While traveling through the city of Amsterdam in the winter of 2006, B L S fatefully met SENSE. Like two old friends who had yet to meet, they recorded a song in an afternoon at SENSE’s houseboat studio, went out for the night in the city, slapped hands and parted ways. In the summer of 2007, B L S returned to the city of Amsterdam with one mission: make an album with SENSE. The two began working on their second song together. B L S casually mentioned to SENSE producing an entire project together, but SENSE was reluctant, saying he was already involved with too many projects to make any promises.
As fate would have it that afternoon when B L S left the studio, he left behind his rhyme book. That night SENSE opened up the book and began reading the rhymes B L S had been writing that last year. SENSE had found the words to match his sound, and called B L S back that very night to record and SHAHMEN was born.
Ghost Town
Shahmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shotgun shells, a couple crow feathers
Kill a pack of camels as the morning sun breaks
Through my bedroom window in the Hollywood drug maze
Catch a high from the lights or the spike
I′ve been selling off my worries every night
Good advice needed, bad advice taken
Still waiting at the same train station
Dance around with pockets full of posie till′ we faded
Fall away and shedding skin hiding all the mess I'm in
Wrote a song about suicide and named it medicine
I wish time was just an hourglass
But life is so short, one day it'll all pass
For today I′m open wide as an eagle glides
Cutting all these knives at the angles of my evil side
I′ve been waiting on an angel - this whole time
I've been lost and I′ve tangoed - to survive
Yeah I painted till' the pain goes - goodbye
Yeah I chase and I race for - a good life
I′ve been waiting on an angel - this whole time
I've been lost and I′ve tangoed - to survive
Yeah I painted till' the pain goes - goodbye
Yeah I chase for a taste of - a good life
Summer skin with my winter eyes
Hunting and searching for something that's always been inside
Till′ the tides run low and I′m standing
At the beach side while the palm trees blow
A calm breeze grows but I still feel nervous
All these accidents I did it on purpose
The hermit cracked the shell and I
Flipped my last penny in the lucky wishing well
Time killing like murder
All these bodies filling out the floor further
Heaven's high and hell is down, wonder where the hell I′m now
Somewhere in the hills at sun set above this ghost town
Smoke clouds float around, this fool's golden crown
Used to drop a jewel, I just hold em′ now
Hang it up and call it quits, cut your heart and slit your wrists
Or start to smile at the fact that you don't know what it is
Is this house haunted or I′m to blame
Walked passed the mirror and I didn't see a damn thing
The lyrics of Shahmen’s “Ghost Town” paint a vivid picture of a dark and eerie world, filled with ghosts and painful memories. The opening lines describe a collection of items that represent the past, including shoe boxes of photographs and love letters. The mention of shotgun shells and crow feathers adds a sinister edge to these memories.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on their own life, admitting to substance abuse and a willingness to take bad advice. They speak of waiting for an angel and feeling lost, searching for a good life. The contrast of summer skin with winter eyes highlights the inner turmoil within the singer.
The final lines of the song leave the listener with a sense of confusion and uncertainty. The singer wonders if the house they are in is haunted or if they are to blame for their own troubles. The mention of walking past a mirror and not seeing a reflection only adds to the eerie tone of the song.
Overall, “Ghost Town” is a haunting and introspective song that explores themes of regret, loss, and the search for meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Shoe boxes full of photographs and love letters
I have enough mementos to fill my shoeboxes with pictures and love letters.
Shotgun shells, a couple crow feathers
I have shotgun shells and crow feathers; likely I went hunting or had an encounter with crows.
Kill a pack of camels as the morning sun breaks, Through my bedroom window in the Hollywood drug maze
As the morning sun breaks through my bedroom window, I kill a pack of camels somewhere in Hollywood.
Catch a high from the lights or the spike
I try to feel better from the influence of the city lights or drugs.
I′ve been selling off my worries every night
Every night I try not to worry by getting rid of them.
Good advice needed, bad advice taken
I need good advice, but I take bad advice.
Still waiting at the same train station
I'm still waiting at the same train station as before.
All my friends are ghosts and they've got no faces
My imaginary friends are ghosts, and I can't see their faces.
Dance around with pockets full of posie till′ we faded
We dance around with pockets full of posies until we're no longer visible.
Fall away and shedding skin hiding all the mess I'm in
I fall away from people and hide my problems.
Wrote a song about suicide and named it medicine
I wrote a song about suicide, and I named it medicine to show how it can help me feel better.
I wish time was just an hourglass
I wish time was more manageable, like an hourglass.
But life is so short, one day it'll all pass
Even though life is brief, it will inevitably come to an end.
For today I′m open wide as an eagle glides
Today, I'm open-minded as an eagle soars through the sky.
Cutting all these knives at the angles of my evil side
I'm trying to cut through my evil side with a metaphorical knife.
I′ve been waiting on an angel - this whole time
I've been waiting for guidance and help all this time.
I've been lost and I′ve tangoed - to survive
I've been lost and had to find my way, figuratively dancing the tango as I try to survive.
Yeah I painted till' the pain goes - goodbye
I distract myself with painting until the pain goes away.
Yeah I chase and I race for - a good life
I try to live a good life and chase after my dreams.
Summer skin with my winter eyes
Despite it being summer, I'm still looking at everything with a cold, distant perspective.
Hunting and searching for something that's always been inside
I'm hunting and searching for something that's been inside me all along.
Till′ the tides run low and I′m standing
I'll keep searching until the tides run low and I'm left standing.
At the beach side while the palm trees blow
I'm standing on the beach, surrounded by palm trees that sway in the breeze.
A calm breeze grows but I still feel nervous
Even as the breeze becomes calmer, I still feel anxious and on edge.
All these accidents I did it on purpose
All of these mishaps and issues were caused by me intentionally.
The hermit cracked the shell and I
I had a breakthrough or epiphany because of secluding myself like a hermit.
Flipped my last penny in the lucky wishing well
I made my final attempt to wish for good luck by throwing a penny in a wishing well.
Time killing like murder
The passing of time feels like I'm being killed slowly.
All these bodies filling out the floor further
I feel like numerous dead bodies are filling up the ground surrounding me.
Heaven's high and hell is down, wonder where the hell I′m now
I'm unsure where I stand or which direction my life is headed.
Somewhere in the hills at sun set above this ghost town
My current location is likely up in the hills during sunset in this abandoned area.
Smoke clouds float around, this fool's golden crown
Smoke clouds drift about around me, the foolish king.
Used to drop a jewel, I just hold em′ now
I used to give out precious gems, but now I just hold onto them.
Hang it up and call it quits, cut your heart and slit your wrists
I'm to the point where I contemplate giving up and causing harm to myself.
Or start to smile at the fact that you don't know what it is
I could try my best to see the bright side and smile at not knowing what the future holds.
Is this house haunted or I′m to blame
I'm not sure if the house is haunted or if the consequences and issues are caused by me instead.
Walked passed the mirror and I didn't see a damn thing
I ignored the reflection in the mirror and saw nothing but a blur.
Writer(s): Shahmen
Contributed by Dominic T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.