The Bakery — Melanie Martinez Lyrics

Martinez, Blake Slatkin.

Song Facts:

• Genre: Electropop


• Lyricist: Melanie Martinez


• Composer: Melanie Martinez, Michael Keenan


• Album: After School EP

Artist Info:

Melanie Martinez is an American singer and songwriter. She became famous in 2012 on "The Voice." Her music is unique mix of childlike themes with darker, mature content. In 2015, she released her first album "Cry Baby," which was praised for its mix of pop and alternative sounds. In 2019, she released "K-12," with a feature film. Her songs often talk about themes of identity, social issues, and personal struggles. Melanie is known for her storytelling and her special style, mixing vintage and eerie elements. Her "After School EP" continued to show her creative and thematic exploration.

Annotations and Meaning:

"The Bakery" by Melanie Martinez is a song that use metaphor of working in bakery to talk about bigger themes of labor, dissatisfaction, and aspiration.
In the first verse, the singer describe repetitive tasks at the bakery: "Pack it, box it, flip it, top it." These actions mean monotonous work. The mention of "rainbow cookies" and "pies flying through the roof" suggest high demand and pressure. The singer do the job to make money and move out of bad situation, showing a wish for better life.

The refrain repeats the bakery tasks, showing the boring and repetitive nature of the work.

In the second verse, the singer's boss is called "Mother Mary," who is strict and demanding. This character "shows no mercy" and add to the singer's feelings of being trapped. The "stiletto death" picture shows harsh treatment and the oppressive nature of the workplace.

The chorus shows the singer's conflict. The bakery expects her to stay, but she wants to leave. The line "Grab the bag for when I cross the door" show readiness to leave anytime. "It ain't for me to roll it out, it's just for me to raise the dough" means the singer is only there to earn money, not to build career.

The third verse describe arbitrary rules and blame in the bakery. The boss's anger and the shifting blame show a toxic work environment. The mention of "knock 'em down like she a dodgeball" shows how the boss targets employees.

Overall, "The Bakery" talks about themes of labor, oppression, and looking for better opportunities. The bakery is a metaphor for any bad job where workers feel undervalued and overworked. The song shows the struggle for financial independence and the wish to escape a toxic environment.