Sneaky, greedy, money seeking
Always peeping, fucking creeping
Got it on the down low
So you think you always squeaky
What if I had told your mother
Her son was a cruel motherfucker? Ah
It's not just me, it's everybody
Who thinks that you're fucking ugly
When you come and hurt us
Just so you can get your money
Forced to follow the leader
Who's being possessed by demons
[Chorus]
I've tried to make you listen
But you won't, it's your way, right?
Killin' kids all day and night
Prescription pills and online fights
Shootin' at the angels while
Claiming you're the good guy
All you want is cash and hype
Fuck our dreams and that's not right
[Post-Chorus]
The principal, oh woah, oh
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle? Oh woah, oh
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Complicated, overrated
You're fixated and elated
By the separation
In this place that you've created
Fuck all of your rules and guidelines
You shouldn't even be on the sidelines
Can't you see that we're all hurtin'?
If you're not teachin', we're not learnin'
Excuse me, how much are you earnin'?
[Chorus]
I've tried to make you listen
But you won't, it's your way, right?
Killin' kids all day and night
Prescription pills and online fights
Shootin' at the angels while
Claiming you're the good guy
All you want is cash and hype
Fuck our dreams and that's not right
[Post-Chorus]
The principal, oh woah, oh
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle? Oh woah, oh
Oh, where's the principle?
Oh, where's the principle?
You don't know the pain that you are causin'
Yeah, your actions hurt, so do your words
The more you try to fuck us over
We will be there yelling at your front door
[Outro]
I've tried to make you listen
But you won't, it's your way, right?
About
“The Principal” is the third song on Melanie Martinez’s sophomore album, K-12. The Principal character in the K-12 movie, and the subject of this song, are a reference to The 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. In a March 2017 G1 interview, she said that her next album would have a song about Trump because he “terrifies” her. At a concert after he won the 2016 election, Melanie explained:
I’m very sad today because Donald Trump became president. I’m very, very, very upset.
A snippet of the song was released through an interactive game on July 2, 2019, and was later posted on Martinez' social media accounts with the lyrics. The artwork was made by pastelae, the same artist who made the cover art for “Lunchbox Friends,” “Detention,” and “Recess.”
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
K-12, Melanie’s sophomore album, was released alongside an movie of the same name. After the principal invalidates and misgenders a transitioning teacher, Crybaby learns that he is forcing students to take medication that makes them unable to leave. “The Principal” starts to play after she calls him out. She then uses her powers to poison him, but he is saved with an injection.
- 2.Class Fight
- 3.The Principal
- 4.Show & Tell
- 6.Drama Club
- 9.Orange Juice
- 10.Detention
- 11.Teacher’s Pet
- 13.Recess
