Musicians, DJs, and go-to producers known for mesmerizing funk and neo-disc… Read Full Bio ↴Musicians, DJs, and go-to producers known for mesmerizing funk and neo-disco, Holy Ghost! (aka the NYC-based duo of Alex Frankel and Nicholas Millhiser) have released two critically acclaimed albums, 2011’s self-titled debut and 2013’s Dynamics, on DFA Records. A remix album, 2015’s self-released Work For Hire also generated wide praise. Holy Ghost! have performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show with David Letterman, toured with New Order, played at renowned festivals such as Coachella, Outside Lands, Primavera, and Bonnaroo, and remixed for Katy Perry, LCD Soundsystem, Moby, and more.

Holy Ghost!’s most recent release, 2015’s remix alum Work for Hire, was a mesmerizing time capsule of remixes that boldly traced the group’s aesthetic from their nascent days dabbling in groove to radical rethinkings of songs. It was, in certain ways, a necessary stepping stone to Crime Cutz. “Work for Hire was a good breather from working on original music,” Alex says. “It was a good way to get back into the studio. There’s a lot of pressure when you’re writing original stuff. We were able to focus more on groove and arrangement, rather than trying to write formative pop songs.”

The objective, Nick says of the forthcoming collection, was singular: “Aesthetically, Alex and I were musically, melodically trying to do so“ Some artists make music really rapidly—they put out mixtapes on SoundCloud, like, every few months,” Alex Frankel ruminates. Of course, Frankel and his Holy Ghost! bandmate Nick Millhiser do not fall into that category. “We’re so envious of that.” They’re again adding to their dance repertoire with the vibrant Crime Cutz EP out later this year on DFA Records.

Anxious
Holy Ghost! Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Search engine froze (ah)
Takin' off, takin' out, take it in

Hey, what is up? (ah)

Makin' off, makin' out, stayin' in
The system was broke
I kill, I kill in the wild (ah)

I run the miracle mile (ah)

You get anxious when you feel it
I get anxious when I feel it, too
You get anxious when you need it
I get anxious when I'm around you

You get anxious when you feel it
I get anxious when I feel it, too
You get anxious when you need it, need it
I get anxious when I'm about you

Fallin' in love (ah)
Liftin' off, driftin' out, slippin' in

The parents are home (ah)
I get tense, I get shy, no offense, don't know why
Guess I'll go

I kill, I kill in the wild (ah)
I run the miracle mile (ah)

You get anxious when you feel it
I get anxious when I feel it, too
You get anxious when you need it
I get anxious when I'm around you

You get anxious when you feel it
I get anxious when I feel it, too
You get anxious when you need it (need it)
I get anxious when I'm about you

You
You
You
I'm about you
You
You
You
I'm about you
You
I'm about you
You
I'm about you
You
I'm about you
You
I'm about you
You
I'm about you

You
I'm about you (ah)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Anxious" by Holy Ghost! address a feeling that is universally felt by people, especially when in the presence of someone they are interested in. The song begins with a reference to a "frozen" search engine which serves as an indicator of the digital age in which we live. The first verse of the song then mentions "take it in" and "stayin' in" as the singer navigates their world. The chorus then kicks off with the line "You get anxious when you feel it, I get anxious when I feel it, too." This line sets a precedent and introduces the theme of universal anxiety when it comes to love or attraction.

The second verse of the song highlights the singer's diffidence around their love interest when the parents are home. The lyrics then shift back to the chorus and repeat the same theme of universal anxiety when it comes to love. The song concludes with the same chorus that was set up in the beginning, but concludes with eight repetitions of the line "I'm about you," which signifies an intense infatuation with the love interest.

Overall, the song "Anxious" by Holy Ghost! addresses a feeling that is commonly felt by people in the presence of someone they are interested in. The lyrics highlight the singer's feelings of nervousness, anxiety, and diffidence when in the presence of their love interest.

Line by Line Meaning

Search engine froze (ah)
I’m stuck and don’t know what to do (ah)

Takin' off, takin' out, take it in
Going in and out, taking things as they come (with ease)

Hey, what is up? (ah)
What’s happening? (ah)

Makin' off, makin' out, stayin' in
Leaving, kissing, or staying at home (indecisive behavior)

The system was broke
The situation was not working

I kill, I kill in the wild (ah)
I thrive in risky situations (ah)

I run the miracle mile (ah)
I do the impossible (ah)

You get anxious when you feel it
You get nervous/excited when you sense something

I get anxious when I feel it, too
I get nervous/excited when I sense it as well

You get anxious when you need it
You feel nervous to get something you need

I get anxious when I'm around you
I feel nervous/excited around you

Fallin' in love (ah)
In love (ah)

Liftin' off, driftin' out, slippin' in
Floating away, entering peace, and falling into relaxation

The parents are home (ah)
The parents returned, which is alarming (ah)

I get tense, I get shy, no offense, don't know why
I get nervous, not sure why, and don't want to offend

Guess I'll go
I might leave

You get anxious when you feel it
You feel nervous/excited when you sense something

I get anxious when I feel it, too
I get nervous/excited when I sense it as well

You get anxious when you need it
You feel nervous to get something you need

I get anxious when I'm around you
I feel nervous/excited when I'm near you

You get anxious when you feel it
You feel nervous/excited when you sense something

I get anxious when I feel it, too
I get nervous/excited when I sense it as well

You get anxious when you need it (need it)
You feel nervous to get something you need

I get anxious when I'm about you
I feel nervous/excited around you

You
You