Madilyn Mei - The Chapel (Official Music Video)

written and composed by madilyn mei
video by madilyn mei
artwork by madilyn mei
produced and mixed by scrawny
mastered by joe hutchinson

Lyrics:

Where do snails go during the day?
They’re probably somewhere playing video games
I’m sad they feel the need to go away
Go away

Where’s the chapel where the mantis pray?
The leaves grow green then fall away
In reddish shades that crumple under six long legs
Leading me along, the children sing a song
And I’d like to turn around
But I know I’m not that strong

I’m missing a house
That I’ve never called home
I’m missing a time that I’ve never known
I remember a tree, had a whole leaf of my own
But now we’re reaching spring
Was it just a dream? I don’t know

I don’t know
What do I know?
What do I know?
What do I know?

They warn of snakes in search of prey
The stories scare me so I stay
At the chapel where the mantis pray
And every day
They lead me along
The children hum a hymn
And I’d like to run away
But to leave would be a sin

I’m missing a house
That I’ve never called home
I’m missing a time that I’ve never known
I remember a song, I sung along
But how did it go?
Well, now I’m reaching spring
Probably just a dream
I should let go

Six legs, tippy tappy toes
Climbing to the podium on Sunday
I was a tadpole at the time
So I don’t remember much
About what he had to say

Faces, beady little eyes
Larva always cries
Beetle does the same
Now it remains a dream
A distant memory that itches my brain

Six legs, tippy tappy toes
Climbing to the podium on Sunday
I was a bunny (I was a kitten) at the time
So I don’t remember much
About what he had to say

Faces, beady little eyes
Larva always cries
Beetle does the same
Now it remains a dream
A distant memory that itches my brain

Now it remains a dream
A distant memory that itches my brain

Now it remains a dream
A distant memory that itches my brain

[Kailovesgrasss]

"I'm missing a house that I've never called home, I'm missing a time that I've never known" hits hard

[skrgirlo]

This video is gorgeous, perfect combination of soft childlike vibes with sinister undertones 💛

[cirrovix]

I don't actually know if this is the real meaning behind the song, but I was sa'd in a religious setting at a very young age. This song really represents my feelings about the whole thing so well, because it happened when I was so young I don't have many memories of it, only lingering emotions. These emotions make me afraid of physical touch, even though I don't remember much of it, but I often have strong desires to be touched (hugged, cuddled, etc). It's like a part of myself is missing. I'm still around some of the same people that were there when it happened (thankfully not the assaulter), and I have such conflicting feelings about where I'm supposed to be. I struggle a lot to be social in my religious setting because I struggle to connect with the other girls there, it could be our culture differences, or maybe even my assault. But now, it's only really a "distant memory" and I don't think much of it, except for small reminders I see here and there. Thank you for making this song, and helping my strange emotions be put into words.

[katellll]

My silly little brain has insisted I listen to this song on repeat since it was released. As always, love your music <3

[norbitical]

My interpretation is a frog growing up in a church run by mantises that use the frogs to eat other little critters. The story revolves around mantises and other animals, and the indoctrinated frogs gaslighting and raising the little frog to cooperate in their society. The frog befriends a snail, grows up being friends, and one day escapes the village they called home.

[juliacastillo]

Everything about this feels like a warm hug after a really long week

[clampity]

this song feels like a giant hug to every trauma coping nature lover :’) <3

[lauragrund]

As a therian I can relate to “ I’m missing a house that I’ve never called home, I’m missing a time that I never know, ” These lyrics are so beautiful, this is one of (it might be my top) favorite song

[emerakii]

this video is so wonderful??? i'll have to rewatch it a million times i love everything you did artistically and it perfectly gets the balance of cute chidlish coziness and uncomfortable trauma memories you got in this song 😭💗 you did amazing on every part of this !!

[riverbirch]

"...I was a sapling at the time, so I don't remember much about what she had to say..."

I feel so sheepish for not having taken a chance to listen to your full songs, because I was waiting so long for the full release of Six Legs.
I just listened to this yesterday in full, and I cannot describe the feeling of how immediately kneecapped I was the moment I heard the melody.

