Ghostchant
Poison the Well Lyrics

The lyrics of Poison the Well's song Ghostchant express a sense of detachment from the people and situations that drain one's energy and creativity. The first line, "Sever your relation to those who are dependent on breathing the obvious in it only turns your lips blue," suggests that the people around the singer are too reliant on conventional wisdom and that exposure to their ideas is destructive. This is reinforced by the image of blue lips, which can indicate oxygen deprivation and suffocation. The following line, "Unfastens inspiration from your throat," implies that being surrounded by such people stifles one's creativity and makes it difficult to express oneself.

The second stanza moves to a more concrete example of a harmful relationship, with the lines "No one around so you slash pretty skin. You told me they drove you to it. How many times do I have to turn the switch to warn you about jumping in the back of the cars." The use of the second person suggests that the singer is addressing someone specific who has engaged in self-harm at the behest of others. The singer implies that they have warned the person about taking risks before, but that the person has not heeded their advice. The lyrics become more sinister in the final lines, which describe a scene of violence against the person: "Covered in gasoline as they hover above you with the match they ignite." This suggests that the person has become a victim of some kind of attack, both physically and metaphorically.

Overall, the lyrics of Ghostchant convey a sense of alienation from the people and situations that cause harm and block creativity. The song suggests that it is better to cut ties with people who drain one's energy and to be aware of the risks that come from dangerous situations.