In the lyric booklet of May Death Never Stop You, bassist Mikey Way reveals:
“[The song] allows me to reflect on my entire life – being a kid, growing up, learning about the universe, entering adulthood, and pondering the future. In that respect, it acts as a time capsule/ time machine in my mind. Countless memories pour out of me that I hadn’t thought about in decades or had seemingly almost forgotten.“
When asked if any My Chem songs held a special place in his heart, bassist Mikey Way said the following:
“I think our mutual favorite in the band is the “Kids from Yesterday.” To me the song is like a time machine. You listen to it and it makes us all think about growing up and it makes you think about being a kid. And then it makes you think about being a teenager. And it makes you think about where you are now and where you’re going. […] It’s just a very somber, introspective song and just one of the most powerful choruses I’ve heard in a rock song.“
His brother, and MCR frontman, Gerard Way spoke to Billboard and shared his feelings about the song:
“Our favorite song on the record and the last song we wrote. I think it’s the most special song for all of us because we were able to come to the conclusion that, yes, we have grown up, but we’ve done it our way. This feeling of completion and success came from that song because we felt like that. It was like, ‘Cool, it was okay to grow up. It’s okay to be in our thirties and make an album.’ But it’s our most immature mature record – the most fun but most mature. The song is really about growing up, nostalgia, finding a new way to describe an adult, which is to say, ‘You’re a kid from yesterday.’“
The Kids From Yesterday
My Chemical Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, oh
And now this could be the last of all the rides we take
So hold on tight and don't look back
We don't care about the message or the rules they make
We'll find you when the sun goes black
When we were young we used to say
That you only hear the music when your heart begins to break
Now we are the kids from yesterday
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
All the cameras watch the accidents and stars you hate
They only care if you can bleed
Does the television make you feel the pills you ate?
Or every person that you need to be
'Cause you wanna live forever in the lights you make
When we were young we used to say
That you only hear the music when your heart begins to break
Now we are the kids from yesterday
Today
today
We are the kids from yesterday
Today
today
Here we are and we won't stop breathing (today)
(Today) yell it out 'till your heart stops beating
We are the kids from yesterday, today
'Cause you wanna live forever in the lights you make
When we were young we used to say
That you only hear the music when your heart begins to break
Now we are the kids from yesterday
Oh, oh
We are the kids from yesterday
Oh, oh
We are the kids from yesterday
Oh, oh
We are the kids from yesterday
Oh, oh
Today, today
The Kids From Yesterday by My Chemical Romance is a song about holding on to memories and never losing sight of who you are. The song begins by acknowledging that this could be the last ride they take, so they encourage one another to hold on tight and not look back. They don't care about the rules, and they'll find each other even when the world turns dark. The lyrics reflect on the desire to live forever in the memories and lights they created, and how they used to say that you only hear the music when your heart begins to break. The chorus repeats the phrase "Now we are the kids from yesterday," emphasizing the importance of cherishing the past and never forgetting where you come from.
The second verse of the song critiques the media's obsession with sensationalism, and how they only care about the pain and suffering they can exploit for ratings. The lyrics ask whether the television makes you feel the pills you took, or the pressure to be someone you're not. They again reflect on how they used to believe that music was only heard when your heart begins to break, and how they are now the kids from yesterday who refuse to conform to society's expectations.
Overall, The Kids From Yesterday is a powerful anthem about embracing your past and cherishing the memories that shaped you into who you are today. It's a reminder to never forget your roots and to keep fighting against societal pressures to become someone you're not.
Line by Line Meaning
And now this could be the last of all the rides we take
This ride might be our final one together.
So hold on tight and don't look back
Grab tight and cherish the moment.
We don't care about the message or the rules they make
We don't concern ourselves with the propaganda and laws society creates.
We'll find you when the sun goes black
Our bond is strong enough to last through the end of time.
And you want to live forever in the lights you make
We aspire to be remembered for our lasting creations.
