"The Ghost of You" is the fourth and final

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

and sixth

track Track or Tracks may refer to: Routes or imprints * Ancient trackway, any track or trail whose origin is lost in antiquity * Animal track, imprints left on surfaces that an animal walks across * Desire path, a line worn by people taking the shorte ...

from My Chemical Romance's second studio album, ''

Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge ''Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge'' (often shortened to ''Three Cheers'' or ''Revenge'') is the second studio album by American Rock music, rock band My Chemical Romance, released on June 8, 2004, by Reprise Records. With this album, the band produc ...

''. "The Ghost of You" was released to radio on September 27, 2005. 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".My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way says it's been 'so difficult' to keep 'Watchmen' Bob Dylan cover under wraps
/ref> The ad itself was an allusion to the song, " These Foolish Things". The song's lyrics deal with losing a loved one.

Music video

The music video was shot over two days in Malibu, California, and cost just over US $1,000,000 to make.

Marc Webb Marc Preston Webb (born August 31, 1974) is an American music video director and filmmaker. Webb made his feature film directorial debut in 2009 with the romantic comedy ''500 Days of Summer'', and went on to direct ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' in ...

directed the video. In an interview with

Fuse Fuse or FUSE may refer to: Devices * Fuse (electrical), a device used in electrical systems to protect against excessive current ** Fuse (automotive), a class of fuses for vehicles * Fuse (hydraulic), a device used in hydraulic systems to protect ...

, My Chemical Romance said "We shot a movie and just edited it to be a video. It's like if you put '

Helena Helena may refer to: People *Helena (given name), a given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Katri Helena (born 1945), Finnish singer *Helena, mother of Constantine I Places Greece * Helena (island) Guyana * ...

' and '

I'm Not Okay (I Promise) "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" is the lead single and fifth track from My Chemical Romance's second studio album, ''Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge''. "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" was released to radio on September 28, 2004. The song is also featured on ...

' 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 The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

dance where the band is performing, but, often switches over to a

D-Day The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D ...

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 The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault operations. It can plan, coordinate, and execute multiple battalion-size air assault operati ...

"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.) The video takes an emotional turn when

bassist A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a Bass (instrument), bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboar ...

Mikey Way Michael James Way (born September 10, 1980) is an American musician and actor. He is best known as the bassist of the rock band My Chemical Romance. He is also the multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist of rock duo Electric Century. Mikey c ...

is shot and killed by Axis fire despite the medic's (played by

Ray Toro Raymond Toro (born July 15, 1977) is an American musician who serves as lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band My Chemical Romance. Early life Toro was born July 15, 1977, in Kearny, New Jersey. He is of Puerto Rican-Portuguese herita ...

) 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 Omaha Beach was one of five beach landing sectors designated for the amphibious assault component of operation Overlord during the Second World War. On June 6, 1944, the Allies invaded German-occupied France with the Normandy landings. "Omaha" r ...

, June 6, 1944. In ''

Life on the Murder Scene ''Life on the Murder Scene'' is a live album/ compilation album by American rock band My Chemical Romance. It was released on March 21, 2006. The release includes three discs (two DVDs and one CD) of the whole history documenting the band from th ...

'', Ray is told to talk to Mikey to look like he is trying to save him. Obligingly, he shouts "Mikey! You're dead! ow do you feel!? As of September 2022, the song has 110 million views on YouTube.

Track listing

*All songs written by My Chemical Romance. US promotional CD UK promotional CD UK 7" vinyl UK CD1 UK CD2 iTunes EP

Charts

Release history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghost of You, The Rock ballads 2000s ballads 2004 songs 2005 singles My Chemical Romance songs Music videos directed by Marc Webb Songs written by Gerard Way Song recordings produced by Howard Benson Reprise Records singles