My Chemical Romance: Teenagers Meaning
Song Released: 2007
Teenagers Lyrics
With all the lies in the books
To make a citizen out of you
Because they sleep with a gun
And keep an eye on you, son
So they can watch all the things you do
Because the drugs never work
They're gonna...
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1TOP RATED
anonymous Nov 6th 2006, 16:22 report
I actually read an interview saying that gerard wrote this song after a ride on a subway where he was surrounded with teenagers and for the first time he felt frightened of them, and he said it was the first time he really felt old.
There's also many references to school shootings (columbine, etc.) like when he sings:
but when you're troubled and hurt,
what you got under your shirt,
will make them pay for the things that they did.
It's really just how corrupted us teenagers have become and how teenagers of any generation will always scare their elders. -
2TOP RATED
anonymous Dec 7th 2006, 10:57 report
It seems to me that this song is a combination of the previous interpretations: Yes, it started when he was on a train with a bunch of "Hot Topic" punks/emos, but it's a little deeper than that. Remember when you were a teenager (ok, you probably still are) and you felt like the world was out to get you, and you had to look diffrent to scare people or put up a defense? The kids they're talking about are just like that, putting up a defense. They're trying to scare adults on purpose, by wearing black or looking violent. The funny thing is it backfires, and hooks them in with a bunch of teens just like them, people who want to be noncomformists but end up conforming to the "Hot Topic" personality. There are indeed refrences to violence, but someone suggested that what he has "under his shirt" could be scars: Attempted suicide, cutting, even scars from a knife fight: They're something people keep secret and can scare or even hurt other, especially older, people. If you were a mother or an aunt, even a teacher, what would you think if you met a kid with scars all over his torso? It would threaten you and weaken your authority.
The first verse represents paranoia: He's putting himself back into a teenage perspective, worrying that adults are watching every step and forcing him to conform.
The "Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me" is Gerard trying to hook himself back into the "Scene" of "Hot Topic" punks/emos today- he's telling his fans that he still thinks like them and knows what they're going through.
Did that make any sense? -
3TOP RATED
anonymous Dec 2nd 2006, 16:40 report
MCR is not actually scared of teenagers.
They stated in an interview that this was about how teenagers are made to feel that they have to be violent or made to feel worthless.
Hello, Gerard lived those feelings when he was in highschool.
They're making a point about society, duh. -
anonymous Mar 10th, 23:36 report
It's about High School and how society just tries to make everyone the same so they can manage them more easily, now and in the future. "The boys and girls in the clique" refers to the stereotypical people: jocks, preps, stereotypical high school 'cool guys'. "The awful names at the stick, you're never gonna fit in much, kid" is the people mentioned above bullying the nonstereotypical students about how they'll never fit in or be accepted by society. I would assume that the refrain is the nonstereotypical students being viewed from a teacher's perspective, "teenagers scare the living shit outta me." They're talking about how the teachers are scared of the people that aren't "normal" students.
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anonymous Feb 22nd, 13:37 report
You all think that you have intelligence for pôsting things that you think is true, well its not, these guys ARE NOT EMO, get that into your heads, thank you. Lastly, if your only going to hate on these guys dont even post here, they are great, and this is a good song, grow up...
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anonymous Jan 12th, 16:00 report
i think it is about being bullied. "what youve got under your shirt " refers to a gun. "make them pay for the things they did" going to kill the bullies. "they could care less as long as someone will bleed" as long as they kill one of the bullies they will be happy. "so darken your clothes or strike a violent pose maybe they will leave you alone but not me" some bullies back off but he doesnt care he wants to kill them.
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anonymous Oct 9th 2012, 20:01 report
It's not about how teenagers are scary, it's about how adults/society want everybody to be exactly the same and how that's bad and we should rebel. Here's how:
They're gonna clean up your looks
With all the lies in the books
To make a citizen out of you
The adults are going to try to make you into what they think is a "good person" by forcing you to look "normal" and forcing you to do things that are "normal"
Because they sleep with a gun
And keep an eye on you, son
So they can watch all the things you do
The adults sleep with guns and keep an eye on you because they want you to stay in line. It also is assuming the "you" or "son" is alternative and the adult thinks that means youre a bad person and stuff because they're brainwashed into not accepting anything other than what is "normal"
Because the drugs never work
They're gonna give you a smirk
'Cause they got methods of keeping you clean
They're gonna rip up your heads
Your aspirations to shreds
Another cog in the murder machine
This could mean a few things. Either the adults are giving you pills because they think you're crazy and then they smile because they have ways of making you like everybody else or the teenagers take drugs to try to forget about the pressure from adults to be like everyone else but they never quite work and the adults are smirking because they have ways to keep you from doing drugs. Then they are going to hurt you and not let you follow your dreams because the adults go around non stop hurting kids and killing their dreams.
