anonymous May 4th, 2007 12:50PM  
This song is more about there music business. The golden plate represents there golden record, heavy lights repesents the spotlight, and karats repesents there riches. The first verse is about what people would become once they have a gold record. The chorus shows that how "the band" took over a lot of the artists fame, no real love for the band, and what parents do to not make there children be like them. seceond verse is about how teens would cheer for "the band" even though they are miserable inside.

Gurl_E_Nerdd April 23rd, 2008 10:34AM  
"How cruel is the golden rule?
When the lives we lived are only golden-plated
And I knew that the lights of the city were too heavy for me
And though I carry karats for everyone to see"

Life in the spotlight is just an act and a bunch of fake smile and false truths. The karats are only for show. Like some stars rent the accessories they wear for an event then return it.

"And I saw God cry in the reflection of my enemies
And all the lovers with no time for me
And all of the mothers raised their babies
To stay away from me"

Loneliness in relationships and there is only one thought on the other persons mind. This next part I relate a lot. Me for example, I have a son and I'm 18, I can't hold relationships with some men because of that reason. It is also hard for me to have a decent relationship because their Mothers don't want me around.

"Tongues on the sockets of electric dreams
Where the sewage of youth drown the spark of my tears
And I knew that the lights of the city were too heavy for me (too heavy for me)
And though I carry karats for everyone to see (everyone to see)"

I think this is about the fear of not becoming successful. But also being scared of rejection, doubt full of thoughts that you can't handle the fame and pressure of being like others want you.

"And I saw God cry in the reflection of my enemies
And all the lovers with no time for me
And all of the mothers raised their babies
To stay away from me

And pray they don't grow up to be me"

This is also another part of my life. God feels sad because of the enemies that I hold. The mothers selling the judgments and lies of me being a whore and all that- all not true. I scare them because I have a child and Im 18 and Im not married. They don't want their babies to end up like me.

This is how I take the song. It fits in all the cracks in my life. Many may disagree but whatever.

lizXis September 1st, 2008 07:26PM  
To sum it up, he's basically trying to explain how hard it is for him to find his place in life, when nobody can respect him for his changes (fame, mostly).
Also he talks about his youth, I think it's about how he accomplished so much in his youth, and now its no longer recognized by anyone. lots of disrespect basically.
but definitely one of my favorite songs by Fall Out Boy

anonymous October 12th, 2008 10:21PM  
I think this song is about how worthless some people make their lives out to be. This is expressed in the line "where the lives we live are only golden plated", as well as the second verse, which describes how people who are so close to realizing their dreams can let these dreams just slip away, and how they could achieve their goals if only they cared a little more. The chorus might be about a person who has all the wealth and material things he needs to be recognized by society, but he is afraid to face this chance to be famous because none of it will matter in the long run. But in a way, he is afraid not to take the chance, because nobody who does matter sees him as important, and he does not want to go through life without being noticed or making a difference.

anonymous December 6th, 2008 12:05AM  
How cruel is the golden rule?
* It is hard to make everyone happy

When the lives we lived are only golden-plated
* Especially when most of us aren't given chances to be great or do great things; we all struggle at one point in our lives

And I knew that the lights of the city were too heavy for me
* I knew that it would be hard and I would go through rough times achieving fame

And though I carry karats for everyone to see
* So I show off my glories for those who doubted me to think about

And I saw God cry in the reflection of my enemies
* God knows my past and my future and he tells me its going to be difficult but I'm going to make it

And all the lovers with no time for me
* All the people that I wanted to spend time with or have a relationship with don't know how special I really am

And all of the mothers raised their babies
* Everybody says I got to where I am by doing wrong

To stay away from me
* But in reality I'm just better than them and they hate it

Tongues on the sockets of electric dreams
* I can do or I've had a taste of anything or everything possible

Where the sewage of youth drown the spark of my tears
* And I'm so young that I feel like I've accomplished everything so early but I've still got so much more that I want to do

And pray they don't grow up to be me
* I just hope they can be themselves and have everything in their own rights, the way that they want it

anonymous January 10th, 2010 09:37AM  
I guess this song's about Pete Wentz himself. Pete's family was pretty rich and seemed to be perfect (When the lives we lived are only golden-plated) but if you see behind the curtain of "the perfect life" (and I saw god crying in the reflections of my enemies) you realize you're all one. (and all of the mothers raising their babies to stay away from me) So maybe this song shows that seeming richness hides misery or the song shows that on the other hand just being rich doesn't make happy at all. Pete has been depressive since he was a 6-year old kid and i guess he still hasn't quite come to terms with it and wrote it in this song.