I think Wendigoon's video on this album is the correct interpretation. It's a more refined take on what i've thought for years. The album is out of order, like you said, but it's from two different characters' perspectives. The patient, who is a bit of an ass but not *quite* as bad as you think. The other is the "Parader", the Grand Marshall of The Black Parade, or more simply, Death. The patient has attempted suicide, but failed, only to wind up with cancer. And the album is split between who is who by whether the song is heavy or not, the heavy songs are the Parader and the lighter songs are the patient (with a few exceptions). Basically, the theory is that The Parader was basically exactly how you think the protagonist is when he was alive, which led to him not only going to hell after dying in a war), but being left with the task of ferrying souls as a punishment, which just makes him even more unhinged and nihilistic, in life he was a total asshole, and he starts to relate to the patient, which makes him start to feel actual feelings again. The chronological order and perspective would then most likely be this, i'm not going to include bonus tracks and b-sides, except for Blood, as that one is actually part of the story, the outtakes may have some story relevance, but it's debatable. 1. The End - Patient 2. Dead - Parader 3. Teenagers - Patient 4. The Sharpest Lives - Parader 5. Blood - Patient 6. Cancer - Patient 7. House Of Wolves - Parader (my all-time favorite MCR song, btw) 8. I Don't Love You - Patient 9. This Is How I Disappear - Parader 10. Disenchanted - Patient 11. Mama - Parader 12. Sleep - Patient 13. Famous Last Words - Patient and Parader 14. Welcome To The Black Parade - Patient and Parader
Just watched this video yesterday, and now I see this comment. Honestly, that video was perfect in my opinion. As for b-sides, I know he gave an explanation for Blood (which you added) and Kill Your Friends (takes place before/after blood). I also believe Heaven Help Us could probably fit in here somewhere as well
My thoughts on Teenagers is that it's The Patient looking back on his edgy teen phase, where he believed all adults were out to get him, and that he may even have been planning to shoot up the school "what you got under your shirt" is probably referring to a gun. Also I see Famous Last Words as being a genuinely happy ending, but I did always think it was funny to imagine that the song is his "famous last words" in the same way you'd say "nothing can possibly go wrong now" is famous last words, and that right after the track ended the doctors essentially went "lol no, bye" and unplugged his life support.
"with words I thought I'd never speak" is the line for me that, in Famous Last Words, tells me that he's in hell. Because torture demons would know that he'd always wanted to find those words, and could set him on a loop of managing to say them, only to never get the payoff. I get the gun thing in Teenagers, yeah, that's what I meant by threatening violence. I think I just wanted to breeze past that track as I was already over half an hour and it's the least interesting one by far 😂
@@roystoncharmaine I guess I see Famous Last Words as a happy ending because to me, there should be some kind of hint that something other than the obvious (him being forgiven in some way) is happening if he was actually in hell, like the drum beat at the end of Welcome To The Black Parade that sounds much more ominous than the rest of the song. Also there's Blood after that, which I get why you didn't talk about, but to me that's about him having gotten better and returning to the hospital to give blood because he's been redeemed and is a much better person now. Also what clued me into the meaning of Teenagers is the line in Mama: "For what you've done they're gonna find a place for you", which implies to me that he had already done something unforgivable to her before going to war (which I think was a literal one), and I think it was likely being caught with a gun at school, so he decided to join the military because he couldn't continue with school.
I always iterpretated famous last words as the patient saying his sins will be forgiven and gets to heaven. The line "i'm incomplete" in my mind is like him trying to reason with his sins and saying "honey if you stay i'll be forgiven nothing you can say can stop me going home" home being heaven in this context. And because the track is called famous last words it's like he is saying this stuff but doesn't know if it's true or not wich leaves it up to the listener if he actually goes to heaven or hell.
@@oxdviii "If you love the song "Disenchanted" then you have to thank Mikey Way for that. The song nearly didn't make the cut to be part of the album, but was thankfully saved by Mikey. He did it in a rather hilarious way too. He would whisper in the ears of his band members and producers while they were sleeping that he wanted the song on the album. Apparently, it worked. Thanks, Mikey!" ~ thetalko, "20 Facts You Never Knew About The Black Parade" They list a couple sources on the site, so if you wanna dig deeper feel free.
