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.
Tell me where am I supposed to go?
And who am I supposed to believe
If only you knew what I knew
Then you could see just what I see
So I grab my bags and go, as far away as I can go
'Cause everything ain't what I used to know
And I try to hide
But I just can't hide no more
There's nothing worse than feeling like a ghost
You say I look fine
If only you knew what was on my mind
You'd see a whole different side
I couldn't show you even if I tried
I must have got lost in time
When I found out I was only free to be
Wherever I wanna be
Some say I'm out of sight
How ironic and that we're all so blind
If you could open up your eyes
You could see what I couldn't describe
And then, you'd see the signs
And then your soul would be set free
And then you'd be released
So I grab my bags and go, as far away as I can go
'Cause everything ain't what I used to know
And I try to hide
But I just can't hide no more
There's nothing worse than feeling like a ghost
Tell me where am I supposed to go
And who am I supposed to believe
If only you knew what I knew
Then you could see (hey)
So I grab my bags and go, as far away as I can go
'Cause everything ain't what I used to know
And I try to hide
But I just can't hide no more
There's nothing worse than feeling like a ghost
And I'm terrified, like I've seen a U-F-O
'Cause everything ain't what I used to know (ain't what I used to know)
And I try to hide (I try to hide)
But I just can't hide no more, no no no
There's nothing worse than feeling like a ghost
(I go)
(A U-F-O)
(And I'm so tired of hiding
I've been running, I've been trying, to get away, to get away)
So I grab my bags and go, as far away as I can go
'Cause everything ain't what I used to know
And I try to hide
But I just can't hide no more
There's nothing worse than feeling like a ghost
And who am I supposed to believe
If only you knew what I knew
Then you could see just what I see
So I grab my bags and go, as far away as I can go
'Cause everything ain't what I used to know
And I try to hide
But I just can't hide no more
There's nothing worse than feeling like a ghost
You say I look fine
If only you knew what was on my mind
You'd see a whole different side
I couldn't show you even if I tried
I must have got lost in time
When I found out I was only free to be
Wherever I wanna be
Some say I'm out of sight
How ironic and that we're all so blind
If you could open up your eyes
You could see what I couldn't describe
And then, you'd see the signs
And then your soul would be set free
And then you'd be released
So I grab my bags and go, as far away as I can go
'Cause everything ain't what I used to know
And I try to hide
But I just can't hide no more
There's nothing worse than feeling like a ghost
Tell me where am I supposed to go
And who am I supposed to believe
If only you knew what I knew
Then you could see (hey)
So I grab my bags and go, as far away as I can go
'Cause everything ain't what I used to know
And I try to hide
But I just can't hide no more
There's nothing worse than feeling like a ghost
And I'm terrified, like I've seen a U-F-O
'Cause everything ain't what I used to know (ain't what I used to know)
And I try to hide (I try to hide)
But I just can't hide no more, no no no
There's nothing worse than feeling like a ghost
(I go)
(A U-F-O)
(And I'm so tired of hiding
I've been running, I've been trying, to get away, to get away)
So I grab my bags and go, as far away as I can go
'Cause everything ain't what I used to know
And I try to hide
But I just can't hide no more
There's nothing worse than feeling like a ghost
Lyrics submitted by jaydawgtwo04
Ghost in the Machine Lyrics as written by Bobby Ray Jr. Simmons
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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so i did my research and the term "ghost in the machine" refers to the British philosopher Gilbert Ryle, who tried to make a mockery of Rene Decartes mind-body dualism, saying that its like having a ghost (your soul) in a machine (your body). knowing B.o.B this is a dual meaning song, ironic due to the background of the title (mind-body dualism). yes it refers to himself as a ghost and society as the machine. "how ironic that we're all so blind" meaning we just go through our daily actions without paying attention to details that we should. B.o.B who claims many times he is from another demention and galaxy (he jokes of course) is saying that as an artist he can see things that most people can't in society. however, i think the second meaning to this song has to do with the struggle in oneself, trying to break away from his own body. like Ryle said the body is a machine including the brain even thinking clearly is a mechanical process, however our soul works completely separately from our body in our subconcious. when he says "i grab my bags and go, as far away as i can go" i think he means that he tries to find that space in his mind where he can find his true soul. however he cant show everyone what his soul wants to show them because his body is a machine and is unchangable by his soul. thats what i think. comment on it. either way i love this song and i can listen to it all day nonstop lol
I love your interpretation. It breaks through the surface of the words/lyrics to find depth. If you get the chance, read "the ghost in the machine" by Arthur Koestler.
Amazing song about a guy who feels lost and doesn't know what to believe anymore. The "machine" is probably referring to society and how people blindly accept most of what goes on. He wishes more people would find out what he knows, so he doesn't feel like a ghost, alone anymore.
I'm pretty sure this song, might very well be some what based off the movie 'I,Robot'. Not completely though, maybe just the general idea, and name of the song.
My most favourite track on this album, because I can really relate to this...especially the line "And I'm terrified, like I've seen a UFO", because of UFO Disclosure etc. and my own personal experiences. From my own personal interpretation, I think this song is about living in modern city where there's various "truths", "lies", conspiracy theories, all sorts of misleading information the average person is constantly being bombarded with because of access to internet, multimedia, technology, books, people etc...and struggling with the meaning/truth of one's existence and the truth of human existence itself. I think this song is saying that when you're "feeling like a ghost", you know the truth of the situation and can see through all the lies and deceptions of others, relationships, society, history, religion, movements and all sorts of ideologies and systems, but your thoughts/feelings of what you know is truly happening isn't being voiced/heard or reaching out to others who can't see beyond the reality of what they perceive to be the truth or have been lead to believe is fact itself....figuratively speaking, you fade into the background and run from the truth like a ghost who thinks they're still alive and confused as to why others can't see him....the real him, whom he's hiding to protect himself from the dangers that come from knowing the things he knows. the line "How ironic that we're all so blind." expressed his frustration that others cannot question nor see beyond the manufactured truth they created or others such as the media, political figures, governments and society itself has brainwashed them into accepting, without question...or simply the things he knows is the truth.
@DreamersDisease Yep. Red pilled too - The Matrix was a documentary
This song reminds me of the book by Louis Lowry, The Giver. How B.O.B. says "who am I supposed to believe" and "if only you knew what I knew, then you could see just what I see" makes me think of how Jonas eventually doesn't know who to trust in The Community and "If only you knew what I knew" makes me think of how he can see color, while everyone else is colorblind, how he can feel pain, while no one else can, and how Jonas knows what life was like before The Community (i.e. him being the next Reciever of Memory.)