[edifiedermine]

I’ve had multiple dreams where I’m in old houses. They’re all very faded but I remember feeling small, and laying in a plain white children’s bedroom, and I remember old playgrounds as well. I always get feeling of deep nostalgia whenever I see old playgrounds overrun by nature or if I’m in a place with not a lot of furniture with wood floors and pale walls. I get that same feeling with this song :) no song has brought me back that far before, it’s incredible

[TSTyoutube]

Sister, i am astonished in wonder, you are definitely upto something great ♦️❤️

[augustjay]

I saw so many ads for this song on Instagram. I decided “sure I’ll listen to it.” Well, I did. At least the part that was out. It kind of reminded me of a little silly thing that happened in my past called church trauma. Now that the whole song is out it is so much like my church trauma and it actually makes me happy for some unknown reason? It helps me kind of move past it. With the music video, I saw the last few panels with the red and the giant mantis. It made me think of trauma. This song and video made me really happy and has been helping me move on.

It’s been about 2 years but it still hurts you know? Like I should’ve been able to move on. My family has been able to move past it and do things. But here I am still hurting. Isn’t that odd? I’m not sure. But this song helps. So thank you :D

[NoneSpecal]

I could see this song being about religious trauma. The lyrics talk about a religious setting and then there's the line "But to leave would be a sin".
And of course, the song also has lyrics such as "Was it just a dream? I don't know", "I was a tadpole at the time so I don't remember much", and "Now it remains a dream, a distant memory that itches my brain" referring to how forgetting what happened to you is a trauma response.

[victoriasfire]

Lyrics I copied 

[Verse 1]
Where do snails go during the day?
They're probably somewhere playing video games
I'm sad they feel the need to go away
Go away

[Verse 2]
Where's the chapel where the mantis pray?
The leaves grow green then fall away
In reddish shades that crumple under six long legs
Leading me along
The children sing a song
And I'd like to turn around
But I know I’m not that strong

[Chorus]
I'm missing a house
That I've never called home
I'm missing a time that I've nevеr known
I remember a tree, had a wholе leaf of my own
But now we're reaching spring
Was it just a dream? I don’t know

[Post-Chorus]
I don't know
What do I know?
What do I know?
What do I know?

(oh-oh-ohh)

[Verse 3]
They warn of snakes in search of prey
The stories scare me so I stay
At the chapel where the mantis pray
And every day
They lead me along
The children hum a hymn
And I'd like to run away
But to leave would be a sin

[Chorus]
I'm missing a house
That I've never called home
I'm missing a time that I've never known
I remember a song, I sung along
But how did it go?
Well, now I'm reaching spring
Probably just a dream
I should let go

[Bridge]
Six legs, tippy tappy toes
Climbing to the podium on Sunday
I was a tadpole at the time
So I don't remember much
About what he had to say
Faces, beady little eyes
Larva always cries
Beetle does the same
Now it remains a dream
A distant memory that itches my brain
Six legs, tippy tappy toes
Climbing to the podium on Sunday
I was a bunny (I was a kitten) at the time
So I don't remember much
About what he had to say
Faces, beady little eyes
Larva always cries
Beetle does the same
Now it remains a dream
A distant memory that itches my brain


[Outro]
Now it remains a dream
A distant memory that itches my brain
Now it remains a dream
A distant memory that itches my brain

[katz_on_saturn]

this song feels alot like childhood trauma mixed with age regression
its very nice and relatable

[willow]

this is the most wonderful song ive heard all year, it itches my brain and sends shivers down my spine. the music video is astounding as well you are my new favourite artist I am in love with your music

[Space_pawzz]

I love this song 2 much and i have that same praying mantis plushy xD

[THE__WARDEN]

This is the single most underrated artist ive heard ever, i love her music

[strelln_.]

When i first heard this song was when you posted it on tiktok '' Sing along to this lyrics i made'' or something like that, like it was very new, and i listend to the chorus on repeat the whole time till it was finally officially out, this song warms my soul, and even though i am an athiest and this song sings alot about the church and things like that, its the under lines that hit me hard.
When i tell you, that when i heard the lines ''I remember a house, that i never called home, i remember a time that i~ never known, i remember a tree, i had a whole leaf of my own~ '' i ligit started crying because i resonate so much, Your amazing, i love this song and its currently on all my playlists

Sorry for this long Paragraph omg