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.
Sister to Sleep
My Chemical Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One way to resolution
I'm put on this medication
Rolls down my throat
Cause I can't ever sleep at night the same
This medication enjoys, enjoys most every day
I see land
What did I say?
What did I say to put Sister to Sleep?
And fall awake and die
And I'm never goin' to bed
Back to the day, back into this day
Back to another level, hotter then hell
Said that we're not savages until we do it
Again
And one last night I'll kiss your lips again
What did I say?
What did I say to put Sister to Sleep?
And fall awake and die
And I'm never goin' to sleep
I will take this ferris wheel
And I'm sleepwalking back into this hell
Oh my darling
For the first time
Don't let me sleep tonight
And get in your way tonight
Don't let me sleep tonight
Get in your way
What did I say?
What did I say to put Sister to sleep?
I'll never go to sleep
And I won't go back to bed
I'm sleepwalking back into this...
Hell!
Oh... God...
The song "Sister to Sleep" by My Chemical Romance appears to be about a person who has been admitted to an institution and put on medication to help them sleep. The singer of the song is struggling with insomnia and is haunted by their thoughts when trying to fall asleep. The medication is described as enjoyable, but even with it, the singer can't sleep at night. The lyrics also suggest that the singer has caused someone, possibly a sister, to fall asleep and never wake up, and they are tormented by guilt and can't sleep because of it. The song has a haunting and eerie tone that matches the lyrics, and there is a sense of desperation and loss throughout.
The lyrics seem to be deliberately ambiguous, leaving the listener to interpret what might have happened with the sister and the singer's situation in the institution. It could be interpreted as the person being admitted to a mental hospital due to insomnia and struggling with guilt over someone's death, or it could be a more metaphorical take on addiction or mental illness. Whatever the interpretation, the song has a dreamlike quality that creates an unsettling atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to this institution
The singer is at a mental institution, implying that he/she is mentally unstable or ill in some way.
One way to resolution
The institution is meant to help the singer find a resolution to their mental health problems.
I'm put on this medication
The singer is taking medication to help with their mental health problems.
Rolls down my throat
The medication is being taken orally, in the form of a pill or liquid.
Cause I can't ever sleep at night the same
The artist is having trouble sleeping due to their mental health problems, and the medication is helping them sleep better.
This medication enjoys, enjoys most every day
The medication is effective and helpful in improving the singer's mental health and quality of life.
Cause I close my eyes, I see land
The singer experiences vivid dreams or nightmares when they close their eyes, possibly due to their mental health problems.
What did I say?
The artist is questioning something they said or did, possibly related to their mental health or the events that led them to the institution.
What did I say to put Sister to Sleep?
The artist is referencing someone named 'Sister' and questioning what they did to cause Sister's distress or sleep problems.
And fall awake and die
The artist is expressing a sense of anxiety or existential dread, feeling as if they are 'dying' while awake.
And I'm never goin' to bed
The singer is indicating that they will struggle with sleep or may never be able to sleep properly again.
Back to the day, back into this day
The artist is reflecting on the past and their current circumstances, possibly with nostalgia or regret.
Back to another level, hotter then hell
The past was difficult for the singer, perhaps even more so than their current situation at the institution.
Said that we're not savages until we do it again
The singer is referencing a past experience or event where they or someone else behaved in a savage or violent way, suggesting that people are only considered 'savages' if they repeat such behavior.
And one last night I'll kiss your lips again
The singer is recounting a past romantic or sexual experience where they kissed someone for the last time.
I will take this ferris wheel
The artist is using a metaphor to suggest that they are taking control of their own life and destiny, similar to how someone would take control of a ferris wheel ride.
And I'm sleepwalking back into this hell
The artist is returning to a difficult or painful situation, possibly returning to their mental health problems or a traumatic experience.
Oh my darling, for the first time
The singer is addressing someone affectionately, possibly a romantic partner or someone they care deeply about.
Don't let me sleep tonight, and get in your way tonight
The singer is asking the person they addressed to stay awake with them and not let them 'get in the way' of the person's own life or responsibilities.
