The Ghost of You

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This article is about the My Chemical Romance song. For the Caro Emerald song, see The Ghost of You (Caro Emerald song). For the Outline in Color song, see Outline in Color.
"The Ghost of You"
Single by My Chemical Romance
from the album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
ReleasedAugust 29, 2005 (2005-08-29)
Recorded2003
Genre
Length
  • 3:58 (May Death Never Stop You mix)
  • 3:25 (album version)
  • 3:15 (single edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)My Chemical Romance
Producer(s)Howard Benson
My Chemical Romance singles chronology
"Under Pressure"
(2005) 		"The Ghost of You"
(2005) 		"Welcome to the Black Parade"
(2006)
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge track listing
13 tracks
  1. "Helena"
  2. "Give 'Em Hell Kid"
  3. "To the End"
  4. "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison"
  5. "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)"
  6. "The Ghost of You"
  7. "The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You"
  8. "Interlude"
  9. "Thank You for the Venom"
  10. "Hang 'Em High"
  11. "It's Not a Fashion Statement, It's a Fucking Deathwish"
  12. "Cemetery Drive"
  13. "I Never Told You What I Do for a Living"
Music video
"The Ghost of You" on YouTube

"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 Ghost of You" was released to radio on September 27, 2005.[1] The song deals with the fear of loss. The song's title is an allusion to an ad from Watchmen, reading "Oh, how the ghost of you clings".[2] The ad itself was an allusion to the song, "These Foolish Things". The song's lyrics deal with losing a loved one.

Music video[edit]

A screenshot of the video.

The music video was shot over two days in Malibu, California, and cost just over US $1,000,000 to make. Marc Webb directed the video. In an interview with Fuse, My Chemical Romance said "We shot a movie and just edited it to be a video. It's like if you put 'Helena' and 'I'm Not Okay (I Promise)' 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, often switches over to 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 was not involved in beach landings, but were parachuted behind enemy lines on D-Day, suggesting that several units were present at the ball. 1st Infantry Division, and Ninth Air Force patches can also be seen.) Ranger lozenge patch can be seen on one shoulder, as well as the orange diamond on the back of one Soldier's helmet indicating the 2nd Ranger Battalion.

The video takes an emotional turn when bassist Mikey Way is shot and killed by Axis 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 that he will be alright, and that there is no reason to be afraid. He is seen wearing a 1st Infantry Division patch in the video. Mikey "dies" with his eyes open. Gerard is restrained by his squadmates/band members as he sees his brother die, and is seen screaming (although there is no sound other than the song) as he tries to run to him. The 1st Infantry Division, the "Big Red One", were among the first wave on Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944. In Life on the Murder Scene, Ray is told to talk to Mikey to look like he is trying to save him. Obligingly, he shouts "Mikey! You're dead! [How do you feel!?]"

Track listing[edit]

US promotional CD

No.TitleLength
1."The Ghost of You" (album version)3:14

UK promotional CD

No.TitleLength
1."The Ghost of You"3:23

UK 7" vinyl

No.TitleLength
1."The Ghost of You"3:23
2."Helena" (live)4:31

UK CD1

No.TitleLength
1."The Ghost of You"3:23
2."Helena" (live)4:32

UK CD2

No.TitleLength
1."The Ghost of You"3:23
2."I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (live)2:59
3."Cemetery Drive" (live)2:58

iTunes EP

No.TitleLength
1."The Ghost of You" (audio from video edit)3:16
2."I'm Not Okay – I Promise" (live; Warped Tour 2005)2:59
3."Cemetery Drive" (live; Warped Tour 2005)2:58

Charts[edit]

Chart (2005–06) Peak
position
Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[3] 28
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[4] 86
Ireland (IRMA) 49
Scotland (OCC)[5] 27
UK Singles (OCC)[6] 27
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[7] 1
US Billboard Hot 100 84
US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 38
US Billboard Alternative Songs 9

Release history[edit]

Region Date Label Format Catalogue
United States 2005
CD PROCDR101610
United Kingdom PRO15547
August 29, 2005 7" vinyl
  • W683
  • 5439159657
CD
  • W683CD1
  • 5439159652
  • W683CD2
  • 9362428242

References[edit]

  1. ^ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  2. ^ My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way says it's been 'so difficult' to keep 'Watchmen' Bob Dylan cover under wraps
  3. ^ "R&R Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. December 9, 2005. p. 93. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  4. ^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/my-chemical-romance/chart-history/european-hot-100
  5. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  6. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  7. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
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