Mad Hatter by Melanie Martinez (2024)

My friends don't walk, they run
Skinny dip in rabbit holes for fun
Popping, popping balloons with guns
Getting high off helium
We paint white roses red
Each shade from a different person's head
This dream, dream is a killer
Getting drunk with a blue caterpillar

I'm peeling the skin off my face
'Cause I really hate being safe
The normals, they make me afraid
The crazies, they make me feel sane

I'm nuts, baby, I'm mad
The craziest friend that you've ever had
You think I'm psycho, you think I'm gone
Tell the psychiatrist something is wrong
Over the bend, entirely bonkers
You like me best when I'm off my rocker
Tell you a secret, I'm not alarmed
So what if I'm crazy? The best people are
All the best people are crazy
All the best people are

Where is my prescription?
Doctor, doctor, please listen
My brain is scattered
You can be Alice, I'll be the Mad Hatter

I'm peeling the skin off my face
'Cause I really hate being safe
The normals, they make me afraid
The crazies, they make me feel sane

I'm nuts, baby, I'm mad
The craziest friend that you've ever had
You think I'm psycho, you think I'm gone
Tell the psychiatrist something is wrong
Over the bend, entirely bonkers
You like me best when I'm off my rocker
Tell you a secret, I'm not alarmed
So what if I'm crazy? The best people are

You think I'm crazy, you think I'm gone
So what if I'm crazy? All the best people are
And I think you're crazy too, I know you're gone
That's probably the reason that we get along

I'm nuts, baby, I'm mad
The craziest friend that you've ever had
You think I'm psycho, you think I'm gone
Tell the psychiatrist something is wrong
Over the bend, entirely bonkers
You like me best when I'm off my rocker
Tell you a secret, I'm not alarmed
So what if I'm crazy? The best people are
All the best people are crazy
All the best people are

All the best people are crazy
All the best people are

Melanie Martinez's Mad Hatter is a song that explores the concept of madness and being different. The opening lines paint a picture of the singer’s friends engaging in unconventional and sometimes dangerous behavior, such as skinny-dipping in rabbit holes and popping balloons with guns. They find joy in the silliest and most absurd things, perhaps to escape their mundane lives. The chorus "I'm nuts, baby, I'm mad, the craziest friend that you've ever had" celebrates being different and encourages the listener to embrace their quirks without shame. Martinez emphasizes that conforming to societal norms is boring and being true to oneself, even if it means being labeled as "crazy," is much more fulfilling.

In the second verse, Martinez reveals that she isn't afraid to take risks and goes against the norm but struggles when surrounded by "normal" people. She finds comfort in being around people who display characteristics of eccentricity, like herself. The final verse features Martinez's plea to a doctor to give her prescription for her erratic behavior, making reference to the Mad Hatter character in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Through this reference, Martinez alludes to Alice's descent into a world of madness as a way of escaping her mundane reality. Martinez concludes the song by reiterating that being crazy is okay, and the best people are not afraid to be who they are.

My friends don't walk, they run
My friends are wild and impulsive, always in a hurry to experience new things

Skinny dip in rabbit holes for fun
My friends enjoy doing strange, unconventional things just for the thrill of it

Popping, popping balloons with guns
My friends find joy in destroying things, even harmless objects

Getting high off helium
My friends indulge in substances that alter their perception of reality

We paint white roses red
We pretend to be someone we're not, creating a false facade to please others

Each shade from a different person's head
We're influenced by those around us, adopting different personalities and behaviors to fit in

This dream, dream is a killer
This idealized life we're chasing can be dangerous and destructive

Getting drunk with a blue caterpillar
I'm seeking solace in hallucinations and delusions, a sign of my mental instability

I'm peeling the skin off my face
I'm shedding my old identity and embracing the chaos that comes with being unpredictable

'Cause I really hate being safe
I despise conformity and mediocrity, craving adventure and excitement instead

The normals, they make me afraid
Those who fit societal norms intimidate and alienate me

The crazies, they make me feel sane
Those who are considered mentally unstable are the only ones I feel I can relate to and connect with

I'm nuts, baby, I'm mad
I'm aware of my instability and embrace it, refusing to hide or apologize for who I am

The craziest friend that you've ever had
I'm fully aware that my behavior is abnormal, but I take pride in it

Tell the psychiatrist something is wrong
Those who try to label my behavior as a problem are missing the point, as my uniqueness is what sets me apart from others

Over the bend, entirely bonkers
I've crossed a threshold into uncharted territory, freely expressing myself without worrying about societal constraints or expectations

You like me best when I'm off my rocker
I'm at my most enjoyable when I'm totally unhinged and unapologetic, my true self shining through

Tell you a secret, I'm not alarmed
I'm fully aware of the risks and consequences of my actions, and I'm at peace with them

So what if I'm crazy? The best people are
I refuse to be ashamed of my mental instability, as some of the most creative and interesting people in history have struggled with the same issues

Where is my prescription?
I need to numb the pain of existing in a world that doesn't understand or accept me

Doctor, doctor, please listen
I'm hoping someone can help me find solace and stability in a world that seems determined to destroy me

My brain is scattered
My mind is in disarray, and I'm struggling to function normally as a result

You can be Alice, I'll be the Mad Hatter
Let's embrace our inner madness and create our own wonderland, unencumbered by societal norms and expectations

You think I'm crazy, you think I'm gone
You're not sure what to make of me, but I refuse to let that bother me

And I think you're crazy too, I know you're gone
I recognize that those who can't see the beauty in insanity are the ones who are truly lost

That's probably the reason that we get along
Our mutual embrace of madness is what brings us together and forms our bond

All the best people are crazy
I take pride in my mental instability and see it as a sign of my uniqueness and creativity

All the best people are
Conformity and normalcy are overrated, and I'm proud to be different

All the best people are crazy
I believe that mental instability is not a flaw, but a sign of a deep and powerful mind

All the best people are
I refuse to believe that normalcy is the only path to happiness and success in life