Now come one, come all to this tragic affair
Wipe off that makeup, what's in is despair
So throw on the black dress, mix in with the lot
You might wake up and notice you're someone you're not

If you look in the mirror and don't like what you see
You can find out firsthand what it's like to be me
So gather 'round piggies and kiss this goodbye
I'd encourage your smiles I'll expect you won't cry

Another contusion, my funeral jag
Here's my resignation, I'll serve it in drag
You've got front row seats to the penitence ball
When I grow up I want to be nothing at all

I said yeah, yeah
I said yeah, yeah

Come on, come on, come on I said
(Save me) get me the hell out of here
(Save me) too young to die and my dear
(You can't) if you can hear me just walk away and
(Take me)


Lyrics submitted by LoveIsAMurderScene, edited by SmashingDestiny

The End. Lyrics as written by Frank Iero Bob Bryar

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The End. song meanings
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62 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    You said it, xFlare!!! Totally agree with you! That shit about tragic downfall, yeah. You got it all:)

    How would you complaining people like it if every record were just the same as the last one? I imagine.

    WeAllLoveThem_MCRon January 14, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    It's basically sad.

    I guess groups aren't able to evolve in certain terms. So much ridicule follows when they do so. I am sure I am not the only one who is tired of others writing about MCR's tragic downfall from "real music" to pop. Get Real. Learn how to spell. MCR can create whatever music they wish, and on their lastest, yet very sucessful album, they decided to create a new twist to their old music. If you don't like it as much as their previous albums... Wait for the next one to come out, unless you enjoy wallowing in your self-pity. If you are a real fan, you should be happy for MCR and their recent sucess, not sulk about how only posers listen to the same music you once worshiped.

    Anyways, all in all, its a remarkable album, and I think the group is developing quite nicely... The lyrics are catchy, satisfying, and sometimes confusing, but who doesn't like searching for that hidden meaning? Good job MCR!

    xFlareon December 30, 2006   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    The song uses the funeral precession as a metaphor for the narrators life, where everyone around him is fake and just going through the acceptable motions of society. Despair is "in" during a funeral as is wearing black dress and mingling with the other attendees.

    He shows a lot of self-loathing: "You might wake up and notice You're someone you're not

    If you look in the mirror and don't like what you see You can find out firsthand what it's like to be me"

    And perhaps never really fit in, or the people around him didn't like him. He says he'd serve his resignation(dying is resigning from life, perhaps) in drag(clothing from the opposite sex) which seems like something an outcast type of person would do. He also suggests that the people at the funeral wouldn't cry for him, and he even encourages them to smile in a snide sort of sarcasm. On top of it, he has no motivation in this type of life: "When I grow up I want to be nothing at all!"

    At the end, he begs someone to come and save him from the bleak and unhappy world he lives in. That's my take, probably over examined it. =)

    ZanzaSagaraon December 08, 2008   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    I think he's still alive at this point, because you hear the beeping machine at the beginning. But he's thinking and or preparing for his funeral, "throw on the black dress." He's also thinking about how no one will really miss him, "I'll expect you won't cry". I think it's also saying he died young. I also thinks he hates being in the hospital, and wants to die at his home or with a loved one.

    Reasons2BMissedon July 27, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Now come one come all to this tragic affair Wipe off that makeup- what's in is dispair So throw on the black dress Mix in with the lot You might wake up and notice You're someone you're not

    If you look in the mirror and don't like what you see You can find out firsthand what it's like to be me So gather 'round piggies and kiss this goodbye I'd encourage your smile, I'll expect you won't cry

    AHHHH! AHHHH! AHHHH! AHHHH!

    Another contusion, my funeal jag Here's my resignation, I'll serve it in drag you've got front row seats to the penitent's ball When I grow up I want to be nothing at all! I said

    YEAH! YEAH! I SAID- YEAH! YEAH!

    C'mon c'mon c'mon I said Save me! Get me the hell out of here Save me! Too young to die and my dear You can't! If you can hear me just walk away and Take me!

    longwindingroadon October 29, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    WTF!!! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!!! This Music is good !! and MCR are not sellouts!!!! ok, I'll admit that 3 cheers was my favorite album... but this is good too.... and no... it isn't emo/screamo or anything like that, it's rock, I even read a magazine that called it metal!!... if you don't like them, you don't have to listen to them!!!

    The_Last_Paradeon December 29, 2006   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion

    I'm a fan of the band. I can proudly, and honestly admit that they've saved my life multiple times. I love all of the band members, all of the songs, and all of the albums. The lyrics speak to me. And even though some may not understand what they mean, I do. And I think it's important for people to know a few things about My Chemical Romance.

    First, though, you should know something about me. I am not one of those emo, obsessive fan-girls. Seriously. "omfg, i am totally gunna rapee mikey effing wayy!!" That's not me.

    Now, moving on. My Chemical Romance does not encourage self-harm, suicide, or anything of that nature. They are completely against it. They are not an "emo" band. Or, at least the modern misconception of the term "emo". Their lyrics are extremely metaphorical. Their lyrics do mean something, contrary to what you may believe. Even though you may not see it, they do.

    I don't care if you don't like their music, or if you think they're whiny. That's your personal opinion , and I can't change that.

    The reason My Chemical Romance fans are so obsessive and so defensive of the band, the members of the band, and their music, is because My Chemical Romance has saved so many lives with their message. It is simply, "Love yourself. Be yourself. You're a beautiful person. Don't ever hurt yyourself; it's not worth it. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Even if you stop loving us, we'll never stop loving you."

    Does that sound "emo" to you? Does it sound like they encourage self-harm and suicide?

    abbieheartsmeeseon August 11, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    In my theater, we were all asked to play a song that would be the intro to a musical about ourselves. All of the other girls played happy, bubbly, full-of-goo-goo-eyes songs. This was my song.

    TheKilljoyWayon March 09, 2017   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song expresses the views of a young man who has just committed suicide...

    In the first paragraph he welcomes everyone to his funeral and doesn't see the point in all of the formalities - they disguise the reality of what's happened. I think he committed suicide because he was so different from everybody else. When he was growing up he felt normal and he wanted all of the same things as everyone else but later he discovered he never measured up: 'You might wake up and notice you're someone you're not'. The pain from not fitting in and missing out on all of the best things in life drove him to the point of suicide.

    He's explaining in the second paragraph how painful it was to accept himself. All that's left is pain and self-loathing. When he says 'if you look in the mirror and don't like what you see, you can find out firsthand what it's like to be me' he's saying he hates everything about himself and is trying to explain the pain he felt. When he was alive seeing others so happy made him upset and he worried that nobody cared about him, but in death he's free from this and he's acknowledging at the end that few people are going to be all that upset about his death.

    The third paragraph is expressing his absolute apathy towards life. He's not concerned with the pettiness of life anymore and couldn't care less about his funeral 'here's my resignation, i'll serve it in drag'. His death is a statement that he hates life and didn't have any ambitions or want to be anything at all.

    But then again, maybe I'm just describing myself.

    matthew514on June 02, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah.. these are the right lyrics.. the others werent... but this is one of my favorites on the black parade album.. other than "Welcome To The Black Parade" and "Teenagers"

    mcrfan22on November 08, 2006   Link

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