American Beauty / American Psycho

Fall Out Boy's 'American Beauty / American Psycho' delves into the complex interplay between allure and chaos, encapsulated in the personas of an 'American beauty' and an 'American psycho.' The song juxtaposes these two archetypes, suggesting a tumultuous relationship where beauty and madness coexist. The repeated lines 'She's an American beauty, I'm an American psycho' highlight this dichotomy, portraying a love story that is both captivating and destructive.

The lyrics are rich with metaphors and cultural references. The phrase 'American psycho' evokes the image of Patrick Bateman from Bret Easton Ellis's novel, symbolizing a facade of charm masking underlying insanity. Meanwhile, 'American beauty' could reference the idealized, often superficial, standards of beauty in American culture. The line 'I think I fell in love again, maybe I just took too much cough medicine' suggests a blurred line between genuine emotion and chemically-induced states, further emphasizing the instability of the narrator's psyche.

The song also touches on themes of truth and deception. The recurring line 'You take the full, full truth, then you pour some out' implies a selective presentation of reality, where only parts of the truth are revealed. This selective truth-telling aligns with the idea of maintaining appearances while hiding darker aspects. The lyrics 'Altered boys, altered boys, we're the things that love destroyed' and 'Us, we were pity sex, nothing more and nothing less' reflect a sense of disillusionment and the destructive nature of relationships that are based on superficial or misguided foundations.

Overall, 'American Beauty / American Psycho' is a commentary on the duality of human nature, the interplay between external beauty and internal chaos, and the often-destructive nature of relationships built on false pretenses.