The band eclipsed their previous success with their 2006 concept album, The Black Parade, which gained generally favorable reviews among music critics. Their fourth studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, was released on November 22, 2010, to positive reviews. The band's final release in their original run were a series of singles, released over the course of five months, collected on the compilation Conventional Weapons. The band announced its break-up on March 22, 2013, one month after the final release in the Conventional Weapons series. On March 25, 2014, the band released May Death Never Stop You: The Greatest Hits (2001–2013), a greatest hits album containing material spanning their entire career, as well as some previously unreleased material.
On Halloween of 2019, the band announced a comeback show in Los Angeles, California, and fans speculated that there was more to it than just a show. On November 5, three more shows were confirmed in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. On January 29, 2020, eighteen additional dates were announced in North America.
On May 12, 2022, the band released The Foundations Of Decay, solidifying their return as a band.
05 I'm Not Okay
My Chemical Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's all you had to say
I never want to let you down or have you go
It's better off this way
For all the dirty looks
For photographs your boyfriend took
Remember when you broke your foot
From jumping out the second floor?
I'm not okay
I'm not okay
I'm not okay
You wear me out
What will it take to show you
That it's not the life it seems?
I told you time and time again
You sing the words
But don't know what it means
To be a joke and look
Another line without a hook
I held you close as we both shook
For the last time
Take a good hard look
I'm not okay
I'm not okay
I'm not okay
You wear me out
Forget about the dirty looks
The photographs your boyfriend took
You said you read me like a book
But the pages all are torn and frayed
I'm okay
I'm okay
I'm okay, now
(I'm okay, now)
But you really need to listen to me
Because I'm telling you the truth
I mean this
I'm okay (trust me)
I'm not okay
I'm not okay
Well, I'm not okay
I'm not o-fucking-kay
I'm not okay
I'm not okay (kay)
The song "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" by My Chemical Romance is a fast-paced and emotional anthem about feeling lost and alone in a world that doesn't understand you. The song opens with the singer addressing someone who wants honesty from them, explaining that they never wanted to disappoint them but it's better off this way. The lyrics reference how this person would give the singer dirty looks and have their boyfriend take pictures of them, and also mention when the singer broke their foot jumping out of the second floor.
As the song continues, the singer expresses their frustration about the other person not understanding the difficulties they're going through. They talk about how this person sings the words but doesn't really understand what they mean -- possibly implying that they're a part of a larger group who don't really understand what the singer is going through. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm not okay" several times, emphasizing the singer's feelings of disconnection and alienation from the rest of the world.
The song's bridge contains lyrics that seem to express the singer's attempt to convince themselves that they're okay, but this is undermined by the repeated "I'm not okay" at the end of the song. Overall, the song is a powerful expression of teenage angst and dissatisfaction with the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Well if you wanted honesty
If you wanted me to be truthful
That's all you had to say
You just had to ask
I never want to let you down or have you go
I don't want to disappoint or lose you
It's better off this way
It's better if we break up
For all the dirty looks
For all the judgmental glares
For photographs your boyfriend took
For the pictures your significant other took
Remember when you broke your foot
Do you remember when you hurt yourself
From jumping out the second floor?
By jumping out of the second floor?
I'm not okay
I'm not doing well
You wear me out
You exhaust me
What will it take to show you
What do I need to do to prove to you
That it's not the life it seems?
That my life isn't as perfect as it appears
I told you time and time again
I've told you many times before
You sing the words
You sing the lyrics
But don't know what it means
But don't understand their meaning
To be a joke and look
To be laughed at and ridiculed
Another line without a hook
Another meaningless phrase
I held you close as we both shook
I comforted you as we trembled together
For the last time
For the final time
Take a good hard look
Examine the situation closely
Forget about the dirty looks
Don't worry about the judgmental stares
The photographs your boyfriend took
The pictures your significant other took
You said you read me like a book
You claimed to understand me perfectly
But the pages all are torn and frayed
But the pages are all ripped and damaged
I'm okay
I'm doing fine
But you really need to listen to me
You need to pay attention to what I'm saying
Because I'm telling you the truth
Because what I'm saying is honest
I mean this
I'm serious
I'm not okay (kay)
I'm not doing well
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Frank Iero, Gerard Way, Matthew Pellisier, Michael Way, Ray Toro
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stove Johnson
This was my first concert. Eighteen years later, I still brag about being there for this moment.
Kurt Garcia
Adam sounded better singing My Chem's song than him singing his own band's songs lmao
Diego Cristian Delgado
That song in comparison to the original tone of his songs, is easy
Richmond Villanueva
Taking Back Romance, My Chemical Sunday, Taking Chemical Sunday, My Back Romance, the possibilities are endless.
ffg
Do you have any connection to Sal Villanueva?
Richmond Villanueva
@ffg hahahaha! she's my auntie. JK.
Mr. Salesman
This is like when you choose a different playable character in a video game
Jonas
Please upload more footage of taking back Sunday from that concert!!
Denis Custodio
sério que fizeram esse show?
moro no pais errado rs
muito bom esse som !!!!
Nostálgico !!!
KMTJL
I was here for this and was 13 at the time. Unreal concert 🙌 so memorable. First time i ever moshed was here.