Holy ghosts,
When do you come out to play?
'Cause if the Lord is gonna find me,
He'd better start looking today.

Last week my baby hit the slopes.
I spent the weekend setting traps in the road.
I should have been cutting out my eyelids,
You'll never guess what baby did when she got home.

Na na na na
Now at least the birds are singing to me,
But what they're trying to say,
I don't know.

(you're beautiful)
I think they come from the cold
(for all your big mistakes)
I think they come from the cold
(you stayed the same)
To the city that don't snow.

So I drove until we both broke down.
I was stranded in a border town
Believing the motel TV would bring me to safety,
But between MTV and Mr. O'Reilly
I've come to find, that I can't be defined
So I turned it off, now convinced I would cross
Took one last look at the gold
As it shattered on a mountaintop

Now I believe the sun, it's like a symphony.
But what it's trying to play,
I don't know.

(you're beautiful)
I think it's come for the cold.
(for all your big mistakes)
I think it's come for the cold.
(you stayed the same)
To the city that don't snow.

C'mon, Holy ghosts
When do you come out to play?
'Cause if the Lord is gonna find me,
He'd better start looking today.

So I can rise with the river
We all float before we sink
So pray for satellites,
Pray for courtesy
And pray that it can climb mountains to me!
I say goodbye to the canyon.
I will set sail to the streets
Where I don't care to be forgiven
I want to be forgotten.
I don't care to be forgiven
When Lord I only want to be forgotten!

Now I receive a call from my family
And what they started to say
Brought me home.

(you're beautiful)
They think I'm beautiful
(for all your big mistakes)
They think I'm beautiful
(you're beautiful)
For all my big mistakes.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to fun.'s "Benson Hedges" are a combination of abstract imagery, religious references, and personal struggles. The song opens with a somewhat ominous tone, as the singer asks the holy ghosts when they come out to play, suggesting he is seeking clarity or guidance. He then makes a reference to the Lord finding him, indicating he may feel lost or in need of redemption. The second verse is more personal as it details his girlfriend going on a trip while he stays home to set traps on the road, an odd and perhaps ominous activity. The chorus then breaks the tension with an upbeat melody and the singer's uncertainty about the birds' message and the sun's symphony. The song takes a darker turn in the third verse, as the singer feels trapped and disconnected from the world around him, seeking escape from the pressures of life. He wants to be forgotten and even doesn't care to be forgiven by a higher power.

Line by Line Meaning

Holy ghosts,
Asking when inspiration or motivation will come

When do you come out to play?
Asking when they will be able to find inspiration or motivation

'Cause if the Lord is gonna find me,
In hopes that God will show them the way

He'd better start looking today.
Asking for help in finding their way before it's too late

Last week my baby hit the slopes.
Their significant other went skiing

I spent the weekend setting traps in the road.
Reflecting on something they did instead of spending time with their significant other

I should have been cutting out my eyelids,
They regret not taking care of themselves

You'll never guess what baby did when she got home.
Curiosity about what their partner did when they returned from skiing

Now at least the birds are singing to me,
Finding small joy in nature

But what they're trying to say,
Uncertainty about what nature is communicating

I don't know.
Confusion about the meaning of nature's message

I think they come from the cold
Hypothesizing where the bird songs come from

To the city that don't snow.
Referencing a place that doesn't get snow

So I drove until we both broke down.
Embarking on a journey until their vehicle stopped working

I was stranded in a border town
Being stuck in a town near a border

Believing the motel TV would bring me to safety,
Hoping that the television would keep them company and take away their fear

But between MTV and Mr. O'Reilly
Problems found on television

I've come to find, that I can't be defined
Not being able to fit into society's categories

So I turned it off, now convinced I would cross
Choosing to stop watching television and move forward

Took one last look at the gold
Reflecting on what they had before moving on

As it shattered on a mountaintop
As what they had is broken and irreparable

Now I believe the sun, it's like a symphony.
Finding beauty in nature

But what it's trying to play,
Wondering about the message in nature

C'mon, Holy ghosts
Encouraging inspiration or motivation to appear

So I can rise with the river
Wishing to feel light and carefree

We all float before we sink
We all experience highs before hardships

So pray for satellites,
Asking for help reaching for their dreams

Pray for courtesy
Asking for kindness from others while on their journey

And pray that it can climb mountains to me!
Asking for their aspirations to become a reality

I say goodbye to the canyon.
Leaving behind past hurt

I will set sail to the streets
Moving forward and taking control

Where I don't care to be forgiven
Not looking for forgiveness

I want to be forgotten.
Wanting to start anew

Now I receive a call from my family
Hearing from loved ones

And what they started to say
Their family's message

Brought me home.
The message prompted them to come back home

They think I'm beautiful
Their family sees them as special

For all my big mistakes.
Despite their faults, their family still finds them worthwhile

Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NATE RUESS, ANDREW DOST, JACK ANTONOFF, SAM MEANS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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