Rocking Horse (Unreleased)

Melanie Martinez's unreleased song 'Rocking Horse' delves into the profound and often unspoken pain of miscarriage and the lingering emotional aftermath. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a mother grappling with the loss of her unborn child, symbolized through haunting nursery imagery and the repetitive motion of a rocking horse. The opening lines, 'I'm in the process of counting sheep / But they're all so bloody,' immediately set a somber tone, suggesting sleepless nights filled with grief and haunting memories.

The song's chorus, 'Back and forth / Like a rocking horse / That your daddy bought you / That you never saw,' underscores the cyclical nature of the mother's sorrow. The rocking horse, a gift that the child never got to use, becomes a poignant symbol of unfulfilled dreams and the life that could have been. This imagery is further reinforced by the lines, 'I miss your cradle / I miss your carriage / I miss carriage / I miscarriaged,' where the repetition and wordplay emphasize the depth of the mother's loss and the emotional weight she carries.

Martinez also touches on the broader societal implications of miscarriage and abortion, as seen in the verse, 'This is for all the horses / Never gave him a horse / That never grew to be porches / This is for all divorces / That were caused by abortions.' Here, she acknowledges the ripple effects of such losses on relationships and families, highlighting the often-hidden struggles that many endure. The song's haunting melody and repetitive structure mirror the relentless nature of grief, making 'Rocking Horse' a powerful exploration of loss, guilt, and the search for closure.