The emotions that fueled “GHOST TOWN” were pulled from observing a friend’s toxic relationship and the development of his own emotional maturity. “I saw the situation from an outside perspective and wondered what they could have done differently.” Ultimately, the song is about making tough decisions. “Love can hurt more than it can help,” the rising pop artist says. “Sometimes the best way of showing someone you care is by letting them go.”
Incredibly, “GHOST TOWN” was one of the first songs Boone ever wrote. “I was in an Uber on the way to my first recording session in Los Angeles,” he remembers. For inspiration, the newcomer skimmed through texts from his unlucky-in-love friend. “The melody and lyrics just popped into my head.” Afraid to lose his train of thought, the teenager sang the chorus into his phone in the back of the car. “It was a little embarrassing,” he laughs. “The driver wondered what I was doing.”
It turns out Boone has a habit of being very, very good at things without realizing it. Growing up in Monroe, Washington, the budding hitmaker spent most of his time outdoors. In fact, his latent musical talent only emerged by coincidence. “I went to a Jon Bellion concert right before COVID,” he remembers. “I watched him perform and felt like I understood him. It had a huge impact on me.” Around the same time, Boone was asked to sing in a friend’s band and wowed everyone including himself. “It’s a once in a lifetime event to discover a hidden talent. It was so freeing to be able to express myself.”
Now, the singer/songwriter is making up for lost time. “I want people to see that I take music seriously,” Boone says. So much so that he plays multiple instruments on “GHOST TOWN” including the drums, guitar and piano, an instrument that he picked up by ear. Boone even drew the cover art. “I used white charcoal on black paper,” he says. “The drawing took about five hours.”
That DIY approach is also reflected in the “GHOST TOWN” video. “I didn't want to go with a typical love story,” he says. Instead, the breakthrough artist went back to his hometown and hung out with friends. “We went cliff jumping and hiking, we went to lookouts,” he says. “Just the normal things I did growing up.” It’s the kind of highly personal content he shares with fans on TikTok. “I started out posting funny videos and daredevil stuff,” Boone says. Once the late bloomer discovered his singing voice, he started using the platform quite differently.
“Social media is the biggest opportunity to get people to know you personally,” he says. “Hopefully, they will not only like my music, but they'll understand and like me as a person, so I'm more than just a song to them.” That desire to connect with fans authentically is why he stepped away from American Idol, despite wowing judges at auditions. “It was a very hard choice,” Boone admits. “I didn't really know who I wanted to be as an artist yet, and I didn't want to show the world someone I'm not.”
It turned out to be a wise move. Shortly thereafter, he connected with Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds and was invited to collaborate with the chart-topping rock star in Las Vegas. “It was really scary and intimidating,” he remembers. “But it was the greatest three days of my life.” Before long, Boone had signed to his Night Street label in conjunction with Warner Music. “I knew Benson was special when I met him, he just draws you in,” Reynolds says.
“It was our first writing session together when I realized he's a once in a generation talent,” the Imagine Dragons hitmaker continues. “He has this innate sense of melody and vocal ability that blew me away.” Reynolds has since become a mentor, sharing advice from his journey to the very top of the music industry including the importance of growing and evolving as an artist.
“As I develop, I'm going to move towards self-production,” Boone says. “It's going to be an expression of what I feel, what I go through and what I'm thinking. I hope my music changes over time because I'm always changing.” One thing that will remain the same is his emphasis on vocals: “The voice carries so much emotion.” Citing artists like Lewis Capaldi and Adele as influences, the rising star wants to move people with his powerful pipes.
While Boone is still at the very beginning of his music journey, he’s in it for the long haul. “Working hard and writing good songs are the most important things to me,” he says. “I'm trying to learn as much as I can about who I am and what kind of music I want to write.” His goal is to engage with fans authentically and make songs that stand the test of time. With “GHOST TOWN,” the singer/writer takes an auspicious first step towards achieving it.
Work of Art
Benson Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never could've planned this
The way you look tonight
When the moonlight hits your eyes
And the moment they meet mine
It's photographic
And your smile, your smile is like the stars
Right here is where you are
Even if we're worlds apart
It's cinematic
I sit here painting perfect pictures
Of every moment with you
I've known it from the start
Darling, you're my work of art
Our bodies, our bodies interlaced
So delicately placed and your angelic face
Heaven never makes mistakes
And the beauty it creates is overwhelming
'Cause you're everything to me (me, me, me, me)
I sit here, painting perfect pictures
Of every moment with you
I've known it from the start
Darling, you're my work of art
My work of art (ooh oh oh, ooh oh oh)
My work of art (ooh oh oh, ooh oh oh)
I knew it from the start (ooh oh oh, ooh oh oh)
Darling, you're my work of art (ooh oh oh, ooh oh oh)
I sit here, painting perfect pictures
Of every moment with you
I've known it from the start
Darling, you're my work of art
In Benson Boone's song "Work of Art," the lyrics convey a strong sense of love and admiration for someone that the singer considers to be their muse and inspiration. The opening lines, "My heart, my heart's an empty canvas, I never could've planned this," suggest that the singer's heart was once devoid of any significant emotion or meaning until they encountered this person. Their presence in the singer's life has brought unexpected beauty and significance.
The chorus continues to describe the captivating nature of this person, comparing their smile to stars that light up the darkness and their connection as something cinematic. The singer feels as though they are in a movie with this person, and their love story is an aesthetically pleasing work of art.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes their admiration for this person, expressing how they are constantly painting perfect pictures of every moment spent together. This individual is seen as an angelic presence, and the singer believes that their union was meant to be, as heaven never makes mistakes and their beauty is overwhelming.
