The debut self-titled album by Broken Bells was released on Columbia Records on March 9, 2010. The first single from the record, "The High Road", was released on December 21, 2009.
NPR's "All Things Considered" aired an interview with the duo on March 16, 2010. A transcript of the article can be found here.
An EP, Meyrin Fields, was released on March 29, 2011.
Their second LP, After the Disco, was released on February 4, 2014.
Their third album, INTO THE BLUE, was released on October 7, 2022.
www.brokenbells.com
The Ghost Inside
Broken Bells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Good solid currency's the hardest to land
All of that money helps you cover your ass
Don't let the ladyfinger blow in your hands
Did it all
For that dollar
She's a star tonight
She gave up the ghost inside
Just like a whiskey bottle drained on the floor
She got no future, just a life to endure
This good Samaritan is shakin' her hand
Too late to leave here now the songs in the can
Give it up
For that dollar
She's a star tonight
Without warning
She gave up the ghost inside
You call it chivalry
Never pull a punch for free
You ever wonder why they had to move on?
This phony honor code
That put you on your throne
A double standard you invoke when you want
For that dollar
She's a star tonight
Without warning
She gave up the ghost inside
Was it all for show?
Don't turn into one of them
Turning another page
Trust me darling
I'm carving 'em up through the dust in your town
Crawling over rubble
Just to serve you
Tend to wonder why
The lyrics of Broken Bells's song The Ghost Inside describe a woman who sells her love to a modern man in exchange for money. The singer suggests that good solid currency is hard to land, and that the woman uses the money she earns to cover her own mistakes. However, despite appearing successful on the outside, the woman is only enduring her life rather than living it. The singer compares her to a drained whiskey bottle, suggesting that she has nothing else to give.
The woman is described as "a star tonight" but the singer points out that she gave up the ghost inside, which suggests that she lost her soul or essence along the way. The song suggests that the woman's decision to sell her love for money was a mistake and that she is caught in a cycle of performing for the sake of her audience, unable to escape her circumstances. The song suggests that the woman can't turn back now, as her "songs [are] in the can", but the singer still wonders why she made the choice she did.
The singer goes on to criticize the concept of chivalry and the idea of never pulling a punch for free. He argues that this phony honor code is hypocritical and suggests that those who follow it end up alone and wondering why they were left behind. The singer seems to be urging the woman not to turn into someone who follows this code and instead to carve out her own path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
She sold her love to a modern man
She prioritized material possessions and wealth over love and affection, and gave her love to a contemporary, wealthy man.
Good solid currency's the hardest to land
Having a stable, reliable source of money is difficult to obtain and comes at a high cost.
All of that money helps you cover your ass
Money can serve as a safety net and provide protection against negative consequences.
Don't let the ladyfinger blow in your hands
Don't let a moment of luck or chance slip through your fingers and disappear.
Did it all
For that dollar
She made choices and sacrifices in order to obtain money and financial security.
She's a star tonight
Without warning
She is the center of attention and has achieved great success, seemingly unexpectedly or suddenly.
She gave up the ghost inside
She sacrificed a part of herself or her identity in order to achieve her success.
Just like a whiskey bottle drained on the floor
She is now empty and devoid of life, like an empty bottle that has had all its contents drained and spilled on the ground.
She got no future, just a life to endure
She has no prospects or hope for a better future, only a life of continued struggle and hardship.
This good Samaritan is shakin' her hand
A well-intentioned person is expressing sympathy or offering aid and assistance to her, but it may not be enough to help her situation or improve her life.
Too late to leave here now the songs in the can
It is now too late to change course or escape her current situation or circumstances, as a recording or work has already been completed or finalized.
You call it chivalry
Never pull a punch for free
You may view your actions as chivalrous or honorable, but you are ultimately seeking personal gain or benefit and will not offer your services or help for free.
You ever wonder why they had to move on?
You may question why people or situations have ended or changed, but it is often due to circumstances beyond one's control.
This phony honor code
That put you on your throne
A double standard you invoke when you want
You claim to follow an honorable code or set of principles, but only when it benefits you and you may engage in hypocritical or conflicting actions and behaviors.
Was it all for show?
You may question if your actions or achievements were genuine and motivated by honest intentions or if they were simply for appearances or attention.
Don't turn into one of them
Don't become someone who is focused solely on material gain or who sacrifices personal values and integrity for success or financial security.
Turning another page
Moving on to a new chapter or phase in life.
Trust me darling
I'm carving 'em up through the dust in your town
Crawling over rubble
Just to serve you
Tend to wonder why
The singer is assuring someone that they will overcome challenges and obstacles in order to help them, even if it requires hard work and determination. They question why they are willing to go to such lengths for this person.
For that dollar
She's a star tonight
Without warning
She gave up the ghost inside
Money and financial success have brought this woman into the spotlight and she has sacrificed a part of herself in the process.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian Joseph Burton, James Russell Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@flipbackification
The girl wants to 'be a star' but she has to sell her body parts to get there. She realizes that her dream isn't possible without them, like she can't even accept that drink without her hand. Once she finally makes it to her destination, her paradise turns out to be ruins and dust. It's basically about the dangers of giving up parts of yourself for a dream, because those missing parts make it worthless. Also, be sure that whatever you're chasing will actually exist when you get there.
@baddoomguy1986
Stay woke, fellas.
You call it chivalry
Never pull a punch for free
You ever wonder why they had to move on
This phony honor code
That put you on your throne
A double-standard you invoke when you want
@jonnalowe327
We are all part of life.. over n over I knw u now known u then and will meet u soon
@caseyrogers4001
Top Comment.
@caseyrogers4001
PM 4 Mo
@lukedoran1615
Powerful ain’t it
@rccdbcars9993
11 years since it came out. Time flies. good memories
@rubymichelle
Right? And It’s still SO good. It could have came out yesterday. That’s how ahead of it’s time this music was.
@hipopotomusman
wtf, i can swear it was longer than that ago that i got an ipod, this song was just automatically put on to my itunes , i always wanted to listen to "the ghost inside" but would always accidentally choose this song lol
@skahtay16
This is a prime example of what a music video should be. Tell a story while still fitting to the mood and pacing of the song while doing it in a creative way.