The song title's unconventional, forward-slash-heavy punctuation refers to … Read Full Bio ↴The song title's unconventional, forward-slash-heavy punctuation refers to the police force that's out to get the Killjoys. "In the world of the Killjoys, S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W is almost like a defense force so that's the reason for the slashes," Guitarist Ray Toro explained to Spin. (S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W Songfacts). Also Gerard saying that this song is about a war and how a mother protected her son trying not to lose his innocence. (Gerard post)

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My Chemical Romance Lyrics

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Move your body when the sunlight dies
Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow
Everybody hide

Make a wish when your childhood dies
Hear the knock, knock, knock when she cries
We're all alone tonight

Hold your breath when a black bird flies
Count to seventeen and close your eyes
I'll keep you safe inside

Heat burns my skin
Never mattered 'bout the shape I'm in
I'll keep you safe tonight yeah, yeah

Move your body when the sunlight dies
Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow
Everybody hide

Move your body when the sunlight dies
Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow
Everybody hide

Blow a kiss at the methane skies
See the walls through your playground eyes
We're all in love tonight (all in love tonight)

Leave the train where the fallout lies
Watch it grow with the tear-stained
Just to keep you safe tonight

Heat burns my skin
Never mattered 'bout the shape I'm in
I'll keep you safe tonight yeah, yeah

Move your body when the sunlight dies
Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow
Everybody hide

Move your body when the sunlight dies
Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow
Everybody hide

Love, love, love won't stop this bomb, bomb
Love, won't stop this bomb, bomb
Love, won't stop this bomb, bomb

Run, run, body run
Run, run, body run

Move your body when the sunlight dies
Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow
Everybody hide

Move your body when the sunlight dies
Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow
Everybody hide

Move your body when the sunlight dies
Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow
Everybody hide

Move your body when the sunlight dies

Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow
Everybody hide

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to My Chemical Romance's song S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W are laced with metaphors and imagery that depict the vulnerability of individuals in times of crisis. The song starts with the line "Move your body when the sunlight dies" which can be interpreted as an urgent plea to take action before it's too late. The subsequent lines "Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow/Everybody hide" suggest that the scarecrow represents something sinister, perhaps death or danger, that everyone is trying to avoid. The chorus reinforces this with the repetition of "Move your body when the sunlight dies/Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow/Everybody hide" as if to say that everyone is in danger and needs to be alert to survive.

The second verse continues with the theme of childhood innocence being lost with the line "Make a wish when your childhood dies/Hear the knock, knock, knock when she cries" implying that something has died or been lost. The following lines, "Hold your breath when a black bird flies/Count to seventeen and close your eyes/I'll keep you safe inside" depict a sense of fear and urgency as if to say even the smallest of things like a black bird flying can trigger anxiety and fear. The bridge shifts to first-person point of view with the line "Heat burns my skin/Never mattered 'bout the shape I'm in/I'll keep you safe tonight yeah, yeah" perhaps indicating the singer's determination to protect someone else despite their own vulnerability.

Line by Line Meaning

Move your body when the sunlight dies
Take action when things are at their worst

Everybody are you runnin' from the scarecrow
Are you letting fear hold you back?

Everybody hide
Don't face your fears head-on

Make a wish when your childhood dies
Hold onto hope when things seem bleak

Hear the knock, knock, knock when she cries
Pay attention to the things that trouble you

We're all alone tonight
No one can help you but yourself

Hold your breath when a black bird flies
Be watchful for danger

Count to seventeen and close your eyes
Take a moment to calm down

I'll keep you safe inside
I'll protect you from harm

Heat burns my skin
The situation is tense and stressful

Never mattered 'bout the shape I'm in
My appearance doesn't matter, only my actions