"When Skeletons Live"

Album Art by Bill Scoville.

**"When Skeletons Live"** is a song by the American rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is the eleventh track on their 2010 album *Year of the Black Rainbow*.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

She wheezes out her dying wish

Come closer... one more moment, one more kiss

I love her, I give her all I can

Her body sinks, her heat released

The curtain swings, this time she leaves

I'll remember all she's done for me

But only I forgot that I'm not ready to let her go

**[Pre-Chorus]**

As all time moves, you'll be riddled with doubt

You mourn to pull through, but love is dangerous

**[Chorus]**

When skeletons live inside your closets, thick and thin

You'll fear that no one will hear us sing our songs

The truth is relevant, but not for long

'Cause love is our downfall

**[Post-Chorus]**

Oh, I'm sorry this life cuts out everything

And leaves you to scrounge for nothing

*(Give us the Monstar!)*

**[Verse 2]**

There's no chance to try and mend

What's been broken can't be bent

So the past remains the past until present

The cradle sways this black disguise

This chained coffin breathes our time's demise

All these shackles deceive just how long I've grieved

**[Pre-Chorus]**

I made my move with no worry or doubt

Let them live as they do—my eternal reminder!

**[Chorus]**

When skeletons live inside your closets, thick and thin

You'll fear that no one will hear us sing our songs

The truth is relevant but not for long

'Cause love is our downfall

**[Bridge]**

I'm sorry, but the hurt's not going away

I'll bury all the past, everything in its place

*(Give us the Monstar!)*

**[Chorus]**

When skeletons live inside your closets, thick and thin

You'll fear that no one will hear us sing our songs

The truth is relevant but not for long

'Cause love...

When skeletons live

When skeletons live

When skeletons live inside your closets, thick and thin

You'll fear that no one will hear

**[Post-Chorus]**

Oh, I'm sorry this life cuts out everything

And leaves you to scrounge for nothing

*(Give us the Monstar!)*

Cuts out everything

And leaves you to scrounge for nothing

*(Give us the Monstar!)*

Cuts out everything

And leaves you to scrounge for nothing

*(Give us the Monstar!)*

## Story Context

This song shares its name with Chapter 20, but has absolutely nothing to do with it. The line, "She wheezes out her dying wish," is probably a reference to Chapter 7 in which Joseph is buried, and Pearl who has been despondent (almost dead) finally comes alive to furiously curse Ryan and essentially makes it clear (her dying wish) to Leonard that she wants justice for Joseph: she cannot move on until he is stopped.

But we know this comes after "Pearl of the Stars" where Pearl has literally passed on because of the line "Her body sinks, her heat released." This is where Leonard prepares to leave for the rally where he will confront Ryan and Deftinwolf head-on. We get the line "I'm sorry, but the hurt's not going away / I'll bury all the past, everything in its place" that shows us Leonard is done; he has nothing to live for and he wants the world to see Ryan and his cronies for who they really are by provoking them. He's getting the video instructions ready for Inferno and setting the cure up for success.

The skeletons he refers to are all the mistakes and missteps he's taken to get here. He can't face them anymore. These skeletons are what lead him to this desperate ending.

## Trivia

* Sanchez played the Synthesizers & Keyboard with Wes Styles.
* The line "Give Us the Monstar" is the title of Chapter 7, though spelled "Monster" in the book.

## References

1. ↑ Coheed and Cambria. Booklet. *Year of the Black Rainbow*, Columbia Records, 2010.
2. ↑ https://genius.com/Coheed-and-cambria-when-skeletons-live-lyrics