When we were young we used to say
As youngsters, we believed
That you only hear the music when your heart begins to break
Music evokes strong emotions often arising from adversity.
Now we are the kids from yesterday
We have matured into adults, nostalgic for our youthful memories.
All the cameras watch the accidents and stars you hate
The media only showcases drama and negativity, including celebrities you despise.
They only care if you can bleed
The public only takes notice when you're weakened and vulnerable.
Does the television make you feel the pills you ate?
Entertainment influences your perceptions and reality.
Or every person that you need to be
But so does everyone with whom you surround yourself.
'Cause you wanna live forever in the lights you make
We strive to create legacies in our chosen fields.
Here we are and we won't stop breathing
We are still alive and making an impact.
Yell it out 'till your heart stops beating
We will shout passionately until our final breaths.
We are the kids from yesterday, today
We are still the same people we were in the past.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANK IERO, GERARD WAY, MICHAEL WAY, RAY TORO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@harisrasyid2721
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
And now this could be the last of all the rides we take
So hold on tight and don't look back
We don't care about the message or the rules they make
We'll find you when the sun goes black
And you want to live forever in the lights you make
When we were young we used to say
That you only hear the music when your heart begins to break
Now we are the kids from yesterday
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
All the cameras watch the accidents and stars you hate
They only care if you can bleed
Does the television make you feel the pills you ate?
Or every person that you need to be
'Cause you wanna live forever in the lights you make
When we were young we used to say
That you only hear the music when your heart begins to break
Now we are the kids from yesterday
Today
today
We are the kids from yesterday
Today
today
Here we are and we won't stop breathing (today)
(Today) yell it out 'till your heart stops beating
We are the kids from yesterday, today
'Cause you wanna live forever in the lights you make
When we were young we used to say
That you only hear the music when your heart begins to break
Now we are the kids from yesterday
Oh, oh
We are the kids from yesterday
Oh, oh
We are the kids from yesterday
Oh, oh
We are the kids from yesterday
Oh, oh
Today, today
@evelynarnaut6049
0:04 Revenge Mikey jumping around
0:12 a REALLY early MCR concert (Frankie had very few tattoos)
0:17-0:20 touring in the back of a van (Revenge) and Gee licking his hand
0:25 Revenge Frank being dangerous and throwing things ((no surprise there))
0:35 yet another Revenge concert
0:38 Revenge Gee sings really close to the crowd and security has to hold a psycopathic fangirl back
0:40 another naked armed Frank
0:49 a clip of Gerard's hand from The Black Parade video ((don't ask me how I know, I just do))
0:52 more Revenge Gee singing
0:52 Look at cute little BP Mikey
0:55 Shhhhhh The Black Parade is Dead!
I give up. There's too much.
3:49 Revenge Gee screaming at you.
@gabbegalang
A moment of silence for all the new fans who never had the chance to go to their concerts
@emilyvale2834
aka me fml
@lokilaufeyson441
I've been a fan nearly my whole life and I never had the chance to go :'(
@lilchlo8870
I had the chance to go when they was In the UK , my mum wanted to buy me tickets to go for us both I was buzzing but my dad refused to let me go because I was "too small to go to one of those concerts". I've forever held it against him 😞
@jordanmousseau4895
I saw Billy Talent when I was 13 years old, and MCR like a year later. Both with my mom. :)
@ysyreeve2309
I grew up with them, their first album came out when I was 5 months and 11 days old, and me and my family have been listening to then since, but we never saw them live. 😭
@peytonstallings1170
this song hits different now that they’re back
@skeletonkiss1112
Omg sir you are my hero
@ixcapncrunchxi492
This song hits different knowing that scalpers resell tickets at 300 usd+
@peytonstallings1170
IXCapnCrunchXI ikr i waited in que for hours with 2000 people ahead of me and when i finally got in the top nosebleed seats were being sold at $500 and some floor seats were being resold at 3000+. it’s ridiculous. ticket master or the band should’ve done something to prevent something like that just like tøp did with the bandito tour