Ghosts That We Knew Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Hazel61 

Cover art for Ghosts That We Knew lyrics by Mumford & Sons

I'm fairly sure that this song is about dealing with depression. The singer's significant other is someone who "saw [his] pain" yet she loves him anyway. Despite his mental issues, she doesn't see him as a broken person - she sees "no fault, no crack in [his] heart." Instead, she stays by his his side and "give[s him] hope in the darkness."

The most poignant and telling parts of the song are, "I will hold on as long as you like," and "we'll live a long life." If he's reassuring her that they'll live a long life, his life must logically have been in danger - which suggests that he's been suicidal at times. So when he says "I will hold on as long as you like," he's promising to fight his demons and keep on living for her.

It's a very bittersweet song, in that his depression isn't resolved or even managed - he's just coping. While it's certainly a good sign that he's feeling optimistic enough to imagine a long life and children, he still needs her to reassure him that they'll be all right, and then he can, in turn, reassure her and himself that he's holding on. It's a song about the coexistence of pain and hope.

My Interpretation

I completely agree with you on this.

Agree completely. This song feels like it was written exactly for me and my wife. I went through a severe depression last year, where I was suicidal and my wife stood by me and was a rock through all of it. It was the toughest time in my life and the depression hit me during a time of extreme stress with job, family, etc. and I spiraled down into darkness and fear. This song speaks perfectly for our situation. My wife saw my pain, but she always had faith in me and saw I was not an irreparable person. She...

@Hazel61 I agree with you too. I have hardcore depression. I just want to die but I cant hold back any more