"For me, a great song always finds a creative way to point to something beyond itself, something subtle that often exists between the lines, but that continues to pull at you long after the song is over."
Recorded in an old one-room barn in Grafton, MA, Another Ghost is a collection of songs fashioned together from the remnants of small-town anywhere. Born and raised in quiet Massachusetts mill town this is a world that Jason knows all too well, one full of streetlights, wishing wells, backyard brawlers, and busted-up roads. Influenced by early morning highway drives and AM radio stations, this album deals with holding on to those things that are most important, memories that we relive time and time again, which revisit us like ghosts.
"I wanted the album to feel nostalgic and also to have an eye towards the future with all the uncertainty it holds. The first words of the entire album, in Twilight Serenade, are 'So here's to you…' with the idea of giving a toast to all those things that have faded away; the next track, Too Young To Lose, is about making a promise to do what you love despite where ever that may lead, and trying to have faith in yourself."
With the help of friends Zack Hickman (Josh Ritter, Tarbox Ramblers, Jake Armerding) on upright bass, accordion, lap steel, and harmonica; Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter, Erin Mckeown) on piano and Hammond organ; and Jack Shanahan (Jack & Present Co.) on drums, Another Ghost was self -released in April, 2005 to a sold-out crowd at Club Passim in Cambridge, MA. The album received critical acclaim and earned Jason spots at legendary music clubs up and down the East coast such as Club Passim (Cambridge, MA), the Tin Angel (Philadelphia), the Living Room (NYC), the Stone Church (Newmarket, NH) and Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ). Jason has opened for Lori Mckenna, Ellis Paul, Peter Mulvey, Martha Wainwright, Vance Gilbert, and Jess Klein. He currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.
Peace Of Mind
Jason Myles Goss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just one more day, not one behind
I try to walk through the fire, live close to the rind
I keep losing myself trying to find peace of mind
Peace of mind, I try to define
Its like juggling knives when your eyes have gone blind
Well I can't see the difference between the cruel and the kind
Somewhere in the kingdom, they talk of silver, talk of gold
All these voices and no wisdom
There ain't no wisdom truth be told
And now there's nothing to hold on to
And you don't even care
You're running but you don't want to
And you're gasping for air
Moving through the crowd, I'm trying to find my way
Peace of mind, I'm walking down the line
Down a street full of sirens and no vacancy signs
Am I dreaming of love or am I knee deep in lies?
Am I staring at the real thing, or some clever disguise?
I saw it flashing on my TV screen
I watched the killers chase the clowns
They were shooting pistols made with magazines
Firing their gossip all around
Now is there anybody out there?
Is there anyone at all?
A thief, a judge, or a millionaire
A local hero we can call?
And I'm still haunted by the sounds out on Desolation Row
See Baby Blue, he's got his arms out and his chin tucked low
He's swinging hammer in the fairgrounds, shouting that he will never die
He jumped the stage and pulled his mask down and they dropped the curtain on the fly
And then he was outside, he could hear the crowd, they were breaking down the door
They were screaming out for more
Peace of mind, I'm trying to find
I'm trying to find, this peace of mind
In "Peace of Mind," Jason Myles Goss conveys his quest for inner peace and rest in his mind. He acknowledges that his search for serenity is ongoing, challenging, and monotonous. He explains that it seems impossible to distinguish between goodness and cruelty, love and lies when we can't see things clearly. He sees himself surrounded by noise, conflict, and distraction that contribute to his confusion and fear. He discusses his fears and anxieties about the world's future, the people's infighting, and the lack of guidance from the leaders. All of these things contribute to making it difficult to find a sense of inner calm or tranquility.
The second part of the song mentions some specific imagery, characters, and settings that suggest a natural conflict between the search for inner peace and the outside world's upheavals. The reference to "Desolation Row" alludes to a section of Highway 61 Revisited, where Bob Dylan creates a dystopian setting of decadence and corruption that reflects the face of an entire society. When Goss refers to "Baby Blue," he alludes to a character in the same album, who talks about a strange and uneasy world that is full of clashes, but also opportunities for survival, change, and redemption. These two Dylan songs' inclusion adds extra layers of meaning to the song, suggesting that the quest for inner peace is not only personal but can also tackle broader issues that are much larger than one person's struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Peace of mind, I'm trying to find
The singer seeks peace of mind, a state of mental calm and tranquility.
Just one more day, not one behind
He desires to live for a little bit longer.
I try to walk through the fire, live close to the rind
He pursues a challenging, unconventional lifestyle that pushes him to his limits.
I keep losing myself trying to find peace of mind
His tough lifestyle often leads him to feel lost and aimless.
Peace of mind, I try to define
He attempts to comprehend what peace of mind truly means.
Its like juggling knives when your eyes have gone blind
He struggles to attain peace of mind amidst confusion and uncertainty.
Well I can't see the difference between the cruel and the kind
He finds it challenging to distinguish between benevolence and malice.
I'm lost in the mire, looking for a sign
He feels trapped in a confusing, complex situation.
Somewhere in the kingdom, they talk of silver, talk of gold
People often speak of enviable materialistic things but lack wisdom.
All these voices and no wisdom
People are speaking out without a deep understanding of things.
There ain't no wisdom truth be told
In reality, nobody seems to have any wisdom for him.
And now there's nothing to hold on to
He feels unanchored and alone.
And you don't even care
Others don't seem to pay attention to his plight.
You're running but you don't want to
He is feeling lost in the world.
And you're gasping for air
He feels like he is suffocating.
Moving through the crowd, I'm trying to find my way
He is trying to find his own path amidst a confusing mass of people.
Peace of mind, I'm walking down the line
He continues his quest for mental calm and tranquility.
Down a street full of sirens and no vacancy signs
He is walking down a noisy street with no room for him.
Am I dreaming of love or am I knee deep in lies?
He is unsure if his desires are true or just a facade.
Am I staring at the real thing, or some clever disguise?
He is uncertain if what he is seeing is genuine or an act.
I saw it flashing on my TV screen
He witnessed something on television.
I watched the killers chase the clowns
He saw a violent and absurd spectacle.
They were shooting pistols made with magazines
The violent actors used weapons made from media.
Firing their gossip all around
They spread rumors and lies rampantly.
Now is there anybody out there?
He questions if there is anyone who understands him.
Is there anyone at all?
He feels alone and isolated.
A thief, a judge, or a millionaire
He is open to finding community in any kind of person.
A local hero we can call?
He hopes for a guiding figure to emerge from his community.
And I'm still haunted by the sounds out on Desolation Row
He is troubled by the bleak nature of society.
See Baby Blue, he's got his arms out and his chin tucked low
A character named Baby Blue appears vulnerable and burdened.
He's swinging hammer in the fairgrounds, shouting that he will never die
Baby Blue is attempting to proclaim invincibility.
He jumped the stage and pulled his mask down and they dropped the curtain on the fly
His performance is abruptly cut off regardless.
And then he was outside, he could hear the crowd, they were breaking down the door
He leaves, but hears the enthusiastic audience wanting more.
They were screaming out for more
The audience desires further entertainment.
Peace of mind, I'm trying to find
He reiterates in the chorus his ongoing quest for mental calm and tranquility.
Contributed by Austin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NayahReidWhumperxD
This was so fantastic live. He came to sing for mt creative writing class, inspired me so much to stick with writing. <3
Lakeside Chill
@NayahReidWhumperxD he's such a cool guy too! i messaged him on facebook for tabs to this song so i could perform it and he said sure no problem and sent them! so awesome haha