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.
He walked down a busy street
Staring solely at his feet
Clutching pictures of past lovers at his side
Stood at the table where she sat
And removed his hat
In respect of her presence
Presents her with the pictures and says
"These are just ghosts that broke my heart before I met you.
These are just ghosts that broke my heart before I met you"
Opened up his little heart
Unlocked the lock that kept it dark
And read a written warning
Saying I'm still mourning
Over ghosts
Over ghosts
Over ghosts
Over ghosts that broke my heart before I met you
Lover, please do not
Fall to your knees
It's not
Like I believe in
Everlasting love
He went crazy at nineteen
Said he'd lost all his self esteem
And couldn't understand why he was cry, cry, crying, crying.
He would stare at empty chairs
Think of the ghosts that once sat there
The ghosts who broke his heart.
All the ghosts that broke my heart
The ghosts that broke his heart
All the ghosts that broke my heart
The ghosts, the ghosts, the ghosts, the ghosts,
The ghosts, the ghosts
The ghosts that broke my heart before I met you
Lover, please do not
Fall to your knees
It's not
Like I believe in
Everlasting love
He says "I'm so lost,
Not at all well"
Do as though there is nothing left to be
Turned out I'd been following him and he'd been following me
Do as though after it was over
We were just two lovers crying on each others shoulders
And I said
Lover, please do not
Fall to your knees
It's not
Like I believe in
Everlasting love
Lover, please do not
Fall to your knees
It's not
Like I believe in
Everlasting love
Staring solely at his feet
Clutching pictures of past lovers at his side
Stood at the table where she sat
And removed his hat
In respect of her presence
Presents her with the pictures and says
"These are just ghosts that broke my heart before I met you.
These are just ghosts that broke my heart before I met you"
Opened up his little heart
Unlocked the lock that kept it dark
And read a written warning
Saying I'm still mourning
Over ghosts
Over ghosts
Over ghosts
Over ghosts that broke my heart before I met you
Lover, please do not
Fall to your knees
It's not
Like I believe in
Everlasting love
He went crazy at nineteen
Said he'd lost all his self esteem
And couldn't understand why he was cry, cry, crying, crying.
He would stare at empty chairs
Think of the ghosts that once sat there
The ghosts who broke his heart.
All the ghosts that broke my heart
The ghosts that broke his heart
All the ghosts that broke my heart
The ghosts, the ghosts, the ghosts, the ghosts,
The ghosts, the ghosts
The ghosts that broke my heart before I met you
Lover, please do not
Fall to your knees
It's not
Like I believe in
Everlasting love
He says "I'm so lost,
Not at all well"
Do as though there is nothing left to be
Turned out I'd been following him and he'd been following me
Do as though after it was over
We were just two lovers crying on each others shoulders
And I said
Lover, please do not
Fall to your knees
It's not
Like I believe in
Everlasting love
Lover, please do not
Fall to your knees
It's not
Like I believe in
Everlasting love
Lyrics submitted by whatnikkidid
Ghosts Lyrics as written by Gabrielle Aplin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Personally, I feel like the whole song is about the line "It's not like I believe in everlasting love"
I think a story is used to describe how people fall in and out of love. It's sad, kind of like... wishing that there could be everlasting love, rather than just broken promises and broken hearts?
The story seems to tell of how two people want to believe in everlasting love, but know better due to the "the ghosts that broke my heart before I met you." The emotions described are part of the story, the result of having their hearts broken.
The lines "He went crazy at nineteen, Said he’d lost all his self esteem" perhaps is despair at having lost the belief in everlasting love, but still wanting to hold onto it. The next line "And couldn’t understand why he was crying" implies almost a childish longing for what he once believed in and yet he's grown up, why is he crying?
The story then seems to tell of how perhaps it was fate that made them meet, so they could mourn together for their loss of belief in everlasting love, knowing that, although they are together, they will not always be as love does not last forever.
Spot on. I was reading through them because i felt i was missing some points and you've nailed it and ill read no more passed this one. thanks and wonderful. ill probably read it a few moer times before i depart.