Ghost In the Machinery
Sarah Brightman Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In the heat of the moment
In the dark of the night
You never see his face
For he's the ghost inside
In the heat of the moment
He will laugh at you
How can you make peace
When he's at war with you

In the heat of the moment
You're a perfect guy
Born to make mistakes
He knows the reason why

He's a shock to the system
He's a wicked clown
No matter what you do
He turns it upside down

Ghost in the machinery

In the light of a new love
In the dark of night
You can fall asleep
And dream he's out of sight

In the eyes of the children
You can read his name
They'll make the




same mistakes
And that's the only way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Ghost In the Machinery" by Sarah Brightman explore the theme of internal conflict and the constant presence of self-doubt and negativity within an individual. The song speaks about a ghost or a symbolic representation of those negative thoughts and emotions that haunt us, particularly in moments of vulnerability and darkness.


The song suggests that this ghost is elusive, never revealing its true identity or face. It represents the inner voice that constantly undermines and derides, laughing at the singer's attempts to find peace. This ghost is described as a contrast to the singer, who is perceived as a "perfect guy" destined to make mistakes. The ghost manipulates situations and turns them upside down, disrupting any sense of stability or resolution the singer seeks.


Despite the singer's desire to escape the presence of this ghost, the lyrics suggest the inevitable repetition of mistakes through subsequent generations. The mention of children highlights the idea that these negative patterns and self-destructive tendencies are passed down, perpetuating the cycle of inner turmoil.


Overall, "Ghost In the Machinery" showcases the struggle individuals face in reconciling their flaws and finding inner peace, while recognizing the difficulty of escaping the pervasive influence of negative thoughts and emotions.


Line by Line Meaning

In the heat of the moment
Amid intense emotions and urgency


In the dark of the night
During times of uncertainty and obscurity


You never see his face
His identity remains hidden


For he's the ghost inside
He resides within, haunting and influencing


He will laugh at you
Mocking and finding amusement in your actions


How can you make peace
Finding reconciliation and harmony


When he's at war with you
But he is constantly opposing and conflicting with you


You're a perfect guy
Although you strive for perfection


Born to make mistakes
You are inherently bound to err


He knows the reason why
He understands the underlying cause


He's a shock to the system
He disrupts and unsettles your equilibrium


He's a wicked clown
His nature is deceitful and mischievous


No matter what you do
Regardless of your efforts


He turns it upside down
He reverses and confounds your intentions


Ghost in the machinery
He is an intangible and haunting presence within the mechanisms of life


In the light of a new love
When experiencing the beginning of a romantic relationship


You can fall asleep
You can feel secure and at ease


And dream he's out of sight
Imagining his absence in your dreams


In the eyes of the children
When observing the innocence of young ones


You can read his name
You can discern his influence and impact


They'll make the same mistakes
They will repeat the same errors


And that's the only way
And that seems to be the unavoidable path




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID RAVENHILL, FRANK PETERSON, KLAUS HIRSCHBURGER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Luiz Gustavo Ferreira de Souza

In the heat of the moment
In the dark of the night
You never see his face
For he's the ghost inside
In the heat of the moment
He will laugh at you
How can you make peace
When he's at war with you
In the heat of the moment
You're a perfect guy
Born to make mistakes
He knows the reason why
He's a shock to the system
He's a wicked clown
No matter what you do
He turns it upside down
Ghost in the machinery
In the light of a new love
In the dark of night
You can fall asleep
And dream he's out of sight
In the eyes of the children
You can read his name
They'll make the
same mistakes
And that's the only way

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