Ghost Town
Passenger Lyrics


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Take a walk in a ghost town
The sky is as black as crows
They don't make cars like they used to here
Times, they change
And factories close

Take a ride on a ghost train
Stare at the windows
See, time moves fast as a hurricane
But it's so strange
It feels so slow

But sometimes it gets so cold down here
Well I swear it burns
The wind like fire coming off of the Great Lakes

Sometimes it gets so dark in here
Hey, I see it turn
The emptiness that moves within my soul
We're down in a ghost town

See the crash in the rust
See the ash in the dust
Feel it slipping through your hands
Falling on the shoes and the shoulders
Of the ragged man

See the pride and the shame
Like fire and the flame
Well, it burns through every man
And drops them like drunken soldiers
On the river banks

Well, sometimes it gets so cold down here
Hey I swear it burns
The wind like fire coming off of the Great Lakes

Sometimes it gets so dark in here
Well I see it turn
The emptiness that moves within my soul
We're down in a ghost town

Well, sometimes it gets so cold down here
Hey, I swear it burns
The wind like fire coming off of the Great Lakes

Sometimes it gets so dark in here
Oh, I see it turn




The emptiness that moves within my soul
We're down in a ghost town

Overall Meaning

In "Ghost Town," Passenger describes the desolation and decay of a once-thriving town, now abandoned and forgotten. The lyrics evoke a sense of loss and sadness as the singer explores the haunting emptiness of this ghost town.


The opening line "Take a walk in a ghost town" invites the listener to immerse themselves in this forgotten place. The reference to the sky being "as black as crows" adds to the eerie atmosphere, emphasizing the darkness and despair that pervade the town. The line "They don't make cars like they used to here, times, they change, and factories close" alludes to the shifting tides of progress and the economic decline that led to the town's abandonment. The once-vibrant automobile industry has faded, leaving behind empty factories and lost jobs.


The second verse introduces the image of a ghost train, symbolizing the transient nature of time. While time itself moves fast like a hurricane, the singer feels a contrasting sense of slow motion, highlighting the stagnation and stillness of the ghost town. The chilling feeling intensifies as the singer acknowledges the cold, dark, and harsh conditions that come with living in such a desolate place.


The chorus reinforces the repeated notion of coldness, darkness, and emptiness. The line "The wind like fire coming off of the Great Lakes" suggests both the brutal cold winds blowing from the nearby bodies of water and the intensity of emotion felt in the ghost town.


Overall, "Ghost Town" presents a melancholic exploration of a forgotten place, capturing the eerie and haunting atmosphere through vivid imagery.


Line by Line Meaning

Take a walk in a ghost town
Experience the abandoned, desolate atmosphere of a place that was once bustling with life


The sky is as black as crows
The sky is dark, reflecting the absence of activity and life


They don't make cars like they used to here
The decline of the town is evident in the outdated infrastructure and lack of progress


Times, they change
The passage of time leads to inevitable transformations and shifts


And factories close
The closure of factories contributes to the town's ghostly ambiance


Take a ride on a ghost train
Experience a journey that lacks the liveliness and excitement it once had


Stare at the windows
Observe the empty, lifeless surroundings


See, time moves fast as a hurricane
Although time seems to pass quickly, the impact and consequences are long-lasting


But it's so strange
The contrast between the rapid passage of time and the slow, eerie atmosphere is unsettling


It feels so slow
Despite time's swift motion, it feels slow and prolonged in this desolate place


But sometimes it gets so cold down here
At times, the emotional emptiness and isolation become overwhelming


Well I swear it burns
The intense pain and discomfort of this emotional coldness is impactful


The wind like fire coming off of the Great Lakes
The chilling wind resembles fire, intensifying the emotional frigidity


Sometimes it gets so dark in here
The emotional darkness and despair become all-encompassing


Hey, I see it turn
The change and transformation within oneself becomes noticeable


The emptiness that moves within my soul
The profound void and lack of fulfillment that exists internally


We're down in a ghost town
We are trapped and immersed in a place devoid of life and vitality


See the crash in the rust
Witness the wreckage and decay in the corroded elements of the town


See the ash in the dust
Notice the remnants of what once was, now reduced to ashes and dirt


Feel it slipping through your hands
Sense the loss and inability to hold onto the past


Falling on the shoes and the shoulders
The weight of the past burdens and affects both physically and emotionally


Of the ragged man
Referring to the downtrodden and impoverished individuals affected by the town's decline


See the pride and the shame
Witness the contrasts between the town's former glory and current degradation


Like fire and the flame
These opposing forces of pride and shame burn within the hearts of its inhabitants


Well, it burns through every man
The effects of pride and shame impact and consume every individual


And drops them like drunken soldiers
They are left defeated and broken, resembling disoriented soldiers after a battle


On the river banks
Symbolizing the aftermath and consequences of their struggles and failures


Oh, I see it turn
The shift and transformation within oneself becomes evident


The emptiness that moves within my soul
The profound void and lack of fulfillment that exists internally


We're down in a ghost town
We are trapped and immersed in a place devoid of life and vitality




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michael David Rosenberg

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@passengermusic

Hello everyone , hope you’re all really good !

