The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I will wait until the end
When the pendulum will swing back
To the darker side of our hearts bleeding
I will save this empty space
Next to me like its a grave
Where I lay a place for us to sleep eternally together
I have been
Searching for
Traces of
What we were
A ghost of you
Is all that I have left
Is all that I have left of you to hold
I wake in the night to find there's no one there but me
And nothing left of what we were at all
So here I am pacing around this house again
With pictures of us living on these walls
I see my breath in the cold of the air that I breathe and I'm
Wondering I'm wondering if its you
That I feel if its you that I feel
Haunting me forever
I have been
Searching for
Traces of
What we were
A ghost of you
Is all that I have left
Is all that I have left of you to hold
I wake in the night to find there's no one there but me
And nothing left of what we were at all
And I'm not looking for
Anything but us
Anything but what we were
And I'm not asking for
Painted memories
I only want to know you're here
A ghost of you
Is all that I have left
Is all that I have left of you to hold
I wake in the night to find there's no one there but me
And nothing left of what we were at all
A ghost of you
Is all that I have left
Is all that I have left of you to hold
I wake in the night to find there's no one there but me
And nothing left of what we were at all.
When the pendulum will swing back
To the darker side of our hearts bleeding
I will save this empty space
Next to me like its a grave
Where I lay a place for us to sleep eternally together
I have been
Searching for
Traces of
What we were
A ghost of you
Is all that I have left
Is all that I have left of you to hold
I wake in the night to find there's no one there but me
And nothing left of what we were at all
So here I am pacing around this house again
With pictures of us living on these walls
I see my breath in the cold of the air that I breathe and I'm
Wondering I'm wondering if its you
That I feel if its you that I feel
Haunting me forever
I have been
Searching for
Traces of
What we were
A ghost of you
Is all that I have left
Is all that I have left of you to hold
I wake in the night to find there's no one there but me
And nothing left of what we were at all
And I'm not looking for
Anything but us
Anything but what we were
And I'm not asking for
Painted memories
I only want to know you're here
A ghost of you
Is all that I have left
Is all that I have left of you to hold
I wake in the night to find there's no one there but me
And nothing left of what we were at all
A ghost of you
Is all that I have left
Is all that I have left of you to hold
I wake in the night to find there's no one there but me
And nothing left of what we were at all.
Lyrics submitted by Soundwave 2k4
Ghost of You Lyrics as written by Joel Madden Benji Madden
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
billy wrote this. awesome awesome awesome.
umm benji and joel co-wrote this with billy
either way. it's a good song. about missing someone i'm guessing
Once again, benji's vocals are awesome in this song!
benji and joel have awsome vocals and are hot! and this song is really awsome...i think it's about loving someone who went away and all u have are memories
I think this song is about someone close him passing away / leaving him. He feels lost without him/her, he feels he cannot live without him/her and he dwells upon all the times they spent together. Just my opinion ^^.
i like the lyrics to this song. i guess it is about maybe breaking up with someone and that the ex doesn't want to even think they were once an item.
and yeahhh benji's vocals in the pre-chorus is awesome!
i love this song! i agree with NoLogic about the meaning of the song & i also agree with basket_case_158 bout benji & joel bein hot!! :) lol
i love this song so much. it reminds me of my great aunt who dies when i was 7. i was so close to her and saw her at least once a weeka dn she taught me so many things and was always helpin me do things and taking me places. sumtimes i have dreams about her being a ghost and this song reminds me of her
Is it Billy's voice at the end? Coz i doubt it's benji's OR joels'..coz iys deep and husky..hmmm..well i dunno..this song is so sad i almost cried while listening to it on replay -_-'''..ok..i'm being and idiot..