The repeated refrain of "Darling, you're my work of art" further emphasizes the central theme of the song. The singer views this person as a masterpiece that has brought color, purpose, and beauty into their life, and their love story is a work of art in itself.
Overall, "Work of Art" celebrates the transformative power of love and the profound impact that one person can have on another's life. The lyrics evoke a sense of awe and gratitude for finding such a special connection and highlight the extraordinary beauty that can be found in even the simplest of moments with the person who is their muse.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart, my heart's an empty canvas
My emotions and feelings are blank, waiting to be filled with love and inspiration
I never could've planned this
I couldn't have anticipated or expected this incredible experience
The way you look tonight
The sight of you in this moment is captivating and enchanting
When the moonlight hits your eyes
The light of the moon illuminating your eyes adds to your beauty
And the moment they meet mine
The moment our eyes connect is a powerful and meaningful experience
It's photographic
This moment is so remarkable and unforgettable, it feels like a captured image
And your smile, your smile is like the stars
Your smile lights up the darkness like the shimmering stars in the night sky
Illuminates the dark, and when I need you most
It brings light and warmth to my life, especially in times when I long for your presence
Right here is where you are
You are always by my side, providing comfort and support
Even if we're worlds apart
Even if we are physically distant, our connection transcends any distance
It's cinematic
Our love story feels like it's being played out on the big screen, grand and dramatic
I sit here painting perfect pictures
I imagine and create beautiful scenes of us together in my mind
Of every moment with you
Every interaction and memory I have with you is cherished and captured
I've known it from the start
Since the beginning, I have understood and recognized the special nature of our relationship
Darling, you're my work of art
You, my dear, are the masterpiece that brings beauty and meaning into my life
Our bodies, our bodies interlaced
Our physical connection is intertwined and perfectly aligned with each other
So delicately placed and your angelic face
The way we fit together is gentle and precise, and your face is pure and heavenly
Heaven never makes mistakes
The divine has brought us together without any errors or flaws
And the beauty it creates is overwhelming
The beauty that our love manifests is so intense and awe-inspiring
'Cause you're everything to me (me, me, me, me)
You are my everything, the sole source of my happiness and fulfillment
My work of art (ooh oh oh, ooh oh oh)
You represent my greatest creation and masterpiece
I knew it from the start (ooh oh oh, ooh oh oh)
Since the beginning, I have been aware of the profound significance of our love
Darling, you're my work of art (ooh oh oh, ooh oh oh)
My dear, you are the embodiment of beauty and inspiration in my life
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benson Boone, Jack Lafrantz, William Wiik Larsen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
De Atmo
My heart, my heart's in empty canvas
I never could've planned this
The way you looked tonight
When the moonlight hits your eyes
And the moment they meet mine
It's photographic
And your smile, your smile is like the stars
It illuminates the dark
And when I need you most
Right here is where you are
Even if we're worlds apart
It's enigmatic
I sit here, painting perfect pictures
Of every moment with you
I've known it from the start
Darling, you're my work of art
Our bodies, our bodies interlaced
So delicately placed
And your angelic face
Heaven never makes mistakes
And the beauty it creates is overwhelming
'Cause you're everything to me
I sit here, painting perfect pictures
Of every moment with you
I've known it from the start
Darling, you're my work of art
(Oh-oh-ooh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh)
My work of art
(Oh-oh-ooh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh)
My work of art
(Oh-oh-ooh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh)
I know it from the start
(Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Darling, you're my work of art
I sit here, painting perfect pictures
Of every moment with you
I've known it from the start
Darling, you're my work of art
Juliana A
I’ve been waiting for this song I love u benson and I believe God has a big plan for you, you’ve inspired so much younger people like me (16 yrs old) we love u benson🤍🤍
Naomi GH
Yes I've been waiting for this song too! And I agree, God is using him to touch so many people!! (I'm 16 too) 😊
de squad
@Naomi GH so true I am 16 to and he is someone who can steps in your heart and let you feel the song🥺❤
Naomi GH
@de squad Yes! Totally true!
Juliana A
@de squad yes I agree with y’all I literally love benson he’s my fav artist
Naomi GH
@Juliana A mine too!!
De Atmo
My heart, my heart's in empty canvas
I never could've planned this
The way you looked tonight
When the moonlight hits your eyes
And the moment they meet mine
It's photographic
And your smile, your smile is like the stars
It illuminates the dark
And when I need you most
Right here is where you are
Even if we're worlds apart
It's enigmatic
I sit here, painting perfect pictures
Of every moment with you
I've known it from the start
Darling, you're my work of art
Our bodies, our bodies interlaced
So delicately placed
And your angelic face
Heaven never makes mistakes
And the beauty it creates is overwhelming
'Cause you're everything to me
I sit here, painting perfect pictures
Of every moment with you
I've known it from the start
Darling, you're my work of art
(Oh-oh-ooh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh)
My work of art
(Oh-oh-ooh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh)
My work of art
(Oh-oh-ooh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh)
I know it from the start
(Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Darling, you're my work of art
I sit here, painting perfect pictures
Of every moment with you
I've known it from the start
Darling, you're my work of art
Emily Rushall
This is a lyric video 😂
Rylan Winger
And it’s cinematic not enigmatic
Skyler
He’s a piece of art. I love it. But Ghost Town will always be my #1 favourite song he made !! ✨