What does Carousel mean?

Melanie Martinez: Carousel Meaning

Album cover for Carousel album cover

Carousel Lyrics

Round and round like a horse on a carousel, we go,
Will I catch up to love? I could never tell, I know,
Chasing after you is like a fairytale, but I,
Feel like I'm glued on tight to this carousel

Come, come one, come all,
You must be this...

  1. anonymous
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    Sep 14th 2019 !⃝

    I literally thought the song was about getting addicted to drugs/alcohol.... listen to the song and think of it in that context. The carousel is the substance and she’s trapped on it.
    Yeah there’s a handsome guy that she’s like drooling over but I also feel like she’s supposed to be on drugs throughout the video(or alcohol I suppose). I’m pretty sure it’s meant to be after Sippy Cup, where Crybaby’s mom gives her alcohol to fall asleep and she wakes up at the Carnival, aka she’s trippin lol
    I’m probably way off, because originally I thought it was about a relationship too

  2. anonymous
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    Aug 21st 2019 !⃝

    The meaning behind the song carousel is about a boy who she fell in love with but he didn't love her so she described it like a carousel because she could not get him to love her and round and round represents her attempts to grab onto him trying to reach him.

  3. anonymous
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    Dec 1st 2018 !⃝

    This song is the part of Crbaby's story that comes before Play Date. In Play Date, Crybaby is feeling like Johnny is using her for her body and sex. In carousel, Crybaby thinks she's in love with Johnny, but she can't catch up to him because he doesn't love her the way she loves him. He's just using her for her body.

  4. anonymous
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    Aug 26th 2018 !⃝

    It’s about feeling like you relationship is going around in circles and not getting anywhere.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  5. anonymous
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    May 13th 2018 !⃝

    It started for fun, she doesn't even know how, but then she started having feelings for this boy that was just playing with her"and it's all fun and games, 'till somebody falls in love". At the beginning he seemed into her, she started loving those attentions but when she understood that it was just an illusion was too late, she was so into him"But you've already bought a ticket and there's not turning back now". Now the game is inverted, she's chasing after him, she's too invilved, but he's hiding from her "right, right when I'm here, it's like you desappear".

  6. anonymous
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    Apr 18th 2018 !⃝

    I think that this song means she was going around hooking up with random guys, says "will I ever catch to love, I could never tell" meaning doesn't know or care if these hookups will turn into anything serious. Then she meets this guy and says "it's all fun and games til someone falls in love" meaning they agreed on just being fwb without any strings attached(feelings). Then in a clip it shows her floating, following him around meaning she's fallen for him. She doesn't know if he feels the same way because she sends her mixed signals. She just can't seem to get over him. He doesn't like her back, which broke her heart but she still seems to love him.

  7. anonymous
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    Nov 19th 2017 !⃝

    I think this song is how Melanie falls in love with a boy but she can't catch him because he is like horse on carousrel and even know she is do close to him you can never catch the horse on front of you. Don't judge is just my opinion.

  8. anonymous
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    Oct 29th 2017 !⃝

    Crybaby falls in love with a boy at a carnival. Then she relizes that he wants her for her body so then she wishes she could stop loving him but is trapped on the carousel that is love.

  9. anonymous
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    Oct 8th 2017 !⃝

    I truly belive the song is about a boy they fall inlove and you know how in the music video he jumps off and leaves her tied up? Wel l once he was done with her she was still in love aka going around on a carousel or stuck on this ride.

  10. anonymous
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    Aug 21st 2017 !⃝

    I think this is about a girl who has been with alot of guys searching for Mr. Right. When he finally does arrive he doesn't stay around. She's stuck riding the carousel, but instead of being a fun adventure its droll and unfulfilling.

  11. anonymous
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    Aug 10th 2017 !⃝

    I think crybaby falls in love with the boy, but the boy is just using her body.

  12. anonymous
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    Jul 18th 2017 !⃝

    Everyone's so deep about the meaning of this song and I thought it was about sex.

  13. melaniehugefan
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    Feb 9th 2017 !⃝

    You know when you go to the carnival and you get a small prize well this boy isn't accepting this prize until he realizes Crybaby is trying get with him so she puts her on a carousel to chase after him which she realizes she is making her this way.

  14. anonymous
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    Oct 3rd 2016 !⃝

    My interpretation of this song is...

    Melanie falls in love with a guy so deeply, that she would do anything for him. So they go to the fair, and he 'steals her cotton candy heart' because he doesn't love her, when she loves him. She can't catch up with her love, just like a hose on the carousel. :)

  15. anonymous
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    Aug 24th 2016 !⃝

    Cry baby falls in love with a boy so deeply that she will do anything for him so when he goes to the playland she follows she soon gets stuck following him and she stays on the carousel of love hoping he will notice her but he rejects her and never notices but she is determind to get his love but she knows shell never catch up to love.




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