16 Famous Last Words
My Chemical Romance Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now I know
That I can't make you stay
But where's your heart?
But where's your heart?
But where's your

And I know
There's nothing I can say
To change that part
To change that part
To change!

So many
Bright lights that cast a shadow
But can I speak?
Well, is it hard understanding

I'm incomplete?
A life that's so demanding
I get so weak
A love that's so demanding
I can't speak

[Chorus]
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey, if you stay
I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home

Can you see
My eyes are shining bright?
'Cause I'm out here
On the other side

Of a jet black
Hotel mirror
And I'm so weak
Is it hard understanding

I'm incomplete?
A love that's so demanding
I get weak

[Chorus: x2]

These bright lights have always blinded me
These bright lights have always blinded me
I say

I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid
Asleep or dead

[Repeat: x3]
'Cause I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid
Asleep or dead





[Chorus: x3]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to My Chemical Romance's song "Famous Last Words" are about the struggle to keep a relationship alive, even when one person has already given up. The singer in the song knows that they cannot force their partner to stay, but they are desperate to know where their heart truly lies. Despite their best efforts, they cannot change the fact that their partner is leaving. The chorus of the song is uplifting, with the singer declaring that they are not afraid to continue living and walking alone in the world. They also offer forgiveness to their partner, but nothing they can say will stop the singer from ultimately going home.


The verses of the song are darker, with the singer feeling incomplete and weak because of the demanding love they are in. They feel like they are living in the shadow of the bright lights around them and struggle to understand why their partner is leaving despite their efforts to hang on. The line "These bright lights have always blinded me" could be interpreted as a metaphor for fame and the pressure that it puts on relationships.


The final lines of the song are particularly impactful, with the singer saying "I see you lying next to me, with words I thought I'd never speak, awake and unafraid, asleep or dead." This could be interpreted as the singer coming to terms with their own mortality and feeling as though they are ready to face whatever comes next, with or without their partner.


Line by Line Meaning

Now I know
The singer acknowledges the truth of a situation


That I can't make you stay
The singer understands that they cannot force someone to stay with them


But where's your heart?
The singer questions the other person's emotional investment in the relationship


And I know
The singer reiterates their understanding of the situation


There's nothing I can say
The singer acknowledges their powerlessness in the situation


To change that part
The singer recognizes the unchangeable aspect of the relationship


So many
The singer reflects on the multitude of


Bright lights that cast a shadow
The many positive aspects of life that can have negative consequences


But can I speak?
The singer questions their ability to communicate effectively


Well, is it hard understanding
The singer asks the other person if they can comprehend their point of view


I'm incomplete?
The singer reveals their own vulnerability and self-doubt


A life that's so demanding
The singer suggests their life is difficult and requires a lot of them


I get so weak
The singer admits to their own weakness


A love that's so demanding
The singer reveals the emotional labor required by the relationship


I can't speak
The singer is overcome by the emotional weight of the relationship


I am not afraid to keep on living
The singer is confident in their ability to continue living without the other person


I am not afraid to walk this world alone
The singer reveals their independence and willingness to be alone


Honey, if you stay
The singer requests the other person's presence in their life


I'll be forgiven
The singer is willing to move past any transgressions committed by the other person


Nothing you can say can stop me going home
The singer is determined to move on with their life


Can you see
The singer questions the other person's perspective


My eyes are shining bright?
The singer suggests that they are happy and hopeful


'Cause I'm out here
The singer describes their current location


On the other side
The singer has moved on from the past


Of a jet black
The singer details the appearance of their surroundings


Hotel mirror
The singer reveals their location as a hotel room


I'm incomplete?
The singer repeats their vulnerability and self-doubt


A love that's so demanding
The singer repeats the emotional labor required by the relationship


I get weak
The singer repeats their own weakness


These bright lights have always blinded me
The singer acknowledges the negative effects of celebrity and fame


I see you lying next to me
The singer imagines being close to the other person


With words I thought I'd never speak
The singer imagines sharing intimate thoughts and emotions


Awake and unafraid
The singer is confident and present in the moment


Asleep or dead
The singer views a deep connection with the other person as important in life and death


[Repeat: x3]
The chorus is repeated three times to emphasize its importance




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IERO, FRANK / TORO, RAY / BRYAR, BOB / WAY, MICHAEL / WAY, GERARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@mirrorbay1570

Now I know that I can't make you stay
But where's your heart?
But where's your heart?
But where's your-
And I know there's nothing I can say
To change that part
To change that part
To change...

So many bright lights, they cast a shadow, but can I speak?
Well, is it hard understanding, I'm incomplete?
A life that's so demanding
I get so weak
A love that's so demanding
I can't speak

I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey, if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home

Can you see my eyes are shining bright?
'Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror and I'm so weak
Is it hard understanding, I'm incomplete?
A love that's so demanding
I get weak

I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey, if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey, if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home

These bright lights have always blinded me
These bright lights have always blinded me, I say

I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid, asleep or dead
'Cause I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid, asleep or dead

'Cause I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid, asleep or dead
'Cause I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid, asleep or dead

I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone (or dead)
Honey, if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home (or dead)
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone (or dead)
Honey, if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home (or dead)

I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone (or dead)
Honey, if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Ray Toro / Frank Iero / Gerard Way / Michael Way / Bob Bryar

Famous Last Words lyrics © Blow The Doors Off The Jersey Shore Music Inc



@Blessed_11.11

Now, I know that I can't make you stay
But where's your heart?
But where's your heart?
But where's your—
And I know there's nothing I can say
To change that part
To change that part
To change

[Verse 1]
So many bright lights to cast a shadow
But can I speak?
Well, is it hard understanding
I'm incomplete?
A life that's so demanding
I get so weak
A love that's so demanding
I can't speak
[Chorus]
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey, if you stay, you'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home

[Verse 2]
Can you see? My eyes are shining bright
'Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror
And I'm so weak
Is it hard understanding
I'm incomplete?
A love that's so demanding
I get weak

[Chorus]
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey, if you stay, you'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey, if you stay, you'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home



All comments from YouTube:

@onewigglynoodle.-.6750

Gerard: screams loud
Me: aggressively whispers in bed

@yavoratodorova7705

I've never seen more relatable comment ever. You have my respect

@springday7704

Yes! that's what I'm doing rn!

@mehreenislam7600

Very understandable

@mr.longlungsjoseph2815

Same

@flaminghotcheetos309

the best comment i’ve seen so far

199 More Replies...

@chchcherryb0mb

The power of a line saying "I'm not afraid of keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone". I love this band more and more as time pass

@joshuazardin9822

I keep thinking about that, and the reoccurring theme of 'continuing to live' in a time and genre that was almost the epitome of depression and death, gerard way was writing and creating impeccable music challenging listeners to just keep going. Amazing

@jamesdevilliers7053

@@joshuazardin9822 Who's Chemo Vourneen? a

@beezybeez7231

This is so good but you must hear “Whispering Wolf” or “The Wave Acoustic” by SLT 🤘🎸🤘

More Comments

More Versions