pre-chorus 2]
You're like my dad, you get on well
I send my best regards from Hell
[Chorus]
It almost feels like a joke to play out a part
When you are not the starring role in someone else's heart
You know I'd rather walk alone, than play a supporting role
If I can't get the starring role
[Bridge]
I never sang for love, I never had a heart to mend
Because before the start began, I always saw the end
Yeah, I wait for you to open up, to give yourself to me
But nothing's ever gonna give, I'll never set you free
Yeah, I'll never set you free
[Chorus]
It almost feels like a joke to play out a part
When you are not the starring role in someone else's heart
You know I'd rather walk alone than play a supporting role
If I can't get the starring role
The starring role
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- Melanie has commented that this song is a "good ass song", and that she wished that she wrote the song instead.[3]
- The pianist in the YouTube upload was one of Melanie's producers, Doveman.
- This is one of her longest performed covers to date, with performances ranging from May 10, 2013 to October 12, 2013.
References[]
- ↑
Sequence of tweets referencing the status of the upload.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20131029124926/http://www.youtube.com/user/Melmartinezx3
- ↑ https://youtu.be/0kjpIE2kTXU?si=tzuD-U0gq_vFzljs&t=143