They said now teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
So darken your clothes
Or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone
But not me
The grown ups say that teenagers scare them which is ironic because they are worse. They just want to hurt people. So rebel against them by being alternative (emo, goth, etc.) or fight against it. Mabe the adults will leave you alone. But they won't leave me alone.
The boys and girls in the clique
The awful names that they stick
You're never gonna fit in much, kid
But if you're troubled and hurt
What you got under your shirt
Will make them pay for the things that they did
The adults saying that other teenagers that are "normal" are making fun of you and you will never fit in if you're alternative. This next part could mean a few things. Either the adult is still talking and they are saying that if you're troubled and hurt what you got under your shirt (either a weapon or self harm) will help you get revenge on the other teens. Which is basically saying that the adults would rather have you kill people than have you be alternative. Or that school shootings and murders are seen as more normal than alternative people. OR the verse is the people singing/writing the song saying that if you're troubled and hurt that you could always use the thing under your shirt (weapons or self harm) will make the teenagers and/ or adults regret hurting you.
There. Now please stop saying its about how teens are scary. >_< -
anonymous Apr 19th 2012, 12:16 report
Okay. So far all of these have been wrong. Some have been close.
First MCR is not afraid of teenagers because the line is- "They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me." The song is about how the older generation veiw ALL teenagers. They veiw them all as emo's and hoodies. With guns and knives. It is also about how that teenager who that adult veiws as a dangerous emo is having a hard time at teenage life.
They're gonna clean up your looks
With all the lies in the books
To make a citizen out of you
Because they sleep with a gun
And keep an eye on you, son
So they can watch all the things you do
This is the adults perspective. The teenagers are gonna clean you up. Clean your attitude show you who is boss sort of thing. To make you scared of them and to prove to you who's in charge. They have weapons (they sleep with a gun).
Because the drugs never work
They're gonna give you a smirk
'Cause they got methods of keeping you clean
They're gonna rip up your heads,
Your aspirations to shreds
Another cog in the murder machine
Still adult. The drugs don't satisfy them enough. Smirk because they are cheeky. (Clean again show you whos boss sort of thing. The are violent and this is what teenagers will do to you (rip up heads, murder machine line)
They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me
MCR's veiw: "They said" (adults said) "teenagers scare them. All teenagers care about is violence and being emo so act like them and maybe they'll leave you alone" but we're adult and we know thats not true (But not me)
The boys and girls in the clique
The awful names that they stick
You're never gonna fit in much, kid
But if you're troubled and hurt
What you got under your shirt
Will make them pay for the things that they did
This tells the story of that kid who adults judge but is getting a hard time. Mcr's veiw:
The boys and girls bully this kid and they are never gonna fit in. "But if your troubled and hurt what you got under your shirt will make them pay" troubled and hurt= suicidal cutting yourself will make the bullies stand back and realise we did that. But adults will always veiw teens as violent emo's (returning to the chorus) -
anonymous Apr 11th 2012, 06:55 report
The song is about how society tries to control teenagers and tell them how they should act and live. It references this by talking about how adults will "rip up your heads, your aspirations to shreds" and it also tells you what they're turning teens into "another cog in the murder machine" In the second verse it goes on to describe how this has effected teenage social interaction and you can see that they are divided against one another and are verbally and physically abusive. This is the perfect song for demonstrating how society treats kids these days and how they fear they're own children because of media mongering.
