Mathematics
Cherry Ghost Lyrics

The opening line of “Mathematics” by Cherry Ghost sets a simple but vivid scene that suggests the singer is waiting for someone they care about to join them in a secret location: “Meet me on the corner by the fire escape and I'll be waiting.” The next lines of the song indicate that the singer wants to escape from some sort of negative or difficult situation: “Every inch of back roads that have put me here will disappear / And I'll hold you in my arms.” The singer then introduces the song’s title in the chorus, using the concept of “cold mathematics” as a metaphor for the impersonal, logical forces that are working against them: “Cold mathematics making its move on me now.”

As the song continues, the imagery gets more abstract and surreal, as the singer references peacocks on a chopping block, the “great silence,” and their own tendency to alienate the people they care about. However, the refrain of “And I'll hold you in my arms / Cold mathematics making its move on me now” brings the focus back to the emotional impact of the external forces they feel are threatening their connection.

“Mathematics” is a song that explores the feeling of being buffeted by forces beyond one’s control, while seeking comfort and intimacy with another person. The lyrics create an evocative atmosphere of longing and vulnerability that is supported by the song’s instrumentation, which features a mix of acoustic and electric guitars, strings, and ghostly vocals that drift in and out of the arrangement. Overall, “Mathematics” is a haunting and beautifully written meditation on the ways that human emotions can be impacted by abstract concepts and forces beyond our understanding.