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The Ghosts That Haunt Me
Crash Test Dummies Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a skeleton in everybody's closet
I can think of one or two in my own room
But I would like to introduce them both to you
You'd shake their bony hands and so dispel the gloom

[Chorus]
Cause you're so kind
I know you would not mind
You'd send away the ghosts that haunt me now
And the things I fear
Just wouldn't seem so near
And when I stroll out late at night
There would be nothing rattling at my hells

There are nights when all my aching bones won't let me sleep
And demons come to plague me as I lie in bed
But I know if you were sleeping there beside me then
That you could fend them off and they would let me rest

There are nights
When the wind comes howling through my old place
I have dreams
And I wake up with the sweat pouring down my face
And I wait till the morning comes

There will come a time I fear when all my days are done
And they will come collect my corpse and bury me
And then I hope you'll come over to the Other Side
To join me in our new life, keep me company

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Crash Test Dummies' song "The Ghosts That Haunt Me" are extremely powerful and emotional. At its core, the song is about the singer's fear of ghosts and skeletons that live inside his closet and won't let him rest peacefully. He addresses his fears directly to the listener, asking them to help him dispel his ghosts by introducing them to the addressee. The singer says that if the listener were to shake hands with the skeletons in his closet, they would go away, and the things that he feared would no longer seem so close. The singer is essentially saying that he needs someone to face his fears with him so that he can sleep peacefully at night.


The chorus of the song is particularly poignant. It speaks about the singer's admiration for the listener's kindness and how that kindness gives him the strength to face the ghosts that haunt him. The line "There would be nothing rattling at my hells" is a metaphor for the singer's fears, and the listener's presence makes those fears disappear. When the singer talks about "aching bones," "demons" and "plague," he is essentially using those images to represent his anxieties, and how they affect him physically and mentally.


Overall, "The Ghosts That Haunt Me" is a powerful song with some of the most heartfelt lyrics you'll ever hear. It speaks to our shared experiences with fear and how we all need someone to help us dispel our ghosts from time to time.


Line by Line Meaning

There's a skeleton in everybody's closet
Everyone has secrets or things they are ashamed of.


I can think of one or two in my own room
I have my own secrets and things I am ashamed of.


But I would like to introduce them both to you
I trust you enough to tell you my secrets and show you my flaws.


You'd shake their bony hands and so dispel the gloom
You would accept me for who I am, flaws and all, and it would help me feel less ashamed.


Cause you're so kind
I know you are a kind and understanding person.


I know you would not mind
I know you would not judge me for my flaws or secrets.


You'd send away the ghosts that haunt me now
You would help me overcome my past and my fears.


And the things I fear
The things that scare me or cause me anxiety.


Just wouldn't seem so near
With your support, my fears would not seem as overwhelming.


And when I stroll out late at night
When I go out at night.


There would be nothing rattling at my hells
I would not feel haunted or anxious when I am alone at night.


There are nights when all my aching bones won't let me sleep
I have nights when I cannot sleep due to physical or emotional pain.


And demons come to plague me as I lie in bed
I have anxious or frightening thoughts that keep me awake.


But I know if you were sleeping there beside me then
If you were with me, I would feel comforted and safe.


That you could fend them off and they would let me rest
Your presence would help me overcome my fears and sleep peacefully.


There are nights
Sometimes.


When the wind comes howling through my old place
When I hear the wind blowing loudly in my home.


I have dreams
I have bad dreams.


And I wake up with the sweat pouring down my face
I wake up sweating and feeling anxious.


And I wait till the morning comes
I wait for morning to come so I can feel safe again.


There will come a time I fear when all my days are done
I worry about what will happen when I die.


And they will come collect my corpse and bury me
When I die, someone will take care of my body and have me buried.


And then I hope you'll come over to the Other Side
I hope that there is an afterlife and that you will be there with me.


To join me in our new life, keep me company
I want to spend eternity with you and have you by my side.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRAD ROBERTS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

sajo

The Ghosts That Haunt Me
Crash Test Dummies
There's a skeleton in everybody's closet
I can think of one or two in my own room
But I would like to introduce them both to you
You'd shake their bony hands and so dispel the gloom
Cause you're so kind
I know you would not mind
You'd send away the ghosts that haunt me now
And the things I fear
Just wouldn't seem so near
And when I stroll out late at night
There would be nothing rattling at my hells
There are nights when all my aching bones won't let me sleep
And demons come to plague me as I lie in bed
But I know if you were sleeping there beside me then
That you could fend them off and they would let me rest
There are nights
When the wind comes howling through my old place
I have dreams
And I wake up with the sweat pouring down my face
And I wait till the morning comes
There will come a time I fear when all my days are done
And they will come collect my corpse and bury me
And then I hope you'll come over to the Other Side
To join me in our new life, keep me company



All comments from YouTube:

Jason Bridges

My old fried Chris passed away from cancer this week. He was 68, and Crash Test Dummies were his favorite band. I am spending this night, listening to them and remembering our many conversations! RIP buddy!

Luke Moon

Crash Test Dummies...........an example of artists who had that perfect balance between cynical realism and uplifting optimism. That to me is the biggest part of what gives music meaning...............and ultimately what makes it good.

Unknown Mystery

I grew up in Winnipeg and happened to meet a few members at a Safeway in at James we were gonna fight over the last dozen eggs

Unknown Mystery

The eggs broke we got drunk god bless Winnipeg st James in particular 🎉

Unknown Mystery

And Safeway owes us a couple bucks

Unknown Mystery

Eggs….

Mallen Alley

Just simply stunning. Nothing close to this exists anymore in music.

John Michaelson

This in my opinion was their best album, despite the success of the second. There's not a bad song on it and the sound is completely unique. From the best times in my life, thanks CTD!

Tim Mullens

yep I lost my cd but played it home from work many nites -my kids hated it at first now I catch them playing it on itunes sometimes same as my rusted root cd

Simondo81

All a matter of opinion. I'm not saying you're wrong or I'm right, but i think the best songs on God Shuffled His Feet [Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm, title track, Afternoons and Coffeespoons, In The Days Of The Cavemen, Swimming In Your Ocean, Untitled, Two Knights And Maidens] are better than the best songs on this album, for me anyway. Plus, the sound quality on GSHF is way better than this album.

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