Juarez
Gerard Way/Musicfire.in Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can't swim, don't rub it in
I'm gonna run a little faster
I can't swim, so plug it in
Me and my heavy metal master

Down and around when the cops come down and
Down and around when the cops come down on you
Jump around to the cop-show sound
Sing death to the crown, man

I can't swim, don't rub it in
I'm gonna run a little faster
I'm breaking
I'm running scared
I'm selling glitter for the plaster
Down and around when the cops come down and
Down and around when the cops come down on you
Jump around to the cop-show sound
Sing death to the crown, man

We got it
You got it, you got it, you got it, you got it, we got it now
I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it now

I can't swim, so plug it in
I'm gonna run a little faster
I can't swim, so plug it in
Me and my heavy, my heavy girl
Down and around when the cops come down and
Down and around when the cops come down on you
Jump around to the cop-show sound
Get straight 'cause I'm down, man





I can't swim

Overall Meaning

At first glance, Gerard Way's song "Juarez" may seem like a nonsensical and disjointed collection of lyrics. However, upon closer examination, the song actually has a deep and powerful meaning. The repeated line "I can't swim, don't rub it in" seems to represent a feeling of inadequacy or helplessness. The singer is unable to do something as basic as swimming and feels that this makes them worthy of ridicule. However, rather than giving up, the singer resolves to "run a little faster" and try harder. The line "plug it in" may also be a metaphor for trying to find some way to power through difficulties, perhaps by turning to music or another activity that provides a sense of energy or purpose.


The next part of the song seems to take on a more political tone, with references to the police and the crown. The singer exclaims "sing death to the crown" and jumps around to the "cop-show sound." This could be interpreted as a call to overthrow oppressive systems and replace them with something new and more just. Again, the repeated line "down and around when the cops come down on you" suggests that the singer is fighting against some kind of injustice.


Line by Line Meaning

I can't swim
I am not capable of staying afloat in water


Don't rub it in
Please do not make me feel worse about my inability to swim


I'm gonna run a little faster
I will try to compensate for my lack of swimming ability by running faster


So plug it in
I will use whatever means necessary to achieve my goals


Me and my heavy metal master
My musical taste is heavy and loud


Down and around when the cops come down and
When authorities arrive, I find myself moving in unexpected patterns


Jump around to the cop-show sound
I react to police presence with frenetic movement, as if mimicking a TV cop show


Sing death to the crown, man
Expressing disillusionment with authority and power, wishing for their downfall


I'm breaking
I am falling apart, losing my grip on my situation and my emotions


I'm running scared
I am paranoid and afraid, constantly on the run from potential danger or consequences


I'm selling glitter for the plaster
I am masking my problems and pain with superficial distractions and illusions of happiness and success


Get straight 'cause I'm down, man
Acting tough and putting on a front, even when feeling vulnerable and defeated


We got it
We have achieved our goals and are in possession of what we want


You got it, you got it, you got it, you got it, we got it now
We have obtained what we want, and now it is time to celebrate and enjoy our success


I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it now
Impatience and unrelenting desire to achieve my goals and obtain my desires




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

@tukidee8745

Can we please talk about the lyrics: "making me source of disease, you give me teenage razors". This phrase speaks volumes about how affected was and still is Gerard for all the blame the tabloids put on the band for allegedly supporting self-harm and for many cases of teenage suicide induced via "emo vibe" ugh. The band have helped many of us, the band was and is a refuge for many people and these words just hit me hard in the stomach.

@SwathedinNightmares

You saying that really shined a light for me on what the lyrics could symbolize. I feel like the whole song is about how being in the band affected him. Such as "jet lag is suffocation" and how he continually says "you've got to walk away." I also definitely agree with how you interpreted "making me source of disease, you give me teenage razors."

@tukidee8745

Many of Gee's lyrics are not personal but coming from his worldview, after all he's a storyteller, but he's also a deeply empathic person.
So, this makes me accept the fact that the band is now over. It hurts, yes! But it was for the best. They have said many times that it'll be over if it stopped being fun.

@SwathedinNightmares

Yes, it's better for them to break up when it' time then to keep doing something that no longer has passion behind it. Still amazing musicians, and I'm sure they made the best choice of the band.

@jackgray7564

um you're interpreting the lyrics the wrong way. 

@SwathedinNightmares

How do you interpret it? Just out of curiosity. Not attacking you.

2 More Replies...

@jamescameronssonic5810

It's so strange visiting the demo version from three years ago and hearing the way the song has evolved and what Gerard has made of his solo career. We have an album and an upcoming one, and this was posted back when mcr was still a thing. It's so surreal, where has the time gone?

@haydencriss7709

TIME IS AN ILLUSION NOTHING MATTERS

@rocksgio

If this is what Gerard's sound would be like if he went solo then I would 100% listen to it. I would buy the album as soon as it came out, this so up my alley.

@sashaluna6601

I agree so much!! The punk sound that he has has always been closer 2 me.

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