"The Tunnel" is an unreleased song by Melanie Martinez. It was recorded during the sessions of her fourth extended play (EP), After School EP, however, it was later scrapped.
The song was partially leaked on October 31, 2024. An edit of the full song combining multiple versions leaked on November 12, 2024.
Background[]
This song is part of a group of "tunnel" themed songs, along with Tunnel Vision and TUNNEL VISION.
Theme[]
The song's message seems to be intendedly vague. However, with the song's tunnel theme possibly being connected to PORTALS, it can possibly be interpreted to be about Crybaby's soul's assurance to enter this metaphorical or physical Tunnel of sorts. With their soul seeming to still be attached to the Earth, they are faced with a tunnel that allows them to transition into another world, leaving behind their past. This could be interpreted as Crybaby's farewell to the human world, as they step in another new dimension, through a tunnel.
This song also seems to be one of the songs Melanie have written to have a double earthly meaning. It could also be about the arise of new technology, and the consequences humanity have faced because of it. "Humans made their mark" could possibly refer to the irreparable damage to the environment that people have done for the sake of technology and advancements. "Machines have shaped our hearts" could talk about the chokehold and the reliance of people to technology nowadays. It talks about how humans made their mark to robots, artificial intelligence, and global warming, suggesting it is people's fault the Earth is being destroyed. But with this, the narrator still says that everything was worth it for all of its advancements done for society, even if its consequences aren't exactly nice.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Trying to detach but still I walk with the Earth
All of the programming, it worked
And glued me down like candy (ah-ah)
Melted on a planet (ah-ah)
[Pre-chorus 1]
Memories have fallen
Heights, they keep me stalling
Losing definition
I know what I'm missing, I know what I'm missing
[Chorus]
I'll feel better once I go through the tunnel
Feeling the weight of all the world won't do nothing
But it was worth it all, humans made their mark
Machines have shaped our hearts through the tunnel
[Verse 2]
Colors pass the rainbow when I'm here in your void
All of the things that I once feared, destroyed
And built a new dimension, hmm-mm (ah-ah)
Of things I wouldn't mention (ah-ah)
[Pre-chorus 2]
To human eyes, it's empty
Right now, it is plenty
Sounds of joy slipping
Into my existence, into my existence
[Chorus]
I'll feel better once I go through the tunnel
Feeling the weight of all the world won't do nothing
But it was worth it all, humans made their mark
Machines have shaped our hearts through the tunnel
[Bridge]
Swiftly shifting, worlds colliding
Change I knew I couldn't fight
Even if I had tried
Will I see the light from the other side?
[Chorus]
I'll feel better once I go through the tunnel
Feeling the weight of all the world won't do nothing
But it was worth it all, humans made their mark
Machines have shaped our hearts through the tunnel
I'll feel better once I go through the tunnel
Feeling the weight of all the world won't do nothing
But it was worth it all, humans made their mark
Machines have shaped our hearts through the tunnel
[Verse 1]
Trying to detach but still I walk with the Earth
All of the programming, it worked
And glued me down like candy (ah-ah)
Melted on a planet (ah-ah)
[Pre-chorus 1]
Memories have fallen
Heights, they keep me stalling
Losing definition
I know what I'm missing, I know what I'm missing
[Chorus]
I'll feel better once I go through the tunnel
Feeling the weight of all the world won't do nothing
But it was worth it all, humans made their mark
Machines have shaped our hearts through the tunnel
[Verse 2]
Colors pass the rainbow when I'm here in your void
All of the things that I once feared, destroyed
And built a new dimension, hmm-mm (ah-ah)
Of things I wouldn't mention (ah-ah)
[Pre-chorus 2]
To human eyes, it's empty
Right now, it is plenty
Sounds of joy slipping
Into my existence, into my existence
[Chorus]
I'll feel better once I go through the tunnel
Feeling the weight of all the world won't do nothing
But it was worth it all, humans made their mark
Machines have shaped our hearts through the tunnel
[Bridge]
Swiftly shifting, worlds colliding
Change I knew I couldn't fight
Even if I had tried
Will I see the light from the other side?
[Chorus]
I'll feel better once I go through the tunnel
Feeling the weight of all the world won't do nothing
But it was worth it all, humans made their mark
Machines have shaped our hearts through the tunnel
I'll feel better once I go through the tunnel
Feeling the weight of all the world won't do nothing
But it was worth it all, humans made their mark
Machines have shaped our hearts through the tunnel
Official versions[]
Although the leaked file contains a mix of multiple versions of the song, it will be referred to as the final version for simplicity.
| Version | Associated project | Leak date | Producer(s) | Creation date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo | After School EP | Unleaked | Unknown | 2020 | Unknown |
| Final | After School EP | November 12, 2024 | Unknown | March 2020 | ~4:21 |
Trivia[]
- This song was recorded alongside other songs during sessions in March of 2020. Some of the other songs include "Chrysalis", "Maze", "Function", "Under The Desk", "Clockwork", "Spin The Bottle" and "Paper Cut".
- Leakers confirmed that there are multiple versions of the song, with the leaked file being a mix of them.
- The music box in the beginning is a different tempo than the rest of the song.
- The music box has an unstable BPM, which could make this the second song with an unstable BPM.
- It is possible that this song was meant for the early writing process for PORTALS.
- In early 2022, the song was scrobbled by a leaker under the name "Missing Him in 4K",[1] a fake title given by the leakers.
References[]
[]
v • e  | |
|---|---|
| Featured tracks | Notebook • Test Me • Brain & Heart • Numbers • Glued • Field Trip • The Bakery |
| Scrapped tracks | Absorb • Chrysalis • Clockwork • Copy Cat (ft. Tierra Whack) • Erase Her • Fire Drill • Function • History • Lost & Found • Maze • Paper Cut • Spin The Bottle • The Tunnel • Trophy • Under The Desk |
| 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 |