Madonna performed the song during her promotional schedules across Europe. She also performed an acoustic version of the song at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, accompanied by Taylor Swift, who played guitar. The song was also performed at select dates on the Rebel Heart Tour.
A music video for "Ghosttown" was directed by Jonas Åkerlund, starring actor Terrence Howard.
Ghosttown
Madonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too much for a man to take
Everything's bound to break
Sooner or later, sooner or later
You're all that I can trust
Facing the darkest days
Everyone ran away
Ahhhhhh, ahhhhh
I know you're scared tonight
Ahhhhhh, ahhhhh
I'll never leave your side
When it all falls, when it all falls down
I'll be your fire when the lights go out
When there's no one, no one else around
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
When the world gets cold
I'll be your cover
Let's just hold
Onto each other
When it all falls, when it all falls down
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
Tell me how we got this far
Every man for himself
Everything's gone to hell
We gotta stay strong, we're gonna hold on
This world has turned to dust
All we've got left is love
Might as well start with us
Singing a new song, something to build on
Ahhhhhh, ahhhhh
I know you're scared tonight
Ahhhhhh, ahhhhh
I'll never leave your side
When it all falls, when it all falls down
I'll be your fire when the lights go out
When there's no one, no one else around
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
When the world gets cold
I'll be your cover
Let's just hold
Onto each other
When it all falls, when it all falls down
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
I know we're alright
'Cause we'll never be alone
In this mad mad, in this mad mad world
Even with no light
We're gonna shine like gold
In this mad mad, in this mad mad world
When it all falls, when it all falls down
I'll be your fire when the lights go out
When there's no one, no one else around
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
When it all falls, when it all falls down
I'll be your fire when the lights go out
When there's no one, no one else around
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
When the world gets cold
I'll be your cover
Let's just hold
Onto each other
When it all falls, when it all falls down
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
When it all falls, when it all falls down
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
In "Ghosttown," Madonna sings about a world on the brink of collapse, where everything has fallen apart, and there's no one around to turn to. She sings about a couple who have managed to survive the apocalypse and are still together, but they don't know how much longer they can last. The song is a tribute to the power of love in the face of adversity, and it urges people to hold onto each other when everything else falls away.
The song is filled with a sense of impending doom, with lyrics like "Maybe it was all too much, too much for a man to take, everything's bound to break, sooner or later" suggesting that the end is near. However, in the midst of this bleakness, there is a sense of hope, as Madonna assures her lover that she will never leave their side, even in the darkest of times.
The chorus of the song is a declaration of devotion and resilience, with Madonna singing: "When it all falls, when it all falls down, I'll be your fire when the lights go out. When there's no one, no one else around, we'll be two souls in a ghost town." The haunting melody and Madonna's soaring vocals give the song a sense of urgency, as if each word is a plea to hold onto each other in the face of an uncertain future.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe it was all too much
Perhaps it was an overwhelming situation
Too much for a man to take
It was unbearable for a person to handle
Everything's bound to break
All things are destined to fall apart
Sooner or later, sooner or later
Eventually, it will happen
You're all that I can trust
You are the only one I can rely on
Facing the darkest days
Enduring the most difficult times
Everyone ran away
Everyone abandoned me
But we're gonna stay here, we're gonna stay here
But we will remain here and face the situation together
I know you're scared tonight
I am aware that you are frightened tonight
I'll never leave your side
I will always be by your side
When it all falls, when it all falls down
When everything collapses
I'll be your fire when the lights go out
I will be your light in dark times
When there's no one, no one else around
When there is no one to turn to
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
We will be the only ones remaining in this abandoned place
When the world gets cold
When the world becomes harsh and unforgiving
I'll be your cover
I will protect you
Let's just hold
Let us embrace each other
