"Teddy Bear" is a song by Melanie Martinez that is featured as the fifteenth track on the deluxe version of her debut album, Cry Baby. It is also featured as the second track on her third extended play (EP), Cry Baby's Extra Clutter EP.
Background[]
On July 19, 2014, Melanie posted a tweet with emojis representing some songs intended to appear in the album, with "✨💕🐻" possibly representing this song.[1]
Theme[]
The song tells the story of a child (who may be Cry Baby), presumably a little girl. After the child got a living, talking teddy bear, whom she loved, she was very happy, until the toy begins to act strangely. She begins to lose hope in her bear, and she’s unsure if she should trust him anymore, although she is not scared. As the song goes on, the more dangerous and insane the toy becomes: hiding small knives under her bedsheets, crumpling photographs of her, and threatening her. It takes a turn for the worse after the teddy bear attempts to kill her, even after the child disposed of it. The child becomes terrified after realizing the severity of the situation.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Stitched you up, put you together
With cotton and feather
Gave you love, put my heart inside you
Oh what could I do
When you started talking in your sleep
Saying things you'd do to me
I didn't care
I wasn't scared
Now I'm finding knives under the sheets
Crumpled photographs of me
I'm in despair
Should I be scared?
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Oh, teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Verse 2]
I threw you out, I didn't outgrow you
I just didn't know you
But now you're back
And it's so terrifying how you paralyze me
Now you showing up inside my home
Breathing deep into the phone
I'm so unprepared
I'm fucking scared
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Bridge]
(Melanie sample)
I'm fucking scared
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you are my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Verse 1]
Stitched you up, put you together
With cotton and feather
Gave you love, put my heart inside you
Oh what could I do
When you started talking in your sleep
Saying things you'd do to me
I didn't care
I wasn't scared
Now I'm finding knives under the sheets
Crumpled photographs of me
I'm in despair
Should I be scared?
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Oh, teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Verse 2]
I threw you out, I didn't outgrow you
I just didn't know you
But now you're back
And it's so terrifying how you paralyze me
Now you showing up inside my home
Breathing deep into the phone
I'm so unprepared
I'm scared
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Bridge]
(Melanie sample)
I'm scared
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you are my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Verse 1]
Stitched you up, put you together
With cotton and feather
Gave you love, put my heart inside you
Oh what could I do
When you started talking in your sleep
Saying things you'd do to me
I didn't care
I wasn't scared
Now I'm finding knives under the sheets
Crumpled photographs of me
I'm in despair
Should I be scared?
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Oh, teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Verse 2]
I threw you out, I didn't outgrow you
I just didn't know you
But now you're back
And it's so terrifying how you paralyze me
Now you showing up inside my home
Breathing deep into the phone
I'm so unprepared
I'm fucking scared
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Bridge]
(Melanie sample)
I'm fucking scared
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you are my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Verse 1]
Stitched you up, put you together
With cotton and feather
Gave you love, put my heart inside you
Oh what could I do
When you started talking in your sleep
Saying things you'd do to me
I didn't care
I wasn't scared
Now I'm finding knives under the sheets
Crumpled photographs of me
I'm in despair
Should I be scared?
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Oh, teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Verse 2]
I threw you out, I didn't outgrow you
I just didn't know you
But now you're back
And it's so terrifying how you paralyze me
Now you showing up inside my home
Breathing deep into the phone
I'm so unprepared
I'm scared
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
[Bridge]
(Melanie sample)
I'm scared
[Chorus]
Teddy bear, you are my teddy bear
You were comforting and quiet
How did love become so violent?
Teddy bear, you were my teddy bear
Everything was so sweet until you tried to kill me
Official versions[]
| Version | Released on | Release date | Producer(s) | Creation date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Final | Cry Baby (Deluxe Edition) • Cry Baby's Extra Clutter EP | August 14, 2015 | Felix Snow | ~May, 2014 | 4:05 |
| ▶ | Clean version | Cry Baby (Deluxe Edition) | August 14, 2015 | Felix Snow | ~May, 2014 | 4:05 |
| Instrumental | Unreleased | July 31, 2020 (leaked) | Felix Snow | ~May, 2014 | 4:05 | |
| Demos | ||||||
| "Teddy Bear" (demo), | Unreleased | May 11, 2021 (leaked) | Felix Snow | May 6, 2014 | 4:05 | |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Despite being on the deluxe version of Cry Baby, this song is not officially part of Cry Baby's story, along with the songs "Cake" and "Play Date."
- This song was certified gold by the RIAA on November 24, 2021, making it the last song to be certified from the album.
- In the song's breakdown, it is possible to hear Melanie sing the lyrics, "Threw you out, I didn't outgrow you", six times reversed.
- This is one of four known songs by Melanie that includes a back-masked message in it, the others being "You Love I", "Eraser" and "Puzzles".
- This song was recorded in the same session as "Cooties."
- Melanie collaborated with the makeup company Lime Crime to make a liquid lipstick called Teddy Bear, which was named after the song.
- In the clean version of this song, it only blocks out the line, "I'm fucking scared" once. When it repeats, you can clearly hear Melanie singing it.
- This is the second longest song on the deluxe version of Cry Baby, the longest being "Alphabet Boy."
- It is the longest track on her third extended play, Cry Baby's Extra Clutter.
- The song was planned to be on the standard version of Cry Baby but was scrapped from it. [citation needed]
- This song surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify on February 8, 2024.
- This is Melanie's 23rd song to achieve this on Spotify and the final song from Cry Baby to do so.
- This is Melanie's least streamed song from deluxe version on Cry Baby. On the standard version, "Milk and Cookies" is the least streamed.
References[]
[]
v • e  | |
|---|---|
| Featured Tracks | Play Date • Teddy Bear • Cake • Gingerbread Man |
| Characters | Cry Baby • Rushton Dolls |
| Producers | Michael Keenan • Jennifer Decilveo • CJ Baran • Felix Snow • Arthur McArthur |
| Related | Cry Baby • Merchandise • The Trilogy Tour |