Holy Ghost
Icelandia Lyrics

Oh, the great dove
The singer refers to a great dove, which is a symbol of peace and purity.

Hearts are full and bursting through the windows
The hearts of the people are full of happiness and joy that is overflowing and can be seen through the windows.

She's over and she's a fluttering peace
The singer refers to the peaceful feeling that has come over them like a fluttering bird.

And virtues
The singer might be referring to moral qualities such as honesty, courage, and integrity.

Trade it for the haunting of a ghost
The singer speaks about the tradeoff between having virtues and being haunted by a ghost, which represents guilt, remorse, and shame.

Now, watch your guard
The singer is advising the audience to be cautious and alert.

Holy ghost, caught spooking on my??? Tell me, how do you see shrouded by a white sheet?
The singer addresses the ghost, which represents the singer's conscience, asking how it sees things while it is shrouded by a white sheet.

You were born in cathedrals but I know now
The singer is talking about the traditional religious upbringing that helped form their conscience, but they have grown beyond it.

Skin and bones won't hold this soul down
The singer believes that their soul, which represents their true essence, cannot be limited by just physical attributes or qualities - like skin and bones.

Oh, the morning dove
The singer refers to a morning dove in this stanza, continuing the motif of peace.

Trading in stained glass for stray nights
The singer might be referencing the aesthetic of a stained-glass window in a church, and how they are trading that for late nights or darker activities.

I am a shivering, I am a chattering vice
The singer is describing themselves as a shaking, trembling person who is plagued with faults and weaknesses.

Or virtues?
The singer is considering the question of whether or not to embrace virtues or continue with vices and weaknesses.

Let the choir sing it in the verse
The singer is referring to the choir in a church, hoping they can express the inner conflicts and turmoil through their music.

And watch me go, oh
The singer talks about their departure or exit, perhaps from the church, with resignation or longing.

Suddenly I'm holding onto everything I know
The singer is reaching out and finding comfort in what they know and the beliefs they hold dear, perhaps after a time of questioning or doubt.

Sticks and stones won't hold this soul down
Similar to the earlier stanza, the singer emphasizes that physical attributes or things outside of their true being cannot limit or hold down their soul.