Modern Ghosts
Aziz Ansari Lyrics


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I like ghosts though
Whenever you hear about ghosts, it's always the same kind of stories you know
Ghosts wearing old timey clothes
Ghost turning my lights on and off
Ghosts turning my faucet on and off, Ghost! I'm tryna sleep!
Ok, alright, take it easy, these people died a hundred of years ago.
They've never seen running water before!
They're blown away! Theyre just sitting there like Pshhh! Pshh! Pshh!
Where is the well! How is the water getting here?
Other ghost! Come look over here!
Now it's dark, now it's not, Now it's dark, now it's not.
They're not going booo, theyre going ooooh
Modern advances
I hope I see a ghost at some point, cuz if i see a ghost it would be very interesting, cuz I live in a modern building, a newer building, so if i saw a ghost, it would be a modern ghost, you know
I would wake up in the middle of the night, there would be a dude in the corner, texting... boo!
Those would be the best ghost, those would be the best ghost stories
You come home one day, turn on your tv, look on your netflix
Madmen season 5? previous reviewed, i never watched- ghost!
They're on season 5!
Those would be the best ghost.
You wake up in the middle of the night,




Some ghost standing over your bed, what's your wifi password?
That was a long tangent on ghost, but...

Overall Meaning

The song "Modern Ghosts" by Aziz Ansari is a humorous take on ghosts in modern times. The singer expresses his fascination with ghosts and how they are always depicted as wearing old-fashioned clothes and haunting old buildings. He imagines a scenario where he encounters a ghost in his modern building who is confused by the technology he sees, such as faucets and running water. The singer finds this idea amusing and comically suggests that modern ghosts would be "the best ghost" because they'd be up to date on current events and technology.


The song can be interpreted as a commentary on how we romanticize the past and our attachment to nostalgia. Ghost stories often involve old buildings or past eras, which feed into our fascination with history and the unknown. By imagining ghosts in modern settings, the song highlights how our attachment to the past can be limiting and how we should embrace the present and future. The singer's humor and lighthearted tone add another layer to the song, making it a playful exploration of our fascination with ghosts.


Line by Line Meaning

I like ghosts though
I have an interest in ghosts.


Whenever you hear about ghosts, it's always the same kind of stories you know
The stories about ghosts are always repetitive.


Ghosts wearing old timey clothes
Ghosts usually appear wearing outdated clothing.


Ghost turning my lights on and off
Ghosts usually manipulate electronic devices in a spooky manner.


Ghosts turning my faucet on and off, Ghost! I'm tryna sleep!
Ghosts performing mundane tasks such as turning water faucets can be disturbing while sleeping.


Ok, alright, take it easy, these people died a hundred of years ago.
Ghostly actions should be viewed on the timeline of the past and their behavior should be dismissed.


They've never seen running water before!
The idea of running water is new to ghosts that died centuries ago.


Theyre just sitting there like Pshhh! Pshh! Pshh!Where is the well! How is the water getting here?
Ghosts are intrigued yet bewildered by modern plumbing technology.


Other ghost! Come look over here!
Ghosts enjoy sharing the same experiences with other ghosts.


Now it's dark, now it's not, Now it's dark, now it's not.
Ghosts can control the lighting conditions of the environment they're haunting.


They're not going booo, they're going ooooh
Ghosts don't necessarily communicate through the traditional 'boo' method, but instead through mysterious sounds.


Modern advances
The progression of technology is beneficial for ghostly encounters.


I hope I see a ghost at some point, cuz if i see a ghost it would be very interesting, cuz I live in a modern building, a newer building, so if i saw a ghost, it would be a modern ghost, you know
Spotting a ghost in a modern building would be intriguing since it would be unexpected, contrary to the stereotypical ghost sightings.


I would wake up in the middle of the night, there would be a dude in the corner, texting... boo!
A modern ghost would rather text on their phone than scare people with ghostly behavior.


Those would be the best ghost, those would be the best ghost stories
Encounters with modern ghosts would create the most entertaining ghost stories to share.


You come home one day, turn on your tv, look on your netflixMadmen season 5? previous reviewed, i never watched- ghost!They're on season 5!
Encountering a ghost watching a TV show that you haven't been keeping up with would be a surprise.


You wake up in the middle of the night, Some ghost standing over your bed, what's your wifi password?
Modern ghosts would rather use their technological knowledge to connect to wifi instead of spooking people.


That was a long tangent on ghost, but...
Although the conversation was lengthy, the topic of ghosts is of continued interest.




Contributed by Annabelle Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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