Dear Porcupines

"Dear Porcupines", alternatively titled as "Dear Porcupine" or "Porcupine", is a song by Melanie Martinez written for her 2013 EP. It was planned to be re-recorded for Cry Baby, however, it is unknown if she did.^[2] The song has been performed live multiple times.

The full studio version leaked on May 17^th, 2021.

Theme[]

This song is about people bullying Melanie during school, but she has overcome their words since then. The bullies are metaphorically referred to as "porcupines". This song is also about getting revenge on the people who made fun of her by insulting them.^[3]

Lyrics[]

[Verse 1]
Drown me in my daily cup of tea
Tell the porcupines to quit stabbing me
They make me fall but I will stand
'Cause all of them are jerks with their cups in their hands
Now they want a whisper, a whisper from me
'Cause all of them have watched me on their big screen TVs
But what about little ol', little ol' me?
The one who got bullied because of her teeth

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ah-ah-ah

[Verse 2]
Ladies, oh, ladies, why are you so mad?
Is it 'cause I'm classy and you're a trash bag?
Your teasing and laughing resonates through my heart
And now you're calling me 'cause you want a fresh start
Now look at you boys, you can't believe your eyes
You told me I was ugly and I took you by surprise
You should've been nicer 'cause look where I'm at
While you copy Mac Miller wearing snapback hats

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ah-ah-ah

[Bridge]
Why must you be so mean, talking shit about me?
All I wanted was a friend to laugh and cry
And spend all of eternity or even just a week
Ah-ah, even just a week
Ha, ha, ha, ah

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, ooh-ooh

[Verse 1]
Drown me in my daily cup of tea
Tell the porcupines to quit stabbing me
They make me fall but I will stand
'Cause all of them are jerks with their cups in their hands
Now they want a whisper, a whisper from me
'Cause all of them have watched me on their big screen TVs
But what about little ol', little ol' me?
The one who got bullied because of her teeth

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh

[Verse 2]
Ladies, oh, ladies, why are you so mad?
Is it 'cause I'm classy and you're a trash bag?
Your teasing and laughing resonates through my heart
And now you're calling me 'cause you want a fresh start
Now look at you boys, you can't believe your eyes
You told me I was ugly and I took you by surprise
You should've been nicer 'cause look where I'm at
While you copy Mac Miller wearing snapback hats

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh

[Bridge]
Why must you be so mean, talking shit about me?
All I wanted was a friend to laugh and cry
And spend all of eternity or even just a week
Ah-ah, even just a week
Ha, ha-ha-ah

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh

[Outro]
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh

[Verse 1]
Drown me in my daily cup of tea
Tell the porcupines to quit stabbing me
They make me fall but I will stand
'Cause all of them are jerks with their cups in their hands
Now they want a whisper, a whisper from me
'Cause all of them have watched me on their big screen TVs
But what about little ol', little ol' me?
The one who got bullied because of her teeth

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh

[Verse 2]
Ladies, oh, ladies, why are you so mad?
Is it 'cause I'm classy and you're a trash bag?
Your teasing and laughing resonates through my heart
And now you're calling me 'cause you want a fresh start
Now look at you boys, you can't believe your eyes
You told me I was ugly and I took you by surprise
You should've been nicer 'cause look where I'm at
While you copy Mac Miller wearing snapback hats

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh

[Bridge]
Why must you be so mean, talking trash about me?
All I wanted was a friend to laugh and cry
And spend all of eternity or even just a week
Ah-ah
Ha, ha-ha-ah

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh

[Verse 1]
Drown me in my daily cup of tea
Tell the porcupines to quit stabbing me
They make me fall but I will stand
'Cause all of them are jerks with their cups in their hands
Now they want a whisper, a whisper from me
'Cause all of them have watched me on their big screen TVs
But what about little ol', little ol' me?
The one who got bullied because of her teeth

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh

[Verse 2]
Ladies, oh, ladies, why are you so mad?
Is it 'cause I'm classy and you're a trash bag?
Your teasing and laughing resonates through my heart
And now you're calling me 'cause you want a fresh start
Now look at you boys, you can't believe your eyes
You told me I was ugly and I took you by surprise
You should've been nicer 'cause look where I'm at
While you copy Mac Miller wearing snapback hats

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh

[Bridge]
Why must you be so mean, talking trash about me?
All I wanted was a friend to laugh and cry
And spend all of eternity or even just a week

[Chorus]
I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you love me but what about before?
When I was just that silly little girl next door, oh-oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh

[Snippet]
Ladies, oh, ladies, why are you so mad?
Is it 'cause I'm classy and you're a trash bag?
Your teasing and laughing resonates through my heart
And now you're calling me 'cause you want a fresh start
Now look at you boys, you can't believe your eyes
You told me I was ugly and I took you by surprise
You should've been nicer 'cause look where I'm at
While you copy Mac Miller wearing snapback hats

I hope you all are watching my middle finger rise
To the bullies in the school yard, I know I'm on your mind
Now you say you lo-

Official versions[]

Version	Intended project	Leak date	Producer(s)	Creation date	Length
Unknown version	2013 EP	Unleaked	Unknown	Unknown	3:20^[4]
Acoustic demo	2013 EP	Unleaked	Miles Nasta	Early 2013	0:36 (snippet)
"Dear Porcupines" (worktape demo)	2013 EP	2013 ^{[note 1]}	Melanie Martinez	Early 2013	3:00
"dear_porcupines_ruff" (demo 1)	2013 EP	May 17^th, 2021	THE ELEV3N	March 22^nd, 2013	3:16
"DEAR PORCUPINES_Elev3n Rough" (demo 2)	2013 EP	November 19^th, 2021	THE ELEV3N	April 2^nd, 2013	3:43
"Dear Porcupines 6 16 2013" (mix 1)	2013 EP	May 2021	Doveman	June 16^th, 2013	3:34
"Dear Porcupines 6 30 2013" (mix 2)	2013 EP	May 2021	Doveman	June 30^th, 2013	3:34
"Dear Porcupines 6 30 2013A" (mix 3)	2013 EP	May 2021	Doveman	June 30^th, 2013	3:34
"Dear Porcupines 6 30 2013B" (final)	2013 EP	May 17^th, 2021	Doveman	June 30^th, 2013	3:34

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Melanie Martinez - Dear Porcupine (Snippet)

Melanie Martinez - Dear Porcupine (Live Alternative Version)

Dear Porcupines by Melanie Martinez live First Avenue 5-11-13

Melanie Martinez Doveman Dear Porcupines (2013-06-07)

Melanie Martinez- Dear Porcupine (Original) LIVE

Melanie Martinez- Dear Porcupine (original)

Melanie Martinez - 10 17 2013 - Dear Porcupines (Live)

Melanie Martinez - Dear Porcupine (Original) Live

Dear Porcupines by Melanie Martinez live Acoustic Tour 12-11-13

Dear Porcupines by Melanie Martinez live Acoustic Tour 12-13-13

Melanie Martinez - Dear Porcupine Lyrics

Melanie Martinez "Dear Porcupines"

Melanie Martinez - 02 15 2014 - Dear Porcupines (Live)

Trivia[]

In most live performances, Melanie did not sing the explicit version.
An acoustic worktape of the song recorded and produced by Melanie on her laptop was uploaded by Melanie's manager, Ron Shapiro, to his SoundCloud account in 2013.
This song is listed twice on BMI Repertoire, under "Dear Porcupine" and "Dear Porcupines".^[5]
There are alternate live versions, including an explicit performance.^[6]
This is one of the songs that has the most official exports out of all her songs, which has the total of 9 official versions.

Notes[]

↑ This version was released on SoundCloud by her account manager, Ron Shapiro, in 2013. However, the track is now unavailable.

References[]

↑ https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=464912480259869&id=304606366290482
↑ File:2013 EP songs for Cry Baby.jpg
↑ https://www.facebook.com/melaniemartinezmusic/posts/515163878568062
↑ File:Dearporcupineduration.png
↑
"http://repertoire.bmi.com/Catalog.aspx?detail=artistid&keyid=152983&subid=0&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25<ref>
- The first two minutes of this song were debuted on a StageIt show.
- Melanie references a famous late rapper, Mac Miller, in the song "While you're copying Mac Miller wearing snapback hats", whom she also wrote a message about his passing on her Instagram story back on September 10^th, 2018.<ref>https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d2/82/0d/d2820d23464d7959a273f4c57342321d.jpg
↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjxKTrYaAds&t=123s

Navigation[]

v • e 2013 EP
Featured tracks	A Million Men • A Thousand Words • Birthing Addicts • Bones Are Blue • Curly Cue • Dear Porcupines • Night Mime • Race • Rough Love
Scrapped tracks	I Think I'm Crazy • Intervals • Time Flies
Related	Can't Shake You • Heart at the Door • Until Sunrise

