Jillian Rose Banks, known mononymously as Banks (stylized in all caps), is … Read Full Bio ↴Jillian Rose Banks, known mononymously as Banks (stylized in all caps), is an American singer and songwriter. Following the release of two EPs, Fall Over and London, in 2013, Banks released her debut album, Goddess, in 2014 to positive reviews from contemporary music critics. It reached number 12 on the US Billboard 200, while its most successful single, "Beggin for Thread", was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her second studio album, The Altar, was released in September 2016 to a similar positive reception, becoming her second top 20 album in the United States. Her third album, III, was released in 2019. It became her most critically acclaimed release to date and peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200, as well as number 3 on the Top Albums Sales chart.

Poltergeist
Banks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I started all the wars, I started all the wars
I've been getting messages from my deep waters
I'm being a resentful caretaker
Blame me for your false indicators
You're mistaking all my mistakes for my crooked nature

Oh my god, I think I saw a ghost
Follow me everywhere I go

Don't even try to get creative
I smell a clown looking goofy, dressed up as a native

Won't you come here? You don't even know
Acting like a fool when you roll over
We could go away, you won't even know
Blame me, looking cool smoking on the clover

I started all the wars, I started all the wars
I've been getting messages from my deep waters
I'm being a resentful caretaker
Blame me for your false indicators
You're mistaking all my mistakes for my crooked nature

Oh my god, I think I saw a ghost
Why you're here walking around on my home street, bothering me?
Got your shoulder, you've been affected
I smell the chemicals, I don't see miracles
I'm at the pinnacle, you're so material
Why don't you get what you need?

I started all the wars, I started all the wars
I've been getting messages from my deep waters
I'm being a resentful caretaker

Blame me for your false indicators
You're mistaking all my mistakes for my crooked nature

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to BANKS's song "Poltergeist" describe a person who is haunted by their past mistakes. The opening lines "I started all the wars, I started all the wars" depict the singer's feeling of taking responsibility for the conflicts and battles they have created within their own life. They are trying to navigate their way through their problems while being weighed down by their own regrets. The lines "Blame me for your false indicators / You're mistaking all my mistakes for my crooked nature" captures how the person is being misunderstood and held accountable for things that are beyond their control.

As the song progresses, the singer sees ghosts and experiences feelings of being haunted by their past. The chorus "Oh my god, I think I saw a ghost /Follow me everywhere I go" is a direct representation of this experience. The lyrics "Why you're here walking around on my home street, bothering me?" and "I smell the chemicals, I don't see miracles" could signify the singer's belief that their past actions have harmed them and the environment around them as well. Despite their internal struggles, the singer still invites someone into their life asking "Won't you come here? We could go away, you won't even know".

Overall, "Poltergeist" is a powerful song about the weight of personal responsibility and the emotional turmoil that comes with facing one's ghosts.

Line by Line Meaning

I started all the wars, I started all the wars
I initiated all the conflicts and disputes, I'm responsible for them.

I've been getting messages from my deep waters
I listen to my inner thoughts and emotions to guide myself.

I'm being a resentful caretaker
I feel anger and bitterness towards those I take care of or protect.

Blame me for your false indicators
You're attributing your wrong assumptions and misjudgments to me.

You're mistaking all my mistakes for my crooked nature
You're assuming my errors are part of my dishonest or immoral character.

Oh my god, I think I saw a ghost
I'm surprised and frightened by a strange or invisible presence.

Follow me everywhere I go
It seems like this haunting or disturbing thing won't leave me alone.

Don't even try to get creative
I don't want you to be imaginative or innovative, just straightforward.

I smell a clown looking goofy, dressed up as a native
I detect something silly and disrespectful pretending to be genuine and authentic.

Won't you come here? You don't even know
Why don't you come closer? You don't understand what's going on.

Acting like a fool when you roll over
You're behaving foolishly and naively when you surrender or give in.

We could go away, you won't even know
We could escape or avoid this situation, and you won't realize it.

Blame me, looking cool smoking on the clover
You can accuse me, while I seem relaxed and aloof, ignoring the consequences.

Why you're here walking around on my home street, bothering me?
Why are you here invading my personal space, disturbing me?

Got your shoulder, you've been affected
I touched your shoulder, and you've been influenced or impacted by me.

I smell the chemicals, I don't see miracles
I sense the artificial and toxic, not the natural and miraculous.

I'm at the pinnacle, you're so material
I'm at the top of my game or success, while you're too focused on material possessions and status.

Why don't you get what you need?
Why can't you understand what's important or necessary for you?

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TIM ANDERSON, JOHN HILL, JILLIAN BANKS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS