What Is "Welcome to the Black Parade" about??

Question

I like that song but what is it about?

Answer 1

After learning of his illness, reflecting on his life, and dealing with all the issues of mortality, the Patient's own mortality is quickly coming to an end. This illness could be cancer, referring to the song "Cancer", but the doctor tells the Patient that he has two weeks to live after finding a complication in his heart, so he probably died of a heart problem. Here the Patient is drifting between life and death, and so death is coming for him in the form of his strongest memory. The Patient's fondest memory is of his father taking him to town as a boy to see a parade ("when I was a young boy, my father took me into the city, to see a marching band"). The Patient's father asks him as a boy "Son, when you grow up, would you be the savior of the broken, the beaten, and the damned?", perhaps preparing the Patient for his future illness, and asking him if he will have what it takes to mentally overcome it and be an example for others who follow in his footsteps to be strong. The Patient's father also tells him "someday I'll leave you a phantom, to lead you in the summer, to join the Black Parade." This hints that the Patient's father most likely died before the Patient, and will help him join the Black Parade (in other words be there when he dies to help him in the afterlife). The song also shows that the Patient most likely had a very good relationship with his father, since his fondest memory in life occured when he was with his father. This may be the opposite of the relationship he has with his mother, which is further detailed in the song "Mama". However, the band has stated that "Mama" represents Mother War, a mother who lost her child(ren) in war. She also represents loss, and so may simply be another figure in the Black Parade.

The Patient passes into a realm of life and death, and sees the Black Parade. The Black Parade seems to take place in the city that he saw the marching band in his youth, only now the city is barren, and more macabre. He sees the performers of the Black Parade, only they too are more macabre than those of the parade he saw in his youth, and seem to represent emotions and other parts of his life. The Black Parade tell him of "the disappointed faces of your peers", which have no effect on the Patient, as he states he "could not care at all", showing he will no longer let anyone dictate his actions, and hasn't quite repented yet (as he does in Famous Last Words). He still doubts himself ("I'm just a man, I'm not a hero" in reference to his father's question at the beginning of the song). He is still firm in his doubt of the world ("you can try, you'll never break me"). Finally The Black Parade assures him that his "memory will carry on", and though he may be dead and defeated his "weary widow marches on." Thus trying to encourage him that he isn't as evil as he thinks, and that if he joins them what he leaves behind in life will be fine.

The song visually represents the entire story (somewhat) in its music video (one flaw, if the Patient did die because of cancer and not a heart problem, is that the Patient has hair, when a cancer patient suffering from chemo would be bald and the character in the album art is bald and paler).

Answer 2

I know it doesn't help much...cause no one wants to spend money
but i downloaded that song from iTunes
&& it came with this bonus-y track thingy about the meaning or the ideas behind the video && the songs on the album

you can buy it if you feel the need
but my iTunes is down
so i can't really tell you much, except that it's about grandpa Way or something or other

Answer 3

I have a feeling its about his grandmother and grandfather or even his dad, you see, his grandmother died a couple of years ago, i think of cancer...and his dad (if I understand correctly) left him and his brother years ago...(not very sure on that one)...so, yeah...

Answer 4

Death.
The man is dieing and he remembers "when his father took him to see a marching band"
So, It's saying that death can come to you how ever you want it to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqyfZmj6bCE

Answer 5

regreting the death of a loved one and remembering what they told you
as in this case his grandfather told him to listen and go for your dreams with
a love thats unseen.

Answer 6

Why are all the answers so short these days?

Answer 7

Thankyou all for your answers and opinions!

Answer 8

i dont really know but i think its very cool

Answer 9

Sorry, not sure about this