Ethereal… Read Full Bio ↴Heavy music that rouses feelings that are related to the words:
Ethereal, Ancient, Astronomical, Mystical, Epic
Ghost of Karelia
Mastodon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Holding skulls
Filled and laced
With human blood
Wrathful one, nine eyes gaze
Holding skulls
Filled and laced
With human blood
Shades of darkened skies
Emptiness
Twilight holding through
Offering
Lie in zenith
Bulls' bloodshot eye
Flattened portrait of night sky
Feel crust hum
Facing the north
Vapor space
Between heaven and earth
Wisdom and the knower
A planet collide
Divisible we fall
Hear dirt waves
Wading forth
Vapor space
How long has it been
Since we flew through shadows?
I have walked on many other planets
How long has it been
Since we flew through shadows?
I have walked on many other planets
Sinister twin
Choking on fear
Bonded iron
Sink to the core
Hear dirt waves
Wading forth
Vapor space
Shades of darkened skies
Emptiness
Twilight holding through
Offering
Wrathful one, nine eyes gaze
Holding skulls
Filled and laced
With human blood
The lyrics of Mastodon's "Ghost of Karelia" are rich in imagery and metaphor. The song seems to be about a mythical being, the "wrathful one," who holds skulls filled with human blood, while gazing with nine eyes. One can imagine this creature as a terrifying and powerful force of nature, embodying the darkness and emptiness of the world.
The song also references the sky, the north, and other planets, suggesting a cosmic perspective that transcends human concerns. At times, the lyrics are surreal and dreamlike, as in the lines "Feel crust hum / Facing the north / Vapor space / Between heaven and earth". There's a sense of wonder and awe, as if the band is exploring a vast and mysterious universe beyond our grasp.
In the end, the lyrics return to the motif of the wrathful one and the skulls filled with human blood. This image is both disturbing and fascinating, suggesting a primal and violent aspect of human nature that we cannot escape. Overall, "Ghost of Karelia" is a haunting and evocative song that explores themes of darkness, emptiness, and mortality, while also hinting at the infinite possibilities of the universe.
Line by Line Meaning
Wrathful one, nine eyes gaze
The singer is describing a wrathful being with nine eyes that is gazing upon something.
Holding skulls
The being is holding skulls in its grasp.
Filled and laced
The skulls are filled with something and possibly connected to the being in some way.
With human blood
The substance inside the skulls is human blood.
Shades of darkened skies
The sky is dark and shadowy.
Emptiness
The emptiness of the sky is emphasized.
Twilight holding through
Twilight is present and lingering on.
Offering
It is unclear what the offering is referring to, but something is being offered.
Lie in zenith
The object in question is at its highest point.
Bulls' bloodshot eye
An eye, possibly belonging to a bull, is bloodshot.
Flattened portrait of night sky
The image being described is a flattened portrait of the dark, shadowy sky.
Feel crust hum
The feeling of the earth's crust vibrating is being described.
Facing the north
The singer is facing northward.
Vapor space
There is an empty, ambiguous space.
Between heaven and earth
This empty space is between the earthly realm and the heavens.
Wisdom and the knower
The concept of wisdom and the one who possesses it is brought up.
A planet collide
Two planets are colliding.
Divisible we fall
The line is suggesting that as individuals, we are weaker than when we come together.
Hear dirt waves
The sound of waves made of dirt can be heard.
Wading forth
The sound of these dirt waves is growing stronger and closer.
Vapor space
The same empty space is mentioned again.
How long has it been
The artist is asking a rhetorical question about a long period of time.
Since we flew through shadows?
The question is about the amount of time that has passed since the last time 'we' flew through shadows, implying that this is something that normally occurs.
I have walked on many other planets
The artist is claiming to have been to many other planets.
Sinister twin
There is an ominous doppelganger or twin present.
Choking on fear
This twin is being personified as being afraid and suffocating on this fear.
Bonded iron
There is a connection between the sinister twin and iron.
Sink to the core
Whatever the connection between the twin and iron is, it is pulling them down towards the core of the planet.
Wrathful one, nine eyes gaze
The song returns to the wrathful being with nine eyes holding the skulls filled with human blood.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRANN TIMOTHY DAILOR, TROY JAYSON SANDERS, WILLIAM BREEN KELLIHER, WILLIAM BRENT HINDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@toukosiren9004
Definitely my favorite Mastodon song of all time, also my favorite one to play on bass.
@samreeve9738
Ditto! Such a great mix of parts to play
@cobrastriesand7693
The bass is so melodic, almost like me of Paul’s playing on Abby Road.
@tchevoblyat9185
You play bass? Hell yeah bro🤘
@alexrizzo7874
When this came out my mom was recovering from a surgery which resulted in a stroke, she became paralyzed from the left side permanently. As a teen I would walk through fields at night screaming along to this whole album. It helped heal me, still does. There is pure emotion here, pure coddling through it's entire sound. Its going to be alright; follow the sounds and crack the sky.
@digletttexano678
Yes it's gonna be alright, rock on
@mapinguarimonster
Such a coincidence, Brent wrote this entire album recovering in a hospital
@adalmeister666
Love and respect for your mom, BRO! In the end, this is only thing true music blesses all with!! Blessed be you both!
@heathervenom251
I know this is a year late, but I do hope you’re doing well ❤️ stay strong!
@alexrizzo7874
@@adalmeister666 Thank you so much for your sentiments. It means so much to me.