-
anonymous Dec 15th 2011, 19:27 report
Gerard Way wrote this song after a few incidents with a close friend of mine called Chrystal. 'They're gonna clean up your looks' Is basically about the fact that Chrystal has a huge birthmark in the shape of a piece of shit on her cheek and when Gerard saw her he automatically thought 'oh god you need to clean up your looks'. 'Because they sleep with a gun' is basically about the fact that Chrystal tried it on with Gerard and he politely told her that he'd rather sleep with a gun. 'What you got under your shirt will make them pay for the things that they did' is about Chrystal showing her massive saggy tits to scare the kids off who did things to her in the past. and 'teenager's scare the living shit out of me' is what Gerard now says as thanks to Chrystal he is now obviously traumatized and finds it difficult to be around or see teenager. I'm telling the truth as Gerard is sat next to me as I type. Thank you, goodnight.
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anonymous Nov 28th 2011, 18:19 report
I'm sure this is about all the 'scenes' and, as mentioned in the songs 'cliques' of teenagers. If you don't follow the crowd then you're an outcast. (believe me i'd know)
i dunno about this thing about the trains, but i'd say it's a few things mixed in together.
'they're gonna clean up your looks, with all the lies in the books, to make a citizen out of you' <- parents and teachers trying to make teenagers civilised, wearing all the same uniform and being the same. But he doesn't fit in.
Again with the cliques, kids are bullied for looking a certain way, dressing a certain way, or even cos they like a certain band. They don't fit in or conform. (anyone see a pattern?) it's about how some kids just don't fit in, because they're being themselves, but they are bullied for it. "make them pay for the things that they did!"
i would carry on, but it's obvious it's, at least partly, about teenage bullying as i read in an article once. -
anonymous Nov 25th 2011, 19:06 report
Its a song about bullying and how far it can go. It sounds like its about a school shooting and pressure. I like this song because it talks about how things that seem like harmless teasing can turn into something far more sinister.
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anonymous Nov 4th 2011, 16:25 report
*REMEMBER THIS IS MY INTERPRETATION, IM NOT SAYING THIS IS RIGHT AND IM NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT MCR'S INTERVIEW ABOUT THE SONG*
'They're gonna clean up your looks
With all the lies in the books
To make a citizen out of you
Because they sleep with a gun
And keep an eye on you, son
So they can watch all the things you do'
I think this part is talking about all the 'popular' kids (i.e. the jocks, preps, etc etc) and how they influence you and can make your life miserable
'Because the drugs never work
They're gonna give you a smirk
'Cause they got methods of keeping you clean
They're gonna rip up your heads,
Your aspirations to shreds
Another cog in the murder machine'
This may be about how some kids take drugs for certian things but they dont work and the other kids make fun of them. It could also be how the kid is doing drugs to try and fit in with the other kids but they still make fun of him so the drugs dont work.
'The boys and girls in the clique
The awful names that they stick
You're never gonna fit in much, kid
But if you're troubled and hurt
What you got under your shirt
Will make them pay for the things that they did'
I think this means that the kid is being bullied by the other kids. 'But if you're troubled and hurt What you got under your shirt Will make them pay for the things that they did' means that the kid has some ability of some kind (like hes good at art, music, etc etc) and when he grows up he will become famous and all the other kids will regret teasing him.
Chorus
They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me
This is basically saying how all adults think of teenagers as violent. -
anonymous Oct 8th 2011, 16:30 report
I think its about teens vs other teens vs the world
The first verse I think is about teens vs the world. 'Thet're gonna clean up your looks/With all the lies in the book/To make a citizen out of you'= Adults try anything(propraganda)to make teens behave.
'Because the drug never work'= teen vs world or other teens. The person is depressed, and takes drugs to try and forget all the bad things, but it never works/only made things worse
'Your aspirations to shreds/Another cog in the murder machine'= Other teens bully the person,and he's not willing to take it any longer. His 'murder machine' is his anger towards others until he brings a gun to school.
'The boys and girls in the clique/The awful names that they stick/They could care less as long as someone'll bleed'= Teens in the popular crowd label others, and bully them. 'care less as someone'll bleed' is about how they don't care for people, or think it's just a fun game until someone kills or does suicide.
'But if you're troubled an hurt/What you got under your shirt/We'll make them pay for the things that they did'= The person intends to kill those who bullied him because his 'murder machine'/anger is working. Also reference to school shooting by students who were bullied.