My theory is the patient was a young man that took life for granted and wasted his life being a horrible and rude person, after being diagnosed with cancer he changed as a person realizing he took so much for granted, the sad songs are sung by the patient looking back at his life and being depressed (except for teenagers which is a flashback of his rebellious faze) and the heavy strong songs are sung by death mocking him for wasting his life. Death slowly relates to the patient and on the track famous last words they are singing back and fourth where the patient isn’t afraid to die and accepting his fate where death is pleading for the pateint to fight and wake up and saying it’s not over yet. There are 2 endings to the song, one with a melodic tune rising up which I believe is him going to heaven for changing his mindset, and the hard rock ending is him going to hell
Also I think mama is death singing about how he died in a war and he’s crying for his mama and the end it is deaths mom crying after getting the the information that her son died in the war
Agreed. Wendigoon did a deep dive on this theory, I fully believe it. Even going back to the Bullets era, they, particularly Gerard, have always been smarter than just randomly throwing tracks out of order for no reason.
if you consider Wendigoon's take on I Don't Love You, i think like you'll feel a lot differently about it. i mean, you'll feel differently about the entire album, but perhaps especially that track.
It's 6:30 am in the US. I'm NEVER awake at this hour yet here I am listening raptly to yet another fascinating introspection from arguably my favorite narrator examining my favorite album from my favorite band so it's worth it. This album has my favorite MCR song SLEEP (agree with you about it being under appreciated) and the song I despise the most of all their works TEENAGERS. Thanx Royston for your interpretation. Well done you!
I like the overall narrative of wendigoon's theory more. It has more emotional depth and ties all the songs together but it doesn't quite seem to take all the lyrics into account. This one does but offers a less compelling narrative. It'd be cool to finally get the ultimate refined take where it's like the best of both. All the lyrics make sense and the overall narrative is solid
This album is what helped me get through the summer of '21, and it was nice to hear your analysis on it and I think you did it justice. Keep up the good work! :)
This album has my absolute favourite song on it: The Sharpest Lives. I have no idea why but I've been obsessed with it from the second I've first heard it. House of Wolves is also one of my favourite mcr tracks. It just slaps so hard. That being said I skip some songs almost every time. I've never been a fan of Welcome to the Black Parade and Famous Last Words is actually the only one of their most popular songs (source: the top 5 on spotify) that I really like. But I still love this album so much and most of the songs on it are amazing for sure
@@roystoncharmaine Yeeeeaaahhhh‼️ Seriously tho 3 Cheers for Sweet Revenge is my favorite album of all & (in my belief) is a continuation of Bullets and very cool story of the Star crossed lovers 🖤 Talking about MCR is always a good time . I worked at a place called the Masquerade in Ybor city down in Tampa in the early 2000's after OIF bartending,barbacking, helping our security not die,etc. & was extremely fortunate to meet a bunch of cool folks . My highlight is from when MCR played their Tampa gig as at Masquerade & I went in early to watch sound check . I walked back to the offices to talk to some coworkers about how badass the sound check had been & to my huge surprise when I walked back out into the hall Mike Way was standing by the backstage door just hanging out . I slowly approached him & told him I was a huge fan and that my roommate was from the Jersey punk scene having been the drummer for Lane Meyer and playing shows with Frank Iero . Mike surprised me when he immediately hugged me & told me how sweet I was . We talked awhile about comic books & I thought that was it .. nope . I gave up my bar that night to work the backstage door so I could see the show from literally right up front beside Bob's drum kit which was set-up off center to stage right which was right beside the backstage door . I met Gerard right after the show and got a high five as he was leaving the stage . I talked to Gerard and Mikey for a bit awhile after they exited the dressing room and there were 2 kids maybe 15-16yrs old I still hadn't had the heart to throw out yet and they immediately began begging Gerard for autographs & his armband . Gerard not only signed stuff for the kids but he invited them to go on a walk with him . We then walked to the front of the Masquerade, outside,& left to the side road and the tour bus . Myself and the kids got hug's and I got a kiss on the cheek from Mike . It was a cool experience and I just remember how warm & truly sweet Mike and Gerard Way are . Please do 3 Cheers 🖤🖤🖤🖤 Great job on TBP