I'll never go to sleep, and I won't go back to bed
The artist is indicating that they will struggle with sleep or may never be able to sleep properly again, and are also refusing to return to the vulnerable or painful state of being in bed.
I'm sleepwalking back into this... hell!
The artist is returning to a difficult or painful situation, perhaps with a sense of dread or despair.
Oh... God...
The artist is expressing a sense of awe or desperation, perhaps in reference to their mental health problems or the events that led them to the institution.
Contributed by Mackenzie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@joearnold1605
Lyrics: From listening and trying to see the monitor in another video. Seems close, happy for others to recommend edits
Crash into this institution
One way to resolution
I’m putting on this medication
It always makes me tired
Cause I can’t ever sleep at night the same
This took away our nightmare in almost every language
I can’t play pretend
I’m not awake most minutes
I’m not asleep most days
Cause when I close my eyelids I see light
What did I say?
Well did I say too much?
Sister sleep
And lie awake at night
And I’ll never go to bed
I won’t lead you down
Back into this room
Another darkened anthem
The pressures falling again
Cause I can’t share the pain of what it’s like to pretend
This is why I always say that
Where'd our thoughts go lying in bed?
One last night I’ll kiss their lips again
What did I say?
Well did I say too much?
Sister sleep
And lie awake at night
Will I never go to bed?
Dark this window
I see color
I see life
In this day I am up
For the last night
Is it perfect this way ?
You are half awake
Are you here?
Or are you not?
Don’t let me sleep tonight
Just give me peace tonight
Don’t let me sleep tonight I’m lost in here
Let me sleep
What did I say?
Well did I say too much?
Sister sleep
And lie awake at night
Well I'll never go to sleep
Dark this window
I see color
Back inside your hole again this time
@s4vemys0ul
I got u! Pasted these from Genius.
On second thought these actually don’t seem very accurate. Maybe they’ve changed them since 2003? Anyway, here u are:
Welcome to this institution
One way to resolution
I'm put on this medication
Rolls down my throat
Cause I can't ever sleep at night the same
This medication enjoys, enjoys most every day
Cause I close my eyes
I see land
What did I say?
What did I say to put Sister to Sleep?
And fall awake and die
And I'm never goin' to bed
Back to the day, back into this day
Back to another level, hotter then hell
Said that we're not savages until we do it
Again
And one last night I'll kiss your lips again
What did I say?
What did I say to put Sister to Sleep?
And fall awake and die
And I'm never goin' to sleep
I will take this ferris wheel
And I'm sleepwalking back into this hell
Oh my darling
For the first time
Don't let me sleep tonight
And get in your way tonight
Don't let me sleep tonight
Get in your way
What did I say?
What did I say to put Sister to sleep?
I'll never go to sleep
And I won't go back to bed
I'm sleepwalking back into this...
Hell!
Oh... God...
@sethdixon1450
Not a lot of people will understand how rare and special this is
@inali_illustrates9142
Fr tho!
@inali_illustrates9142
I dont think some people realise how important this moment is, for new fans of mcr, the story behind this song is insane and there is so much to unpack about it, we have been waiting so long for this
@lostastronaut8291
Can you elaborate a bit further??? I just recently got into them and I’m curious to what’s the backstory of this track.
@lack2958
@@lostastronaut8291 anndy negative made a great video about the story of the song, really interesting
@Luiginava1207
@Lostastronaut it was a demo for revenge, like Desert Song and Bury me in Black, they didn't release it idk why, the only recording aviable was from a live performance from the Revenge days, somehow they lost the studio demo, all except Matt Pelissier (first drummer of MCR) who get kicked from the band
I hope someday this song will get a studio version 😔
@vickipagesny
@Luiginava 1207 I remember when the demo first circulated and the entire MCR community came together on forums to write and make out the lyrics. This was such an important moment in their career. I remember seeing them Live at the Knitting factory (RIP) in NYC back in 2003. Such a good time!!
@lostastronaut8291
@@Luiginava1207 oooh I see thanks! That sucks cus this sounds so good 😤
@treacherous--doctor
If this ever gets released, it could easily become one of their best songs
@teenagemonsters
easily