Anyone‚S Ghost
The National Lyrics


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Say you stay at home
Alone with the flu
Find out from friends
That wasn't true
Go out at night with your headphones on, again
And walk through the Manhattan valleys of, the dead

Didn't want to be your ghost
Didn't want to be anyone's ghost
Didn't want to be your ghost
Didn't want to be anyone's ghost
But I don't want anybody else
I don't want anybody else

You said I came close
As anyone has come
To live underwater
For more than a month
You said it was not inside my heart, it was
You said it should tear a kid apart, it does

Didn't want to be your ghost
Didn't want to be anyone's ghost
Didn't want to be your ghost
Didn't want to be anyone's ghost
But I don't want anybody else
I don't want anybody else
I don't want anybody else
I don't want anybody else

I had a hole in the middle where the lightning went through it
Told my friends not to worry
I had a hole in the middle someone's sideshow to do
I told my friends not to worry

Didn't want to be your ghost
Didn't want to be anyone's ghost




Didn't want to be your ghost
Didn't want to be anyone's ghost

Overall Meaning

The National's song "Anyone's Ghost" tells the story of someone who is struggling with their sense of identity and their place in the world. The lyrics are filled with powerful metaphors that capture the feeling of being lost and disconnected from the people and things around you. In the first verse, the singer is alone at home with the flu, but finds out from their friends that they weren't really sick. This sense of being lied to and left out of the loop highlights the distance between the singer and the people around them. The singer then puts on their headphones and walks through the "Manhattan valleys of the dead," suggesting a feeling of isolation and despair.


The chorus repeats the refrain "Didn't want to be your ghost, didn't want to be anyone's ghost," indicating the singer's desire to be seen and recognized as a living, breathing person, rather than just a shadow or a memory. The repetition of this line underscores the deep sense of longing and alienation that the singer feels.


In the second verse, the singer is praised for their ability to survive underwater for more than a month, but the singer brushes off this compliment, suggesting that they are still struggling to keep their head above water in their everyday life. The line "It should tear a kid apart, it does" reinforces the idea that the singer is still a vulnerable and confused person, despite any external accomplishments or accolades.


Overall, "Anyone's Ghost" is a deeply emotional and introspective song that captures the feelings of loneliness and disconnection that many of us experience at some point in our lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Say you stay at home
You were told to stay home with the flu


Alone with the flu
You were alone while sick with flu


Find out from friends
You learned from your friends


That wasn't true
What your friends told you was false


Go out at night with your headphones on, again
You're going out at night with your headphones on, like you've done before


And walk through the Manhattan valleys of, the dead
You're walking through the desolate parts of Manhattan


Didn't want to be your ghost
You didn't want to be a memory or a haunting presence in someone's life


Didn't want to be anyone's ghost
You didn't want to be a forgotten figure in anyone's life


But I don't want anybody else
You don't want anyone else but the person you're addressing


You said I came close
You were told that you almost achieved something


As anyone has come
As close as anyone else has come


To live underwater
To survive being underwater


For more than a month
For over 30 days


You said it was not inside my heart, it was
You were told that it wasn't a matter of desire, but ability


You said it should tear a kid apart, it does
You were told that the experience is traumatizing, and it is


I had a hole in the middle where the lightning went through it
You had a wound shaped like a lightning bolt


Told my friends not to worry
You reassured your friends not to be concerned


I had a hole in the middle someone's sideshow to do
Your wound was a spectacle for others to see


Didn't want to be your ghost
You didn't want to be a reminder of the person you're addressing


Didn't want to be anyone's ghost
You didn't want to be forgotten by anyone




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Matthew Donald Berninger, Bryce David Dessner

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Didya51

6 years later and everything about this performance video is pure perfection

@keithbate9405

10 years later one of their greatest performances, and there have been many since !!
saw them live in Manchester (UK) in August (2022). Brilliant gig. My favourite since 1989 and in my all-time top 10 gigs
.

@jjhofstra5956

ditto for 10 years later....

@kates6503

Still in love with this one, loved it back then and can't forget about it

@Isitlovesaidshe

I find this song incredibly haunting, and something always draws me to it.

@DrMorrisOnline

Amazing!  The subtle power of the drums and electric guitars is simply mesmerizing.

@brittdecker5137

Video goes great with the song. Such melancholy

@michaelp.4890

Right as rain.

@VIMrussia

plus

@philharrison5242

A rhythm section to die for..

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