Its kind of broken when you take it in chronological order, like; the guy gets a heart attack, abuses substances, gets cancer then takes part in a war and blames his mama, then he's afraid of teenagers??? What I think is its about; is death, has to bringing dead souls to the afterlife and while he does, he learns more about these people and is constantly bitter about how careless humans are (Dead! Teenagers,) saying that they had it coming, about their mortality asking "why are humans putting themselves in life-threatening situations, like doing crime and overdosing on drugs" (House of Wolves, Sharpest Lives) but he slowly learns more about the people and their circumstances that lead to their eventually death especially to inevitable deaths (cancer, mama,), and then death become less bitter and understanding of the fragility of humanity both physically and mentally (Disenchanted). So instead of delivering to heaven or hell like usual, he throws a parade (The Black Parade) Whos the father hes referring to? God. "Sometimes i get the feeling, Shes Watching over me" paragraph (Mama) "A world that sends you reelin' From decimated dreams Your misery and hate will kill us all" (Sleep) "So paint it black and take it back Let's shout it loud and clear Defiant to the end, we hear the call" (Teenagers) "To carry on, we'll carry on And though you're dead and gone, believe me Your memory will carry on" (Death Himself) "On and on, we carry through the fears Disappointed faces of your peers ,Take a look at me, 'cause I could not care at all" (House of Wolves) "Do or die, you'll never make me" (Mama) "Do or die, you'll never make me Because the world will never take my heart Go and try, you'll never break me" (Famous Last Words/House of Wolves) "We want it all, we wanna play this part" (All Except Death) skip--- "Just a man, I'm not a hero Just a boy, who had to sing this song Just a man, I'm not a hero" (Everyone except death) "I.Dont. Care! We'll carry on, we'll carry on And though you're dead and gone, believe me Your memory will carry on" (Death Himself)
Most of your interpretations don't line up with mine at all and/or I just don't prefer them, but I LOVE what you said about Sleep. I've heard theories where it's a ghost guiding the patient into the afterlife screaming "wake up" and I think that's interesting, but I really think it's two sides of the patient rather than two separate people. Honestly I don't really think of this album as a full storyline, more as little vignettes in the patient's life. One thing I love, though, is the patient's struggles with guilt, and Sleep has my favorite lyrics about guilt.
this album opened my mind to the power of music and saved my life at 13 years old. I'm almost 22 now and have "awake and unafraid" from Famous Last Words tattooed on my arm. I will defend this album with my soul! Also thank you for these videos, I thoroughly enjoy these as I'm graduating with a degree in Philosophy and Film :)
Who could dislike? I dont agree with your opinions of every song but you've broken this album down beautifully bro. Cheers for the entertainment. OH, and I agree about Mama, stellar work.
I really like and appreciate your videos about exploring a concept and sharing your thoughts and interpretation with it 😸 It kinda inspires me to share maybe my interpretation and could you do one about "three cheers for sweet revenge" soon it would really kinda complete the I'd say mcr series 😁
What about Bullets? I know it doesn't have a throughline or story for the whole album but 3 Cheers basically spirals story wise out of Demolition Lovers
This video seems really promising but I'm like 6 minutes in and the music is way too loud for me to be able to clearly understand what you're even saying...
Are you on mobile? Mixing the audio when I talk over it is really difficult because I test it on multiple devices and the balance is always different. I test on my laptop, laptop with headphones, phone, and TV with speakers. On my TV I can barely hear the music, and on phone I can barely hear myself. I can only publish one of each video, though, so I try to balance it for all platforms. Sorry if this one is a bit off on your device. I tried.
"The Patient is a sarcastic, nihilistic shit." Me: *Yeah, true." "I really like him." Me: *Double true XD* Wait until you hear The Black Parade: The B-Sides. That can basicallly change your WHOLE perspective of the album (in a GOOD way though, I guess?). ;)
I saw someone explain this track really good on Reddit. I don't know who to give credit, but most of the songs are flashbacks of his life. "The End." is about him on the hospital bed dying. "Dead!" is about his funeral and how people didn't like him. "This Is How I Disappear" is about how people forget about him. "Welcome To The Black Parade" is about how he looks back at what his father told him and him excepting death. "I Don't Love You" is about his lover moving on after he died. "House Of Wolves" is about his struggle with religion. "Cancer" is about how he died on the hospital bed and life after chemo. "Mama" is about war. "Sleep" is about the night terrors after war. "Teenagers" is about him being bullied in school and the shooting at school. "Disenchanted" is how he was on the run and trying to find a job before he finally became a musician. And lastly "Famous Last Words" is about him not being afraid of death or living in the afterlife.
Interesting video, but for one i wished you just analysed the concept instead of telling us over and over again which songs you hate. And also i wish the background music was a bit more quiet, because for me it was kind of annoying and hard to understand what you say. Still liked the vid, dont get me wrong!
i agree that i dont love you is a garbage tracks, but i think its more of the patiant, in his final days telling his family and friends to not love him, as a way to prevent heart break. this is an amazing video and i think its a great take on the concept.