My Chemical Romance Bring The Pain With ‘Fake Your Death’

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Well, My Chemical Romance released their final song today. Titled ‘Fake Your Death,’ it will be the first track on their extensive greatest hits collection titled May Death Never Stop You.

I thought I was ready for this. I’ve had a year to process my feelings leading up to this moment. I’ve let it go. No matter what else the band can throw at me, I’d be ready to deal.

Yeah, no, that isn’t what happened. I’m a goddamn mess right now over this song.

My Chemical Romance didn’t plan for this to be their last song, but there’s something about it that seems so final. Even Gerard admitted to this when the song was announced. 

“What was not so obvious at the time was that the song was, and would serve as, a eulogy for the band, though I should have known it from the lyrics. I think internally I did, as I felt an odd sense of sadness and loss after hearing back the words on top of the music. I also felt a strange sense of pride in how honest it was, and could not remember a band recording a song of this nature, being so self-aware. Ending felt like something honest, and honest always feels like something new.”

And it shows. When I hear Gerard’s voice and lyrics, it feels like a funeral. Not the kind of funeral that ends with a grand journey exploring your life like The Black Parade. An actual funeral filled with sadness and uncertainty. Way doesn’t have the same passion he usually does. This song is sung by Gerard the person, not Gerard the showman. Somewhere in his voice, he was saying goodbye.

I’ve cried listening to this song nearly every time in the few hours it’s been out. It’s a hard to hear the final words of one of your favorite bands, especially when everything seemed fine around the time this song was recorded.

In a strange way though, I’m glad that this was the note they left on. A final moment of honesty for the band to the listeners. Even as the final track, it’s beautiful. With the piano riff from James Dewes, the Queen-esque stomp and clap, and Ray Toro’s final solo, it takes the band out on a high note. A very sad and emotional high note.

There was one lyric that was wrong though. They will never leave this place the same.

May Death Never Stop You comes out March 25th and can be purchased from the MCR website or from iTunes. I will be reviewing the compilation at the end of March and will be writing retrospectives on their four studio albums leading up to the release. Prepare for feelings because I have a lot of them.