Here is the seventh video from our “runaway” roadtrip series . This one was shot in Detroit and is called “GHOST TOWN” .

I have only ever played once in Detroit - a few years ago at a beautiful old venue called the filmore and it was definitely one of the stand out shows of the tour . 

I have to be honest , before that evening I was quite unaware of what the city had been through . We had a few beers and a chat with some locals after the show and they gave me a brief history lesson ….

The birth place of Motown and once the thriving home to much of the American motor industry (General Motors , ford etc ) the city then fell on hard times as cars became cheaper to make over seas . 

Many of the factories and plants closed down leaving thousands of workers unemployed and with few prospects . 

Over the years more and more people left Detroit in search of opportunity and as a result houses and in some cases entire neighbourhoods were completely abandoned . 

I remember this idea really sticking with me . The thought of a real life ghost town was so sad and bizarre .

A few years later I wrote this song . 

We spent two days filming there on our trip and it was quite an overwhelming experience . Driving through silent streets that would have once been bustling neighbourhoods and walking in to abandoned houses still full of peoples discarded possessions and old lives . it was deeply sad and honestly quite a difficult couple of days . 

I hope we’ve captured some of the mood and atmosphere with this video .

Massive thanks as always to jarrad seng for nearly freezing his fingers off during the making of this and also to stu larsen and chris vallejo.

Please share it around if you can . 

Loads of love and many thanks . 

Mike xx

Ps I need to say that this is only the situation in a few areas and Detroit for the most part seems like a really cool town . The last thing I want to do with this song is to paint an unfair picture of the place or offend anyone !!!



@josiahkkim6333

LYRICS:-🤗🤗
Take a walk in a ghost town
The sky is as black as crows
They don't make cars like they used to here
Times, they change
And factories close
Take a ride on a ghost train
Stare at the windows
See, time moves fast as a hurricane
But it's so strange
It feels so slow
But sometimes it gets so cold down here
Well I swear it burns
The wind like fire coming off of the Great Lakes
Sometimes it gets so dark in here
Hey, I see it turn
The emptiness that moves within my soul
We're down in a ghost town
See the crash in the rust
See the ash in the dust
Feel it slipping through your hands
Falling on the shoes and the shoulders
Of the ragged man
See the pride and the shame
Like fire and the flame
Well, it burns through every man
And drops them like drunken soldiers
On the river banks
Well, sometimes it gets so cold down here
Hey I swear it burns
The wind like fire coming off of the Great Lakes
Sometimes it gets so dark in here
Well I see it turn
The emptiness that moves within my soul
We're down in a ghost town
Well, sometimes it gets so cold down here
Hey, I swear it burns
The wind like fire coming off of the Great Lakes
Sometimes it gets so dark in here
Oh, I see it turn
The emptiness that moves within my soul
We're down in a ghost town



All comments from YouTube:

@passengermusic

Hello everyone , hope you’re all really good !

Here is the seventh video from our “runaway” roadtrip series . This one was shot in Detroit and is called “GHOST TOWN” .

I have only ever played once in Detroit - a few years ago at a beautiful old venue called the filmore and it was definitely one of the stand out shows of the tour . 

I have to be honest , before that evening I was quite unaware of what the city had been through . We had a few beers and a chat with some locals after the show and they gave me a brief history lesson ….

The birth place of Motown and once the thriving home to much of the American motor industry (General Motors , ford etc ) the city then fell on hard times as cars became cheaper to make over seas . 

Many of the factories and plants closed down leaving thousands of workers unemployed and with few prospects . 

Over the years more and more people left Detroit in search of opportunity and as a result houses and in some cases entire neighbourhoods were completely abandoned . 

I remember this idea really sticking with me . The thought of a real life ghost town was so sad and bizarre .

A few years later I wrote this song . 

We spent two days filming there on our trip and it was quite an overwhelming experience . Driving through silent streets that would have once been bustling neighbourhoods and walking in to abandoned houses still full of peoples discarded possessions and old lives . it was deeply sad and honestly quite a difficult couple of days . 

I hope we’ve captured some of the mood and atmosphere with this video .

Massive thanks as always to jarrad seng for nearly freezing his fingers off during the making of this and also to stu larsen and chris vallejo.

Please share it around if you can . 

Loads of love and many thanks . 

Mike xx

Ps I need to say that this is only the situation in a few areas and Detroit for the most part seems like a really cool town . The last thing I want to do with this song is to paint an unfair picture of the place or offend anyone !!!

@joseyarley23

I love so much your music <3

@aishab007

❤❤❤ #youareamazing #Iloveyousomuch

@MACY3

I'm freaking late sorry haha

@deivid3414

- Te amoo💙🇧🇷

@PiYuSh_JaNa

Your voice 😵❤️💯

81 More Replies...

@michaelwhiston8779

Michael D. R.,
I'm 66 years old, living in Toronto, Canada.
I've been buying your albums for the last two years and have everything posted to iTunes.
Truly, I love your work.
All the best and good health.
Michael R. W.

@Kova00

Incredible! Definitely one of the best artists in the world !

@adelleakerstrom6888

Definitely

@passengermusic

Set a reminder on YouTube now to get a notification when the new video for 'Ghost Town' is released.

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