POSSESSION Lyrics – Melanie Martinez

Meaning of ‘POSSESSION’ Lyrics Explained

Verse 1 Meaning:
This part feels like waking up after something traumatic and realizing you’re trapped in someone else’s world. Being placed on a shelf like a fragile object shows how the singer is treated more like a collectible than a real person. The porcelain imagery suggests she has to stay delicate and careful just to survive, giving affection not because she wants to, but because it’s the only way to avoid emotional punishment or falling apart.

Pre-Chorus Meaning:
Here, the relationship starts to feel tense and unsafe. She’s constantly trying to satisfy his needs, even when he’s aggressive or demanding. The repeated shouting gives the sense of emotional pressure and fear, like she’s being overwhelmed and can’t escape the noise or his control.

Chorus Meaning:
This section lays out the core dynamic of the relationship. She sees herself as something owned, shaped, and controlled, rather than loved. Being compared to a weapon and a prize shows how she’s valued only for what she can provide or how she makes him look. She stays quiet, hides her pain, and plays the role expected of her, even when it hurts, because resisting feels impossible.

Post-Chorus Meaning:
The playful, nursery-like sounds clash with the dark situation, making everything feel unsettling. It reflects how she’s numbing herself and going on autopilot, almost like dissociating to get through the day. The repetition mirrors the cycle she’s stuck in, where nothing really changes no matter how long it goes on.

Verse 2 Meaning:
This verse dives deeper into daily life inside the relationship. She’s isolated for long stretches of time and left to clean up both physical messes and emotional damage. When he comes home drunk and angry, she has to stay quiet even when she’s deeply hurt. Holding back her words causes more pain, showing how silence slowly destroys her from the inside.

Pre-Chorus Meaning:
Here, doubt and despair take over. She starts questioning whether love even exists in a situation where she’s invisible and unheard. The imagery points to emotional breakdon and dark thoughts, revealing just how badly the constant neglect and mistreatment have affected her mental health.

Chorus Meaning:
The repeated return to this section shows how stuck she feels in the role she’s been forced into. She keeps pretending everything is fine, even when jealousy, disrespect, and emotional betrayal surround her. Going along with it becomes a survival tactic, not a choice, as she buries her feelings deeper each time.

Post-Chorus Meaning:
Once again, the looping sounds emphasize emotional exhaustion. It feels like she’s detached, moving through the motions without thinking, because facing reality head-on would be too painful. The sing-song tone makes the situation feel even darker, like pain has been normalized.

Outro Meaning:
This final part marks a sudden break from the cycle. Taking the keys and leaving shows an impulsive escape, even if it’s messy and dangerous. The accident acts like a hard reset, shaking her out of the mental fog she was trapped in. Though she’s physically hurt, there’s a sense that she’s finally awake and no longer under his control.