Jynx me something crazy
Thinking if it's three
Then I'm as smooth as the skin
Rolls across the small of your back
It's too bad it's not my style
If you need me
I'm out and on the parkway,
Patient and waiting for headlights,
Dressed in a fashion that's fitting to the
Inconsistencies of my moods

It's times like these where silence means everything
And no one is to know about this
It's times like these, where silence means everything
And no one is to know about this

It's a campaign of distraction
And revisionist history, oh

It's a shame I don't think that they'll notice
(it's a shame, I don't think that they'll notice)
It's a shame I doubt they even care
(it's a shame I doubt they even care)
No one is to know about this

It's a shame I don't think that they'll notice
(it's a shame, I don't think that they'll notice)
It's a shame I doubt they even care
(it's a shame I doubt they even care)
Don't let me down

But whatever I have gettin myself into
Maybe has been slicing inches from my waist
It's my fist vs. the bottle
(and thank god you weren't there...)
And that's how bad could this hurt
Or against I won't feel a thing
(and thank god you weren't there...)
I tell you all about it
It's just not working out
(...to watch me hit the bottle)
Not working out

It's a campaign of distraction
And revisionist history, oh

It's a shame I don't think that they'll notice
(it's a shame, I don't think that they'll notice)
It's a shame I doubt they even care
(it's a shame I doubt they even care)
No one is to know about this

It's a shame I don't think that they'll notice
(it's a shame, I don't think that they'll notice)
It's a shame I doubt they even care
(it's a shame I doubt they even care)
Don't let me down

This is why we were taught so much better than this (2X)

This is what living like this does (9X)


Lyrics submitted by BrandNew1208

Ghost Man on Third Lyrics as written by Edward Reyes Adam Lazzara

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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Ghost Man on Third song meanings
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  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is clearly about an affair. "Ghost man on third" - He is the third man.

    "Thinkin' if it's three then I'm as smooth as the skin rolls across the small of your back It's too bad it's not my style"

    He is good at hiding it, smooth even, but it's not what he wants.

    "It's times like these where silence means everything And no one is to know about this". She is not willing to break it to her partner. He feels trapped, like the loose end, but won't interfere with her relationship because he doesn't want to see her hurt.

    "It's a shame I don't think that they'll notice" He's referring to the nature of his silence, he can't talk about the affair but it's having a negative effect on him. He can't ask for help without explaining the circumstances. He has to act normal, so no one notices what's happening to him.

    "It's a campaign of distraction and revisionist history" This is possibly a reference to the nature of their relationship. He has to keep her boyfriend distracted in order to see her. Revisionist history might refer to his ever changing morals in the situation.

    "But whatever I have gettin' myself into...not workin' out". This refers to how he is dealing with the problem, he's frustrated that girl he loves is with another man and it's causing him to drink excessively, it's also causing him to lose weight, possibly from stress.

    "Don't let me down". He's hoping that it's all worth it, that she'll leave her boyfriend for him.

    "This is why we were taught so much better than this This is what living like this does" He's reflecting on why he was always taught that this behavior was unacceptable, he's learning why.

    Hope that helps. Cheers.

    anomalymanon February 02, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think this about a friend, or maybe girlfriend, hurt him so much , that he hit the bottom, maybe resulted to hurting himself. no matter how much he gave this person, they never showed him the feelings back. he gave up, became impatient.. he doesnt think the person notices how much he loved them , and he doesnt want to get let down again.. i dont know, that is how i understand the song.. if that makes sense to anyone else.. but this song is fucking amazing.. just like the rest of the cd.

    steadlydrowningon April 24, 2002   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I think that it's clear this is about drugs.. something like cocaine comes to mind because he's talking about slicing inches of his waist. This song is absolutely incredible.. it was my favorite Taking Back Sunday song six years ago and though that title has been tossed to a few different songs over the years ("The Ballad of Sal", "No I in Team"), I think it's back to being my favorite.

    Reading the old 2002 comments makes me so nostalgic.. this band used to be something special.

    ACAon February 08, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The song is about addiction, probably to cocaine or another upper, "But whatever I have gettin' myself into maybe has been slicing inches from my waist," he's been doing these drugs that make him not hungry and he's losing weight, and it almost seems like he WANTS someone to notice but they don't. "It's a shame, I don't think that they'll notice. It's a shame, I doubt they even care."

    This is what living like this does, that's him looking at himself and seeing what the drugs he's been doing are doing to his body and relationships and saying to himself, "I'm doing this to myself, this is what living the life I'm living does to you."

    jetpack006on February 22, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is clearly about an affair. "Ghost man on third" - He is the third man.

    "Thinkin' if it's three then I'm as smooth as the skin rolls across the small of your back It's too bad it's not my style"

    He is good at hiding it, smooth even, but it's not what he wants.

    "It's times like these where silence means everything And no one is to know about this". She is not willing to break it to her partner. He feels trapped, like the loose end, but won't interfere with her relationship because he doesn't want to see her hurt.

    "It's a shame I don't think that they'll notice" He's referring to the nature of his silence, he can't talk about the affair but it's having a negative effect on him. He can't ask for help without explaining the circumstances. He has to act normal, so no one notices what's happening to him.

    "It's a campaign of distraction and revisionist history" This is possibly a reference to the nature of their relationship. He has to keep her boyfriend distracted in order to see her. Revisionist history might refer to his ever changing morals in the situation.

    "But whatever I have gettin' myself into...not workin' out". This refers to how he is dealing with the problem, he's frustrated that girl he loves is with another man and it's causing him to drink excessively, it's also causing him to lose weight, possibly from stress.

    "Don't let me down". He's hoping that it's all worth it, that she'll leave her boyfriend for him.

    "This is why we were taught so much better than this This is what living like this does" He's reflecting on why he was always taught that this behavior was unacceptable, he's learning why.

    Hope that helps. Cheers.

    anomalymanon February 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is the first TBS song I ever heard and I was addicted ever since. The songs meaning kinda confuses me though, I get an idea of that I think it may be about but then it just doesn't fit with some of the lines... what do you guys think this song means?

    natefrenzyon April 16, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    or it could be about an underlying problem that had been boiling in him that he didtn want anyone to know about but it just built up untill he had to let it out in song form...maybe had a problem with something...alchohol perhaps...my fist vs the bottle...

    monge811on April 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    for some reason thise song really reminds me of loosing somoene, ither death or love or anything, what really sticks out about this is the line "patient and waiting for headlights dressed in a fashion that's fitting to the inconsistency of my moods." as if your waiting for the right time, for whatever, suicidie, love, being able to figure out your complicating moods. then theres the line ""fist vs the bottle" which sounds violent/alchohol or something like an addiction, whichcan result in deaths

    jesssicaon May 07, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i just love this song, because i identify about the part with the headlights.... its like "i can deal with this, but only when im in the right mood"... its just beautiful.

    alk3girlon May 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think this songs about being so depressed and so hopeless that it's gotten to the point where things better get better soon or you're going to kill yourself.

    Jesus Lordyon May 14, 2002   Link

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