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anonymous Aug 31st 2011, 09:22 report
he wrote it on a train..."TEENAGERS SCARE THE LIVING SHIT OUTTA ME" pretty much says it all!!xx
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anonymous May 18th 2011, 00:36 report
This might not be what they meant by it, but my interpretation was some what like that of the point of view of the character Winston from George Orwells 1984- he's scared of the youth because they'll turn him in to the "Thought Police"; the lyrics "they've got ways of keeping you clean" also remind me of the book considering they constantly brainwash the public. The references to drugs (and lack of them working) also reminded me of the novel. Haha, I know it's sort of random, and you may have to of read the book to understand but the first time I heard this song I thought of 1984.(:
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anonymous May 3rd 2011, 17:07 report
This song is Gerard telling his teenaged fans that he still understands what it was like.
"They're gonna clean up your looks
With all the lies in the books
To make a citizen out of you."
It means that they (the adults) are gonna try to get you to be this model citizen with lies and conspiracies.
"Because they sleep with a gun
And keep an eye on you, son
So they can watch all the things you do."
They (The adults) are scared of you, because you could do anything. So they will watch you and make sure you become what they want.
"Because the drugs never work
They're gonna give you a smirk
'Cause they got methods of keeping you clean
They're gonna rip up your heads
Your aspirations to shreds
Another cog in the murder machine"
These adults are gonna lie and give you these fake smiles because they have ways to get you to conform one way or another. They will go to any length to get you into this ideal picture in their head.
"They said now teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
So darken your clothes
Or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone
But not me"
Make the adults even more scared. Eventually they give up and leave you alone, but I'll (Gerard) will always be there so you will never be completely alone.
"The boys and girls in the clique
The awful names that they stick
You're never gonna fit in much, kid
But if you're troubled and hurt
What you got under your shirt
Will make them pay for the things that they did"
Even the other teenagers (the conforming ones) are gonna try this on you, by stereotyping you until you don't have friends. But no matter what happens you will have something they will never have. (meaning your originality or youth or whatever it is you have that they don't.)
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anonymous Apr 16th 2011, 23:11 report
Teenagers that have fucked up histories and presents take on the image of all the scary things in this country. If you listen to hip hop you take on the gangster/thug image. If you listen to rock you take on the punk/goth/or emo image. In the interview he says that the punk rock kids scared him and he produces the kind of music they listen to. Therefore he can't be saying he's scared of teens. Trust me, my friends listen to MCR and I listen to Eminem (and vice versa). We scare the living shit out of our teachers and parents when we write poems in English classes! XD
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anonymous Apr 14th 2011, 08:04 report
This song talks about masonic who controls teenagers by their pop songs !! and when they said ( so darken your clothes and or strike a violent pose ) they mean listen to rock and those type of music like metal and rock when they wear just black , or strike a violent pose they means don't listen to their music !! and you can see what i'm talking about on the new lady gaga's song ( born this way ) watch her video clip and hope you can understand what I mean :) .
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anonymous Apr 11th 2011, 05:19 report
The song's about teenagers being stereotyped as being violent and dangerous.
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anonymous Apr 9th 2011, 07:07 report
when i heard this song, i was like... WOW!!! This is totally what it like to be a teenager, but i could'nt find a way to put it into words the way Gerard does.
It means (to me) that teenagers get such bad press, and have such a bad reputation that its tured us "bad", in a way. So if people are scared of us and shout at us for doin bad stuff, pretend u are doin the bad stuff, then they might leave you alone cos' they're so scared.
eg. A random guy shouts at you because he thinks you are carrying a gun, (because he thinks all teenagers do). so, you pretend to grab the gun and pint it at him, then he runs and doesnt bother you ever again.
Its an effective method, but it makes out reputation even worse. xxx -
anonymous Apr 9th 2011, 00:42 report
It's about teenage peer pressure and how teenagers become insecure because of their need to defend their position or popularity. It also explains how teenagers scare their elders when they begin to dress differently or act more aggresively.
It also explains how corrupt the world has become to force young people to change who they are just so they can get their rightful respect. So you see? MCR is not quote unquote emo, they just hide really clever messages in their songs that can even send a message to kids like me that we can just be who we are.
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Teenagers lyrics
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Songs about Youth Culture
Songs about the Generation Gap
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