Teenagers by My Chemical Romance was inspired by lead singer Gerard Ways experiences with New York public transport. Watching how teenagers grouped and interacted, Way reflected on the intimidating nature that teenagers can have when in groups. The song deals with themes of conformity, violence, and the feeling of alienation experienced during adolescence.
Key: E
E
They're gonna clean up your looks With all the lies in the books
B
To make a citizen out of you
A
Because they sleep with a gun
E
And keep an eye on you, son
B
E
So they can watch all the things you do
E
Because the drugs never work They gonna give you a smirk
B
Of keeping you clean
A
They're gonna rip off your heads
E
Your aspirations to shreds
B
E
Another cog in the murder machine
E
They said, all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
E
B
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
A
So darken your clothes
E
Or strike a violent pose
B
Maybe they'll leave you alone
E
But not me
E
The boys and girls in the clique The awful names that they stick
B
You're never gonna fit in much, kid
A
But if you're troubled and hurt
E
what you got under your shirt
B
E
will make them pay for the things that they did
E
They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
E
B
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
A
So darken your clothes
E
Or strike a violent pose
B
Maybe they'll leave you alone
E
But not me * oh yeah *
A
E
A
B
E
They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me They could care less as long as someone'll bleed