EXPLORING THE CONCEPT - "The Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance 

Sleep is a masterpiece of a song. It’s haunting literally. When Gerard screams “wake up”

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.

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

Fun fact, Disenchanted wasn’t originally supposed to be the closing track, it wasn’t oven going to be on the album but Mikey liked it so much.

For someone who is now essentially a professional proof-reader, I sure made some errors transposing the lyrics onto this video...

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

it is deeply upsetting to me that you said i dont love you is boring

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 agree with Wendigoons, but I like to put the album on shuffle and make a theory based on that order.

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! :)

"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?). ;)

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 :)

Please do three cheers 🙏

I always interpreted Sharpest Lives line “shot to…” as a heroin needle as he’s living recklessly without care for self preservation.

@25:21 “Scott chose Knives.” Hahahahahaha, that was an epic comment Sir!!! Subbed!

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 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

Your depiction of house of wolves is literally the best that I have seen

Now we just gotta Get Thre cheers for sweet revenges story

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.

nice vid bro

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.

this is how i disappear is one of the best songs that have ever been made

The first 2 mcr albums are one concept

Revenge next maybe?

How does he only have 655 subscribers?

Now we just need my favorite, three cheers

I have my own very different interpretation of the album that would probably take an entire essay to explain

i finally found someone else who thinks sleep is the best mcr song (besides maybe mama bc it’s so good) like we need more sleep appreciation

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 😁

Best album of all time

Yeah, the thing about I Don't Love You, at least for me, is that it doesn't feel like it was meant to be the genre that it is.

Your accent is delightful.

Thank god! someone that gives both danger days and sleep the credit they deserve. A man after my own heart

You should watch Wendigoons take on it:)

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...

This was a great video. Don't agree with all of your assumptions, but I loved it nonetheless. Nice work!

1 The End. 2 Dead 3 Is This How I Disspear 4 Welcome To The Black Parade 5 Mama 7 Cancer 8 Sleep 9 Famous Last Words 0 Blood (Hidden Track)

It means soggy from the alcohol

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 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.

Is it possible he took his own life by medical aid in dying? He tried chemo for the cancer but it ultimately failed so he took his life with dignity.

GUYS I DO N O T LIKE MOVING PEPE

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.

DUDE! Damn! haha please pull your voice's volume up! its quite difficult to hear whatever you are saying with the background music :c Such a shame :c

you just don't get it

Teenagers is by far the weakest song on the album. Ironically my brother loves it.