back then i often found myself
driving on the road at night
and the radio was broadcasting the ocean
warm late spring wind whips through my hair
i am right here but i wanna be there
and no one in this world is gonna stop me

pale green ghosts at the end of may
soldiers of this black highway
helping me to know my place
pale green ghosts must take great care
release themselves into the air
reminding me that i must be aware

at twenty-five and thirty-six to boulder
i was getting warm but now i'm getting colder
and i stomp my feet, demanding like a child
i hope you get everything you wanted, boy
i hope you conquer the world and turn it into your toy
but don't come crying when you're forced to learn the truth

pale green ghosts at the end of may
soldiers of this black highway
helping me to know my place
pale green ghosts must take great care
release themselves into the air
reminding me that i must be aware

pale green ghosts at the end of may
soldiers of this black highway
helping me to know my place
pale green ghosts must take great care
release themselves into the air
reminding me that i must be aware


Lyrics submitted by noahdg

Pale Green Ghosts song meanings
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  • +2
    Song Meaning

    johngrantmusic.com/biography/

    “I’d take the I-25, between Denver and Boulder, which was lined with all these Russian olive trees, which are the pale green ghosts of the title: they have this tiny leaves with silver on the back, which glow in the moonlight,” Grant explains. “The song is about wanting to get out of a small town, to go out into the world and become someone and made my mark.”

    kanga73on June 27, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    A song of journey, of process of leaving something behind and moving onto something new - the last verse suggests it's about leaving home or the idea of home.

    The 'pale green ghosts' are the large green highway signs which stand as sentries along the road, chronicling what has come before and what is yet to come.

    themostbrianon May 15, 2013   Link

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