Right now
I hope you're ready for a firefight
'Cause the devil's got your number tonight
They say
We're never leaving this place alive
But if you sing these words we'll never die

Get off the ledge and drop the knife
Not a victim of a victim's life
Because
This ain't a room full of suicides
We're believers, I believe tonight

We can leave this world,
Leave it all behind,
We can steal this car if your folks don't mind,
We can live forever if you've got the time.
If you save yourself tonight
If you save yourself tonight

I'll tell you all how the story ends
Where the good guys die and the bad guys win (who cares?)
It ain't about all the friends you made
But the graffiti they write on your grave

To all of us who have seen the light,
Salute the dead and lead the fight (hail! hail!)
Who gives a damn if we lose the war
Let the walls come down, let the engines roar.

We can leave this world,
Leave it all behind,
We can steal this car if your folks don't mind,
We can live forever if you've got the time.

I'm the only friend that makes you cry,
You're a heart attack in black hair dye,
So just save yourself and I'll hold them back tonight.

Are you ready where you are?
If you save yourself tonight...
They're coming for you!
Can you save yourself tonight?!
Right now
Cause I'll hold them back

We can leave this world,
Leave it all behind,
We can steal this car if your folks don't mind,
We can live forever if you've got the time.

You motherfucker!

You're the broken glass in the morning light
Be a burning star if it takes all night
So just save yourself, I'll hold them back tonight!

If you save yourself tonight...
Can you save yourself tonight...?



Lyrics submitted by afitch1206

Track duration: 03:50


Save Yourself (I'll Hold Them Back) song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:For me, this song sings more to a tune of those who feel suicidal.

    You know sometimes when we were so down, we thought of ending up our lives and forget all of it. When that feeling starts creeping up on you ('Cause the devil's got your number tonight; They say; We're never leaving this place alive'), listen to this song and believe there's still hope for tomorrow ('But if you sing these words we'll never die').

    And then even if we fail with our lives or things we're doing, we still continue to live or start a new and fight till the end.

    Lastly, the whole song consists of upbeat tune more like a war anthem, uplift our spirit and motivation, to beat the hopeless and suicidal thoughts.
    Flag sudenton October 06, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This is basically what I think it's about:
    In my opinion this is the band pleading with the fans to stay alive, not consider suicide and get help when it is necessary.

    Specifically:

    Right now
    I hope you're ready for a firefight
    'Cause the devil's got your number tonight
    They say
    We're never leaving this place alive
    But if you sing these words we'll never die

    (Okay this part was a bit odd, but I think it’s a response to the criticism that they have got – being called ‘emo’. They’re speaking specifically to the fans saying that although a lot of people are saying that the band causes people to commit suicide, [The British newspaper The Daily Mail wrote a particularly hysterical story about MCR a few years ago] they want them to stay alive and they’re asking them to keep singing along to their songs, keep loving them, but more importantly, keep living.)

    Get off the ledge and drop the knife
    Not a victim of a victim's life
    Because
    This ain't a room full of suicides
    We're believers, I believe tonight

    (Now this is clearer. ‘Get off the ledge’ and ‘drop the knife’ are telling their fans to stop expressing their emotions by self-harming or committing suicide...jumping off a bridge, slitting their wrists etc. It sounds melodramatic but MCR has always been about very dramatic and vocal about their opinions. The ‘room full of suicides’ is saying that, hey, our fans are not a group of suicidal, troubled kids, we’re believers. We have faith.)

    We can leave this world,
    Leave it all behind,
    We can steal this car if your folks don't mind,
    We can live forever if you've got the time.
    If you save yourself tonight
    If you save yourself tonight

    (MCR is a means of escapism for a lot of fans, so its saying that the music, the passion, could last forever but only if their fans stay safe and stay alive. ‘We can live forever if you’ve got the time’, is the most powerful part of this chorus I think.)

    I'll tell you all how the story ends
    Where the good guys die and the bad guys win (who cares?)
    It ain't about all the friends you made
    But the graffiti they write on your grave

    (The good guys = MCR fans, and the bad guys are anyone that has ever hurt you – the bullies, the cruel people, your demons. It’s again them telling their fans that they can’t let the bad guys take over, they need to fight back. That’s not how the story should end. The second part is referring to the fact that people are committing suicide because they don’t feel loved, but their friends will write graffiti on their graves after they’re gone because they miss them etc.)

