Ghosts
Cole Holly Lyrics

The lyrics of Cole Holly's song "Ghosts" depict a sense of loneliness and regret of the singer. The opening lines of the song - "Stay with me for a little while, You've nowhere to go, I've nowhere to go" - indicate the singer's desire for human companionship. The idea that the singer has nowhere to go is emblematic of his emotional void. The second line further adds to this sentiment, highlighting the fact that the singer hardly has anyone in his life to spend time with.

The lyrics "Makes me so happy when you smile at me" then provide an insight into the singer's longing for someone to share his life with. The need for validation from someone else's happiness indicates the importance of companionship to the singer.

The next few lines of the song - "Work all your life, you end up with nothing, Live in one room like a bum," give voice to the singer's feelings of dissatisfaction and disillusionment with life. The following lines - "Once I flew in a plane and I fought in the war, I lived in a castle but I slept on the floor" - add to the sense of regret and a feeling that the singer's life has been somewhat wasted.

In the following lines "Out in the street, the colored kids playing, Where my own little boy used to play, " the singer remembers his past and how he misses his own son. His sense of loss is compounded by the next lines - "So I sit in this chair and I ache with the gout, Or I talk to myself cause I'm scared to go out". The latter half of the song indicates how the singer has become isolated and disconnected from his own community. The lines "I just want to know what was it all about? I'm sorry" ultimately express his painful regrets, as he is left questioning what it all means and whether anything he has done is of any use.