v • e
Featured tracks	Cry Baby • Dollhouse • Sippy Cup • Carousel • Alphabet Boy • Soap • Training Wheels • Pity Party • Tag, You're It • Milk and Cookies • Pacify Her • Mrs. Potato Head • Mad Hatter
Bonus tracks	Play Date • Teddy Bear • Cake
Scrapped tracks	99 Cent Store • A Million Men • A Thousand Words • Animal Crackers • Arts & Crafts • Ball Pit • Band Aid • Birthing Addicts • Bittersweet Tragedy • Bombs on Monday Morning • Bones Are Blue • Cartoons • Coloring Book • Cooties • Dead To Me • Dear Porcupines • Drowning • Gold Diggin' Love • Half Hearted • Haunted • Heartbeat • I Scream • Jumprope • King Of The Arcade • Mirror Mirror • Mistakes • Night Mime • Patient • Psycho Lovers • Ring Pop • Rocking Horse • Rotten Milk • Rough Love • Run • Schizo • Seesaw • Sticks and Stones • Strawberry Fields • Toy Chest • Trophy Wife • Twins • Unhappy Meal • Where Do Babies Come From? • You Love I • Zzzz
Characters	Cry Baby • Johnny • Alphabet Boy • Big Bad Wolf • Mom • Dad • Brother • Little Girl • Mistress • Cashier • Basic Bitch • Blue Boy • Bunnies • Mrs. Potato Head • Mr. Potato Head • Nurse • Rushton Dolls
Extras	Digital Booklet • Merchandise • Cry Baby Perfume Milk • Cry Baby Tour Diaries • Cry Baby's Extra Clutter EP • Gingerbread Man
Locations	Cry Baby's House • Big Bad Wolf's House • Grocery Store • Carnival • Hospital
Tour	Cry Baby Tour • Cry Baby Tour Part 2 • Cry Baby Euro Tour • Cry Baby Euro Tour Part 2 • Cry Baby Australia and New Zealand Tour • The Trilogy Tour

v • e Unreleased songs
Leaked songs	99 Cent Store • A Million Men • A Thousand Words • Absorb • AK-47 • Angels Song • Arts & Crafts • Band Aid • Barely Juice • Birthing Addicts • Bombs on Monday Morning • Bones Are Blue • Coloring Book • Cooties • Corpse • Curly Cue • Dear Porcupines • Death • Dragon's Blood • Drowning • Emerald • Eraser • Erase Her • Fairy Dance • Fingers Crossed • Function • Garden • Glue Stick • Gravitate • Half Hearted • Haunted • Hawaii Space Guitar • History • I Scream • Inconsistent Flame • Infomercial • Jinx • Jumprope • Labyrinth (version 1) • Labyrinth (version 2) • Last Chapter (Never Stayed for Love) • Lost & Found • Magnets • Maze • Mistakes • Mother of Pearl • Needle and Thread • Night Mime • Paper Cut • Papercut • Patient • Psycho Lovers • Puzzles • Ring Pop • Rocking Horse • Rotten Milk • Rough Love • Run • Schizo • Seesaw • Spin The Bottle • Sticks and Stones • Strawberry Fields • Synchronicities • The One • Time Flies • Toy Chest • Trophy • Trophy Wife • Tunnel Vision • Twins • Under The Desk • Unhappy Meal • Void • Walkie Talkie • Where Do Babies Come From? • You Love I • Zzzz
Partially leaked Songs	Cartoons • Dressed For Me • Fragile • Heart at the Door • Heartbeat • Hell On My Heart • Mirror Mirror • Oh No! • Not Dead, Just Expired
Unleaked songs	Alone • Animal Crackers • Ball Pit • Gold Diggin' Love • Intervals • I Love My Ride • King Of The Arcade • Menace to Society • Milky Way • Oh Carousel • Race • Smoke • Until Sunrise

[5] This version was released on SoundCloud by her account manager, Ron Shapiro, in 2013. However, the track is now unavailable.

[1] ttps://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=464912480259869&id=304606366290482

[2] File:2013 EP songs for Cry Baby.jpg

[3] ttps://www.facebook.com/melaniemartinezmusic/posts/515163878568062

[4] File:Dearporcupineduration.png

[6] "http://repertoire.bmi.com/Catalog.aspx?detail=artistid&keyid=152983&subid=0&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25<ref>
The first two minutes of this song were debuted on a StageIt show.

Melanie references a famous late rapper, Mac Miller, in the song "While you're copying Mac Miller wearing snapback hats", whom she also wrote a message about his passing on her Instagram story back on September 10^th, 2018.<ref>https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d2/82/0d/d2820d23464d7959a273f4c57342321d.jpg

[7] The first two minutes of this song were debuted on a StageIt show.

[8] Melanie references a famous late rapper, Mac Miller, in the song "While you're copying Mac Miller wearing snapback hats", whom she also wrote a message about his passing on her Instagram story back on September 10^th, 2018.<ref>https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d2/82/0d/d2820d23464d7959a273f4c57342321d.jpg

[7] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjxKTrYaAds&t=123s

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[note 1]

[5]

[6]