The Ghost of You

Infobox Single
Name = The Ghost of You


Artist = My Chemical Romance
from Album = Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
Released = August 30, 2005
Format = 7" vinyl
CD
Digital download
Recorded = 2004
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 3:23
Label = Reprise Records
Writer = My Chemical Romance
Producer = Howard Benson
Chart position =
* #9 (Modern Rock Tracks, Philippines)
* #27 (UK Singles Chart)
* #38 (Mainstream Rock Tracks)
* #78 (Billboard Pop 100)
* #84 (Billboard Hot 100)
Last single = "Under Pressure"
(2005)
This single = "The Ghost of You"
(2005)
Next single = "Welcome to the Black Parade"
(2006)

"The Ghost of You" is the fourth and final single and sixth track from My Chemical Romance's second studio album, "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge". The song deals with the fear of loss. The song also crossfades into "The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You". This song is the band's seventh overall single. The song's title is an allusion to a lyric from the song, "These Foolish Things".

Track listing

*All songs written by My Chemical Romance.Version 1 (promotional CD)Tracklist
title1 = The Ghost of You
note1 = faded ending
length1 = 3:15

Version 2 (CD)Tracklist
title1 = The Ghost of You
note1 = faded ending
length1 = 3:14
title2 = Helena
note2 = live from "Warped Tour Bootleg Series"
length2 = 4:32

Version 3 (CD)Tracklist
title1 = The Ghost of You
note1 = faded ending
length1 = 3:16
title2 = I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
note2 = live from "Warped Tour Bootleg Series"
length2 = 2:59
title3 = Cemetery Drive
note3 = live from "Warped Tour Bootleg Series"
length3 = 2:58

Version 4 (7" vinyl)Tracklist
title1 = The Ghost of You
note1 = faded ending
length1 = 3:26
title2 = Helena
note2 = live from "Warped Tour Bootleg Series"
length2 = 4:22
title3 = I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
note3 = live from "Warped Tour Bootleg Series"
length3 = 2:59
title4 = Cemetery Drive
note4 = live from "Warped Tour Bootleg Series"
length4 = 2:58

Version 5 (digital download)Tracklist
title1 = The Ghost of You
note1 = faded ending
length1 = 3:16
title2 = I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
note2 = live from "Warped Tour Bootleg Series"
length2 = 2:59
title3 = Cemetery Drive
note3 = live from "Warped Tour Bootleg Series"
length3 = 2:58

The artwork on the single's case is in the same style as the opening theme of the HBO series "Band of Brothers". The text on the cover is also highly reminiscent of the text that graces the covers of games in the "Medal of Honor" series.

Music video

The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sJqEccwliQ music video] was shot over two days in Malibu, California, and cost over US $500,000 to make. Marc Webb directed the video. In an interview with FUSE, MCR said "We shot a movie and just edited it to be a video. It's like if you put "Sleeping Child" and "The Actor" together to make one long music video, it still would top that." It closely parallels the Omaha invasion scene from the movie "Saving Private Ryan". Most of the video takes place at a USO dance where the band is performing, but the rest depicts a D-Day scene, in which the band members play as United States soldiers in fierce combat. (At the dance, one soldier's uniform bears the 101st Airborne Division "Screamin' Eagles" patch, however the 101st Airborne Division wasn't involved in beach landings, but were parachuted behind enemy lines on D-Day, suggesting that several units were present at the ball.)

The video takes an emotional turn when bassist Mikey Way is shot and killed by German fire despite the medic's (played by Ray Toro) attempts to save him, adding emphasis to the aspects of loss in the song. This is foreshadowed in a bar scene where vocalist Gerard Way, his brother appears to be reassuring him at a bar that he'll be alright, and there's no reason to be afraid. He is seen wearing a 1st Infantry Division patch in the video. Mikey "dies" with his eyes open. Gerard stands in shock as he sees his brother die. An interesting thing to point out is Mikey wears a military medal on his uniform for The Black Parade, quite possibly a throwback to this video. The 1st Infantry Division, the "Big Red One" were among the first wave on Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944. Gerard Way has to be restrained and is seen screaming (although there is no sound other than the song) as he tries to run to his brother. On "Life on the Murder Scene", Ray is told to talk to Mikey to look like he's trying to save him. Obligingly, he shouts "Mikey! You're dead! [How do you feel!?] "On September 7, 2005, on its fourth day, it surprisingly rocketed up to number one on MTV's music-video countdown "Total Request Live". This video marked the changes in My Chemical Romance's musical style, fanbase and overall image.

Mikey Way, in a recent interview with FUSE, stated that when the trap door on the landing craft opened and the band rushed forward the craft, due to the weight of all the members, extras and gears combined, capsized and filled with water to the point where the band nearly drowned.

On the "Life on the Murder Scene" DVD, it is stated that during their tour with Green Day, Green Day showed MCR their video "Wake Me Up When September Ends", which also had a war theme. Gerard feared the video would be the same as theirs for "The Ghost of You" but "The Ghost of You" was more about the loss of someone you love. Green Day in a way "gave us their blessing", as stated by Gerard.

External links

* [http://www.imnotokay.net/my-chemical-romance/lyrics/the-ghost-of-you/ "The Ghost of You" lyrics]
* [http://www.imnotokay.net/my-chemical-romance/song-meanings/the-ghost-of-you/ "The Ghost of You" song meaning]

This page has been edited by BoVice