Onto each other
Holding onto each other
Tell me how we got this far
Explain how we reached this point
Every man for himself
Everyone is looking out for their own interests
Everything's gone to hell
Everything is in disarray
We gotta stay strong, we're gonna hold on
We need to be resilient and persevere
This world has turned to dust
This world is in ruins
All we've got left is love
Love is the only thing we have left
Might as well start with us
We should be the ones to initiate change
Singing a new song, something to build on
Starting anew with something to work towards
I know we're alright
I am confident that we are okay
'Cause we'll never be alone
Because we will always have each other
In this mad mad, in this mad mad world
In this chaotic world
Even with no light
Even when there is no hope
We're gonna shine like gold
We will stand out and succeed despite the odds
When it all falls, when it all falls down
When everything crumbles
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
We will be the only ones remaining in this abandoned place
When the world gets cold
When the world becomes harsh and unforgiving
I'll be your cover
I will protect you
Let's just hold
Let us embrace each other
Onto each other
Holding onto each other
When it all falls, when it all falls down
When everything collapses
We'll be two souls in a ghosttown
We will be the only ones remaining in this abandoned place
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sean Douglas, Madonna Louise Ciccone, Evan Kidd Bogart, Jason Gregory Evigan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martins3776
In my view this is Madonna's best ever song lyrically and a high point of her writing. Bittersweetly beautiful and says so much. Has me cry tears of both sadness and hope.
Also seems very apt for these times in which certain powerful individuals have lost their way leaving others afraid of what they may be capable of and just how far they might go.
Video fits really well too with the 'family' of survivors. Such a beautiful, hopeful ending with the four survivors including the dog and child walking off united having found hope in a world that seems to not have much left.
Reminds us however much hate there will always be love, always be hope, always a different possible future. That even if divided we can still come together.
So has overtaken Ray of Light as my favorite Madonna song, but that's still a close second.
@iLove3DS
Seven years on, Ghosttown is one of the most criminally underrated songs from Rebel Heart and the most articulately delicate and powerful record that reflects the current state of the world we live in today and the future.
It makes you realise that Madonna is, and always will be ahead of her time because every album she has released, past and present, exerts her ability to be unafraid of being political while also reflecting on how far we have all come, but reflects on the fact way more work must be done by all of us to make this world a better place.
I take comfort in her music because she gives me a reason to be more open about the world, and about how everyone and I feel about the way this world should be, and we often take for granted how precious this world is, and we take for granted how precious life is, even in the best and worst of times.
What is truly remarkable and inspiring about Madonna is her ability to inspire and encourage positive change, and it's her work that inspires me and us all to encourage that positive change to ensure the world can be a better place.
Her music educates but also empowers, and Madonna has that creative genius of allowing her vulnerabilities to show which inspire all of us to allow ourselves to feel vulnerable with her as it's a way of not only encouraging positive change in this world, but to embrace and empower others to make this world a better place to be and a place to feel safe and to feel loved by everyone and everything.
@riqm
One of Madonna's most underrated tracks. Still holds up 6 years later.
@Blueluise
sure J-Lo and janet, if it`s 1999 to 2000 we always made funnies about that, that the computers or pcs won´t work anymore Höker, nicht mit dem Baubezirk
@Blueluise
Tom Petty and the Hearbreakers, Hustler? 50 what eve metal currency
@user-op1wm2gw3c
https://youtu.be/xHLS7_Ezgw4
@user-op1wm2gw3c
@MarthaE https://youtu.be/xHLS7_Ezgw4
@user-op1wm2gw3c
https://youtu.be/xHLS7_Ezgw4
@nolanhembree5565
This is by far one of the greatest songs she's ever put out. Shame it's not more popular.
@dannysauceda1990
I also agree with it!! I really don't understand why it was a flop...
@domino20
Yes it’s really good and would’ve been a hit earlier in her career but pop music is so youth oriented it’s extremely difficult for an older person to chart.
@lizzy173
I know it’s it such a shame that the music industry is like this. I enjoy a lot of new music by older artists that don’t chart. Like Joan Jett and the black hearts.