Raised in the blues-rich south side of Chicago, he studied the methods of B.B. King and Johnny Smith. He fashioned his finger-picking guitar technique after the great Chet Atkins. James continued to perfect his talent and soon was playing in many of Chicago's more well-known clubs. It was while perfoming here that he was asked to join a band known as The Exceptions, originally founded by Kal David, Marty Grebb and Pete Cetera. They soon became one of the most in demand club acts in town. The Exceptions reached their pinnacle when they toured with Otis Redding.
Cetera later left to pursue other avenues, eventually winding up as the lead singer for Chicago. Vincent's talents were much in demand as a studio musician, laying down tracks for Minnie Ripperton, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and many notable Chess Records recording artists.
Along the way Vincent met rock promoter Bill Graham, who at the time was managing a band called H.P. Lovecraft. The band needed a guitar player and Vincent needed a change, so he took the job and moved to San Francisco. Through that project he met Howard Wales & Jerry Garcia, who had just recorded a now cult classic lp called "Hooter Roll" which was well stocked with talented musicians.
Vincent toured with them for a brief time and liked Garcia's laid-back style, but what he really liked was the work of the guitarist for Hooter Roll's opening band, the Mahavishnu Orchestra featuring John McLaughlin. Their fusion style inspired Vincent and once again he found himself spinning in a new direction.
Vincent later signed with Columbia/Caribou Records and recorded four albums, the most successful being Space Traveler with Harvey Mason on drums, Verdine and Freddy White from Earth, Wind and Fire, Ron Stockert on keyboards and Pete Cetera on background vocals. Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire offered Vincent a position with the band while chatting together on a flight back from England. Though flattered, Vincent declined the offer due to his heavy schedule with his solo career and special projects, such as recording an instrumental album with Rufus, recording and touring with the Latin band Azteca, featuring Sheila E. and Neal Schon (later of Journey fame), and performing with Santana, Tom Scott and the L.A. Express and Etta James band featuring Gregg Allman, to name a few.
-- from James Vincent's official website
-- RJM
Ghosts
James Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the moon's this spinning globe
Shedding light upon the road
The bird won't fly
And a bird without its wings
is a low and tragic thing
We are ghosts
From the trees of velvet green
To the ground beneath our feet
We are ghosts
We are ghosts amongst these hills
Pressing out along the shore
Pressing out along the shore
The mountain song
That is now the thoughts of thirds
And it's only to be heard
And though I'm gone
I will come again in spring
When the harvest can begin
We are ghosts
We are ghosts amongst these hills
From the trees of velvet green
To the ground beneath our feet
We are ghosts
We are ghosts amongst these hills
Pressing out along the shore
Pressing out along the shore
In "Ghosts" by James Vincent McMorrow, the moon is being personified as a globe, which is constantly spinning and shedding light upon the road. The moon and its light represent the passing of time and the illumination of our path. In the next stanza, a bird is introduced, but it is unable to fly because it is missing its wings, which can be seen as a metaphor for a person who feels as though they lack something essential for their journey, whether it be confidence, support, or something else. It is said that the bird is a low and tragic thing, perhaps conveying a sense of sadness or hopelessness towards the situation.
In the chorus, the singer states that "We are ghosts amongst these hills". This line evokes a sense of transience and impermanence, as if we are just passing through this world like spirits. The reference to the trees of velvet green and the ground beneath our feet highlights the beauty and serenity of the natural world that we are surrounded by. The repetition of the line "pressing out along the shore" seems to suggest a longing to explore and discover what lies beyond the current horizon.
The final stanza presents the idea of the mountain song being the thoughts of thirds, implying that there is a mathematical formula to the natural world and the music it creates. The song mentions the character being gone, but returning in the spring when the harvest can begin. This sentiment conveys a sense of hope that new life will begin again, and that even though things may end, new beginnings are always possible.
Line by Line Meaning
The moon holds the light
The moon illuminates the world
And the moon's this spinning globe
The moon revolves around the Earth
Shedding light upon the road
Helping travelers find their way in the dark
The bird won't fly
The bird is unable to soar
And a bird without its wings
The bird is powerless and helpless
is a low and tragic thing
Its situation is pitiful and sorrowful
We are ghosts
We are unseen spirits
We are ghosts amongst these hills
Our presence is felt but invisible
From the trees of velvet green
Starting from lush trees
To the ground beneath our feet
Ending with the earth we stand on
Pressing out along the shore
Moving forward along the coastline
The mountain song
The melody of the mountains
That is now the thoughts of thirds
Echoing in the minds of many
And it's only to be heard
It exists solely to be listened to
And though I'm gone
Although I am not present
I will come again in spring
I will return when the weather is warm
When the harvest can begin
When crops can be cultivated
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MCMORROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@destinymarie1148
Ghost Lyrics ;
The moon holds the light
And the moon's this spinning globe
Shedding light upon the road
The bird won't fly
And a bird without its wings
is a low and tragic thing,We are ghosts
We are ghosts amongst these hills
From the trees of velvet green
To the ground beneath our feet
We are ghosts
We are ghosts amongst these hills
Pressing out along the shore
Pressing out along the shore,The mountain song
That is now the thoughts of thirds
And it's only to be heard
And though I'm gone
I will come again in spring
When the harvest can begin,We are ghosts
We are ghosts amongst these hills
From the trees of velvet green
To the ground beneath our feet
We are ghosts
We are ghosts amongst these hills
Pressing out along the shore
Pressing out along the shore.
@pieckfinger7169
I was 12 when I first heard this song. And in what seemed like a very dark year and my obsession with twilight, this music felt like a light solace, melancholic in a way that's related to a yearning of home, like homesickness and being desolate. I have grown accustomed to it, which is quite suffocating because all I wanted actually is to be with someone who cares for me. I dont know what Im saying, but I hope to listen to this again someday. With a different sentiment.
@erickmachadoo
I live for reading these testimonies
@andyy41
i feel you...
@smnewport71
“For we know if our earthly house, this tent (the body), is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven…”. 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Yeshua).” Philippians 3:20 “And not only this, but we also ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, we even ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons (and daughters) the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:23 ❤ Christ is returning soon to make right all the things that are wrong in this fallen world. ❤
@androidedoidao
i've never been a twilight fan, but damn, they got some cool songs
@wildwitchwest
that's absolutely a vibe. they went hard on those soundtracks and musical scores
@MiguelGustavoBonilla
The entire soundtrack is incredible...and the saga too....but we are not ready to discuss this...we just have to enjoy the good
@Zincwolf
This is the kind of music I love listening to when sitting in the passenger seat at night on a country lane or some other long lonely road with only the moonlight or the occassional lamppost to light the surroundings, besides the headlights
@hanstonra
❤
@suzystanek
Zincwolf Totally agree with that!! ❤