This song gives the secret to empowerment -- and encourages using it wisely.
One aspect of so-called "ghosts" is that they seem able to decide who sees them and who does not. This power--the ability to choose to be "invisible" (e.g. to let one's ability to manipulate a situation go unnoticed and not attract any attention)--is at the center of POWER.
Hence, we see the singer suggesting that until his "dying" day (e.g. the day he becomes a full-on "ghost") that he'll have to burn just to learn:
"this the time...this the place...
to show a human face"
In other words, he has to keep studying until he learns how to present his ideas with, as an agent of change in certain situations. This is the magician's credo of "Your power comes from what you conceal."
There is strong encouragement in the song that once someone gains this insight, there's a lot of important work to do on being sure about your notions of right and wrong:
"don't believe that might is right
your soul can turn you just the same"
Which echoes the spider-man theme of "with great power, comes great responsibility."
This song gives the secret to empowerment -- and encourages using it wisely.
One aspect of so-called "ghosts" is that they seem able to decide who sees them and who does not. This power--the ability to choose to be "invisible" (e.g. to let one's ability to manipulate a situation go unnoticed and not attract any attention)--is at the center of POWER.
Hence, we see the singer suggesting that until his "dying" day (e.g. the day he becomes a full-on "ghost") that he'll have to burn just to learn:
"this the time...this the place... to show a human face"
In other words, he has to keep studying until he learns how to present his ideas with, as an agent of change in certain situations. This is the magician's credo of "Your power comes from what you conceal."
There is strong encouragement in the song that once someone gains this insight, there's a lot of important work to do on being sure about your notions of right and wrong:
"don't believe that might is right your soul can turn you just the same"
Which echoes the spider-man theme of "with great power, comes great responsibility."