"The Principal" is a song by Melanie Martinez that is featured as the third track on her sophomore album, K-12. The official music video was released as part of the film on September 6, 2019 and was later separately released on October 24, 2019.
Background[]
In April 2017, Melanie collaborated with photographer Emily Soto on a photoshoot to create visual imagery for every track on K-12. In the visual imagery for The Principal, Cry Baby is seen holding a knife while waiting for the principal to leave his office, although this does not happen on the final product.
On July 2, 2019, a snippet of this track was released exclusively in London, England, as an assignment prior to becoming available worldwide.
Theme[]
The song is presumably a metaphor for the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump. It is a critique for how he is cruel and greedy, allowing innocent people to die just to get his way. Throughout his presidency, he was a controversial figure that many did not agree with.
Overall, the song represents the point of view of people who are affected by a corrupt ruler, who only cares about themselves and their wealth, rather than the well being of the people they rule over.
In an interview on Melanie's October 2019 issue for Alternative Press, she revealed more of the background behind the song:
"This song felt necessary to make for many reasons, but I think the main spark that drove me to write it even subconsciously was the amount of grotesque and disheartening things we've witnessed as a society throughout the decades as well as presently with this current administration. I felt compelled to talk about the system of power within the school and also show how it directly reflects or carries double meaning for the patriarchal system that rules every field and industry of everyday life."
Melanie Martinez
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Sneaky, greedy, money-seeking
Always peeping, fucking creeping
Got it on the down-low
So you think you always squeaky
What if I had told your mother
Her son was a cruel motherfucker? Ah
[Pre-chorus 1]
It's not just me, it's everybody who thinks that you're fucking ugly
When you come and hurt us just so you can get your money
Forced to follow the leader who's being possessed by demons
[Chorus]
I've tried to make you listen, but you won't, it's your way, right?
Killing kids all day and night, prescription pills and online fights
Shooting at the angels while claiming you're the good guy
All you want is cash and hype
Fuck our dreams and that's not right
[Post-chorus]
The Principal
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
[Verse 2]
Complicated, overrated
You're fixated, I'm belated
By the separation in this place that you've created
Fuck all of your rules and guidelines
You shouldn't even be on the sidelines
[Pre-chorus 2]
Can't you see that we're all hurtin'?
If you're not teaching, we're not learnin'
Excuse me, how much are you earnin'?
[Chorus]
I've tried to make you listen, but you won't, it's your way, right?
Killing kids all day and night, prescription pills and online fights
Shooting at the angels while claiming you're the good guy
All you want is cash and hype
Fuck our dreams and that's not right
[Post-chorus]
The Principal
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
[Bridge]
You don't know the pain that you are causing
Yeah, your actions hurt, so do your words
The more you try to fuck us over
We will be there yelling at your front door
[Outro]
I've tried to make you listen, but you won't it's your way, right?
[Verse 1]
Sneaky, greedy, money-seeking
Always peeping, fucking creeping
Got it on the down-low
So you think you always squeaky
What if I had told your mother
Her son was a cruel motherfucker? Ah
[Pre-chorus 1]
It's not just me, it's everybody who thinks that you're fucking ugly
When you come and hurt us just so you can get your money
Forced to follow the leader who's being possessed by demons
[Chorus]
I've tried to make you listen, but you won't, it's your way, right?
Killing kids all day and night, prescription pills and online fights
Shooting at the angels while claiming you're the good guy
All you want is cash and hype
Fuck our dreams and that's not right
[Post-chorus]
The Principal
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
[Verse 2]
Complicated, overrated
You're fixated, I'm belated
By the separation in this place that you've created
Fuck all of your rules and guidelines
You shouldn't even be on the sidelines
[Pre-chorus 2]
Can't you see that we're all hurtin'?
If you're not teaching, we're not learnin'
Excuse me, how much are you earnin'?
[Chorus]
I've tried to make you listen, but you won't, it's your way, right?
Killing kids all day and night, prescription pills and online fights
Shooting at the angels while claiming you're the good guy
All you want is cash and hype
Fuck our dreams and that's not right
[Post-chorus]
The Principal
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
[Bridge]
You don't know the pain that you are causing
Yeah, your actions hurt, so do your words
The more you try to fuck us over
We will be there yelling at your front door
[Outro]
I've tried to make you listen, but you won't it's your way, right?
Official versions[]
| Version | Released on | Release date | Producer(s) | Creation date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Final | K-12 | September 6, 2019 | Michael Keenan | 2016 | 2:56 |
| ▶ | Clean version | K-12 | September 6, 2019 | Michael Keenan | 2016 | 2:56 |
| Instrumental | Unreleased | April 12, 2020 (leaked) | Michael Keenan | 2016 | 2:56 | |
| Demos | ||||||
| Demo 1 | Unreleased | Unleaked | Michael Keenan | 2015-2016 | Unknown | |
| Demo 2 | Unreleased | Unleaked | Michael Keenan | 2015-2016 | Unknown | |
Live performances[]
"The Principal" was performed at:
Tours[]
- K-12 Tour
- The Trilogy Tour (Interlude Version)
Festivals[]
All Things Go Fall Classic (Debut Performance)
Gallery[]
|
To view the gallery of The Principal (song), click here.
|
Music video[]
The music video starts with the Principal of K-12 Sleepaway School firing Ms. Harper because he doesn't support her male-to-female transition. In addition, Cry Baby finds out from another student, Thomas, that the Principal is using pills to control his students, preventing them from leaving the school. Cry Baby uses her powers to have a conversation with the Principal over the phone in which she insults him and calls him out on his wrongdoings.
Cry Baby and other racially diverse characters hold a hearing where all of the court members are old white men, representing the United States government. They don't listen to Cry Baby, so she uses her powers to make them disappear. The Principal begins choking and then collapses, likely due to his drink being poisoned. However, Ms. Daphne orders the school staff to save him which wakes him up.
Cast[]
- Cry Baby: Melanie Martinez
- The Principal: Toby Eddington
- Ms. Daphne: Anne Wittman
- Thomas: Zacky Agama
- Glue Boy: Tamas Gog
- Kelly: Maggie Budzyna
- Ms. Harper: Kate O'Donnell
Trivia[]
- On July 14, 2020, snippets of the first and second demos were played by Melanie and Michael Keenan on the "After School All-Star" TikTok livestream.
- Each song on K-12 represents a different grade level in school, from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
- "The Principal" represents second grade.
- During The Trilogy Tour, instead of being performed as a full or shortened song, "The Principal" is performed as an interlude.
- When the interlude for "The Principal" does happen, the screen shows a video of children holding up pro-Palestine signs.
- On the K-12 tour, Melanie expanded the last part of the chorus of this song so it could be repeated again.
