Annotations for Volcano Shake Em Up Live Demo

Lyric: Tie me up with his bloody clothes on my floor,
Annotation:
My Chemical Romance do not shy away from “bloody clothes” imagery – the three most notable examples are Gerard Way’s Meta Man costume, Frank Iero’s Joyriding music video, and Demolition Lovers II from the cover of Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge

Lyric: When you’re 6 feet deep
Annotation:
This could be a double meaning with “the house” both referring to a casino and a family involved in organized crime. The use of “always” implies that the house has a history of burying their enemies, tying into the multiple references to violence and body disposal throughout the song. (og discription: you can’t win at a casino if you are buried 6 feet in a grave cause you’re most likely dead. even if you aren’t dead you still are in a grave so that does make it very difficult to win a casino game.)

Lyric: Through running the mile
Annotation:
This is a reference to The Used’s 2007 song “Pretty Handsome Awkward” which is alleged to be about lead singer of My Chemical Romance; Gerard Way. “You bleed just like you puke while running the mile”

Lyric: Love me like an ashtray
Annotation:
This phrasing is evocative of addiction, as an ashtray is a key item to have nearby for heavy smokers in order to not damage furniture or start fires. Gerard has tweeted about their experiences of being a former smoker, saying that even if you quit, you’ll always be addicted to something. Here, they are asking to be that addictive thing.

Lyric: Golden gods forcing your throat to sing
Annotation:
Possibly a reference to the pressure placed on MCR by the music industry. After finishing The Black Parade world tour, the band was burnt out, later saying they thought it would be their last album; however, they were pushed to continue writing, recording, and releasing music by their label, eager to capitalize on The Black Parade’s success.

Lyric: Through the crack in my smile
 Through the crack in my face
Annotation:
A “crack in one’s smile” is a phrase that means one’s happiness is faked or performative, and they aren’t actually happy, but the façade is starting to slip. The juxtaposition of these lines suggests that the singer had not only been pretending to be happy, but that their entire image and appearance was a costume. Frontperson Gerard Way has spoken about their struggles with body image and gender presentation, in one Boy Zine interview saying “When I was doing MCR I think I finally got to display my femininity through the glam theatrical aspects of the band.”

Lyric: The way you look at me (you look a bit insecure!)
Annotation:
This line is similar to one featured in  Mastas of Ravenkroft, a song from the Mad Gear and Missile Kid EP: “…Can you turn off all the lights so I can’t see?” Here, the singer is insecure about their body image. However, in VSEU, it is the subject of the song who is insecure.

Lyric: Put Your Money on Me
Annotation:
This phrase alludes to the idea of putting your trust in someone, or betting your money on them (in a metaphorical sense).

Lyric: Can I be your fucking Pompeii?
Annotation:
This is referencing a love that’s doomed from the start; by asking to be someone’s “Pompeii,” the singer is asking to be loved in a way that will destroy them, much like the way Pompeii was destroyed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Lyric: Golden gods forcing your throat to sing
 Melted down into your wedding ring
Annotation:
In the Bible there is a story where the opposite of this scenario happens; gold jewelry is melted down to create golden idols that people began to worship. In this context it may be an allusion to sin and the worship of “false” gods.

Lyric: We’re shiny like white hot batteries
Annotation:
The word “shiny” here may be referencing the use of the word in the Killjoys' universe, where it is a slang term for “good” or “great.”

Lyric: Cause I’m a hole in the earth (and you know what to do)
Annotation:
This subtly refers to a volcano being a gap in the Earth’s crust, while more prominently being a sexual innuendo.

Lyric: (on your bathroom floor!)
Annotation:
referencing Pete Wentz’s of Fall Out Boy’s bathroom, where this demo was recorded.

Lyric: (like a murder? Like for dinner)
Annotation:
This addition answers the question of this line’s double meaning of “take me out,” with the backing singer, Frank Iero, suggesting the darker one.

Lyric: It’s gonna blow! Gonna blow! Gonna blow!
Annotation:
This lyric refers to the eruption of a volcano, whilst also creating a sexual innuendo.

Lyric: Closet door opens
Annotation:
This line could be a reference to “coming out of the closet.” which is a metaphor for admitting homosexuality. My Chemical Romance is frequently seen as a ‘queer’ band, with many of their followers and supporters (and potentially members) being a part of the LGBT community.

Lyric: It would benefit you to put the pressure on me
Annotation:
Possibly a reference to the intense pressure inside of a volcano before it erupts.

Lyric: The way you look in drag (you look a bit insecure!)
Annotation:
My Chemical Romance is known for their inherent queerness and gender-nonconformity and reference it frequently in their work, including on stage. Gerard Way often wears outfits while performing that many would consider drag.

Lyric: Cause I’m burning up at 50 million degrees
Annotation:
An exaggeration of how hot volcanoes are. The average volcano only reaches 1,250 degrees Celsius (2,200 degrees Fahrenheit).

Lyric: Call me your fucking Pompeii
Annotation:
Pompeii was a Roman city that was destroyed by the volcano Vesuvius in 79 A.D.

Lyric: Cause the house always wins
Annotation:
This line appeared on the drum head at the second New Jersey show of the 2022 tour.