    To all of us who have seen the light,
    Salute the dead and lead the fight (hail! hail!)
    Who gives a damn if we lose the war
    Let the walls come down, let the engines roar.

    (People who ‘have seen the light’, the ones who aren’t suicidal, keep going, what MCR wants their fans to be. ‘Salute the dead’ – honour the ones who have committed suicide, remember them, but remember to ‘lead the fight’ – keep going. The losing the war thing I’m not sure about.)

    I'm the only friend that makes you cry,
    You're a heart attack in black hair dye,
    So just save yourself and I'll hold them back tonight.

    (MCR is ‘the only friend that makes you cry’. These normally happy people are being made miserable and being led to believe that suicide and depression is glamorous. And he wants to put a stop to it. The line after that explains itself. It’s a typical MCR fan.)

    Are you ready where you are?
    If you save yourself tonight...
    They're coming for you!
    Can you save yourself tonight?!
    Right now
    Cause I'll hold them back

    (usual, save yourself, etc. Etc..)

    You motherfucker!

    You're the broken glass in the morning light
    Be a burning star if it takes all night
    So just save yourself, I'll hold them back tonight!

    (no matter how long it takes, fight through your depression, your sadness. Live. Save yourself and I’ll hold the demons back.)


    Just my interepration. But I like everyone elses. :)
    Flag lleylineson March 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I always figured it was about the leader of a band of friends trying to enthuse them into abandoning him so they can live. He wants them to leave him behind (hence the whole "It aint about all the friends you made"), so they can escape and even though he knows they can never win, he wants them to carry on the fight.
    Flag indigostaron February 26, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:it's about gerards daughter. Bandit.
    Flag brapbrapon February 14, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I don't think this song is about lovers, I'm gonna think it's about close friends. And this is my favorite song on Danger Days, so beautiful lyrics and music!
    Flag DanniTangerineon December 22, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:The lyrics are incorrect, the chorus goes

    We can leave this world,
    Leave it all behind
    We can steal this car if it fucks them up
    We can live forever if you've got the time
    Flag Druneon December 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:This song is about two lovers who are caught in a world that has been over taken by zombies

    He wants her to know that even though the world is ending he will always be there to take care of her

    I think at this point the song is describing a moment when the zombies closing in on them and he is willing to sacrifice himself so that she has a chance to survive
    Flag apple1986on December 05, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:i was abused as a child and because of peer pressure from family members not to tell the cops (it was a family member-in law who did it) i never got totell the police. for me the parts of this song that stand out are "get off the ledge and turn the knife- not a victim of a victim's life, this aint a room full of suicides, we're believers, i believe tonight..." because i dislike the trouble i have with ptsd, so i sometimes blame myself for things i do wrong, which, as this song suggests to me, i shouldnt.

    also, i like the parts about "save yourself tonight" because so often i feel bad for needing to talk to a counsellor or friend when i'm blue, and there are times when it's really hard to deal with it alone, but this is like an affirmation or "i can do this!

    Also, "Well the good guys die and the bad guys win (who cares!)
    It ain t about all the friends you ve made
    But the graffiti they write on your grave" i fear the bad guy got away and that he's won, but he's killing himself with drugs, so that's good, and people what been told what he's done, whether they belive it or not, so at least that's what he'll be known for, i'll be known as a kind, talented person with lots of friends, he's child abuser who turned to drug using and made his children hate him.
    Flag ariesstyleon December 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love the literal meaning of this song: fighting for what you believe in. I especially enjoy the lyrics

    If you save yourself tonight
    They�ll be coming for you
    Can you save yourself tonight?

    I think in general, this album is about empowerment, just being who you are and fighting against societal expectations.

    I'm actually reading the lyrics as I listen to the entire album, and I can't believe how much like a comic book it is. I am feeling all kinds of emotion. I don't want to Jet-Star and Fun Ghoul to die :(
    Flag stilldirrtyjaon December 02, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:yeah, it seems to give us the outcome, party poison and fun ghoul probably aren't gonna make it either, but he's saying it doesn't matter, who gives a fuck, we all die, whatever, because we'll live on after death and it won't matter. at least, i think that's what he's saying by "we can live forever if you've got the time" and those probably arent the right lyrics exactly but im too lazy to find and fix them.
    Flag silversunloveon November 25, 2010   Link

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