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A Life As A Ghost Lyrics
The kids are dancing tonight, maybe we'll join them
There's blood in the air tonight, it washes the boredom
Grab your coats, get to the boats, head to the coast
Tonight we sail to the edge of the world
Get out of this house now, head for the horizon
Tonight we take the town so pick your poison
Here's a toast, a life as a ghost is better than most
If we have our love in the gutter
Dance, fucker, dance
You were born to entertain
Sing, choir boy, sing
Wash your sins down the drain
In a violent haze, under the streetlights' gaze
Dance, fucker, dance
You were born to entertain
Now without water
Death takes us before hunger
We dug a well for the water
We put out this fire
Dance, fucker, dance
You were born to entertain
Sing, choir boy, sing
Wash your conscience down the drain
Well, in a violent haze, under the streetlights' gaze
Dance, fucker, dance
You were born to entertain
There's blood in the air tonight, it washes the boredom
Grab your coats, get to the boats, head to the coast
Tonight we sail to the edge of the world
Tonight we take the town so pick your poison
If we have our love in the gutter
You were born to entertain
Sing, choir boy, sing
Wash your sins down the drain
In a violent haze, under the streetlights' gaze
Dance, fucker, dance
You were born to entertain
Death takes us before hunger
We dug a well for the water
We put out this fire
You were born to entertain
Sing, choir boy, sing
Wash your conscience down the drain
Well, in a violent haze, under the streetlights' gaze
Dance, fucker, dance
You were born to entertain
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I have interpreted this song to be about somebody who feels no love/has lost love and therefore lives life 'as a ghost' - secluding themselves from the world and the people around them. They attempt to disillision themselves that living this way is better than how 'most' live.
Boredom and spite takes over - they 'pick their poison' (get drunk) and go out in a 'violent haze'. They then drink more to 'wash their sins down the drain' and to clear their conscience. The viscious circle begins!
I reckon this, similar to "The Boxer", is about public nuisance/drunkenness in London (or any other city, though the band has mentioned most of the songs on this album are about London)
"The kids are dancing tonight, maybe we'll join them" - it tends to be younger people who go out and drink all night
"Tonight we sail to the edge of the world" - possibly, to get drunker than ever before
"Tonight we take the town so pick your poison" fairly self explanatory, poison being choice of alcohol
"Here's a toast, a life as a ghost is better than most" life as a ghost may be a metaphor for being drunk, losing self awareness, etc
"If we have our love in the gutter" fairly self explanatory too, if my interpretation is correct
"Dance, fucker, dance/You were born to entertain" teenagers egging their drunk friends on (or a condescending look down on such situations)
"In a violent haze, under the streetlights' gaze" the resulting street violence.