Haunted
The Pogues & Cait O'Riordan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somewhere in London
In the middle of nowhere
Didn't have nothing to do that day
Didn't wanna do nothing anyway
You got a way of walking
You got a way of talking
And now I know I never ever
Want to be without you
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
Of your precious love
Of your precious love
The first time I saw you
Standing in the street
You were so cool
You could have put out Vietnam
My girlfriends ask me, what's he like
I say, he's kind of shy,
But that's the kind of girl I am
He's my kind of guy
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
Of your precious love
Of your precious love
I'll build my world around you
I'll bless the day that I found you
I'll stand beside you, I'll never leave
Or tell you all those lies
That you'd never believe
In The Pogues' song "Haunted," the singer recalls a particular day in London where he met someone whom he was fascinated by. The lyrics indicate that he didn't have anything in particular to do that day and didn't want to do anything anyways. It was a sunny day, and he was wandering around in the middle of nowhere in London when he met someone who caught his attention. They had a particular way of walking and talking that drew him towards them. Something about them made him realize that he never wanted to be without them again.
The singer then tells us that he wants to be haunted by the ghost of this person's love. He has fallen in love with them and wants to be continuously surrounded by the feeling of being in love with them, even when they're not around. He goes on to describe the first time he saw them and how he was drawn to their coolness, which he compares to putting out Vietnam. The lyrics convey that he was immediately taken with them, and his girlfriend's probing reveals that even though they are both shy, they might be a good match for one another.
In the chorus, the singer repeats that he wants to be haunted by the ghost of this person's love. He is willing to build his world around them and will never tell them any lies. He makes a vow to stand beside them and never leave. Overall, the song "Haunted" is a love song about finding someone who you never want to be without and wanting to be forever surrounded by the love they give.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember that sunny day?
Recalling a day spent in London, with nothing particular to do.
Somewhere in London
An unknown location in London.
In the middle of nowhere
A secluded, desolate area.
Didn't have nothing to do that day
No plans or commitments were set for that day.
Didn't wanna do nothing anyway
Feeling lazy or content with doing nothing.
You got a way of walking
Noticing an attractive physical trait in the person.
You got a way of talking
Noticing an attractive personality trait in the person.
And there's something about you
Feeling drawn or attracted to the person.
And now I know I never ever
Realizing that the attraction is strong enough to want to always be with the person.
Want to be without you
Not wanting to be separated from the person.
I want to be haunted by the ghost
Desiring to be continually haunted by the memory of the person's love.
Of your precious love
The love that the person offers is highly valuable and appreciated.
The first time I saw you
Recalling the moment when the attraction to the person began.
Standing in the street
The person was seen in public.
You were so cool
The person had a certain air of confidence and attractiveness.
You could have put out Vietnam
The person was so cool that they could have ended the Vietnam war.
My girlfriends ask me, what's he like
Female friends inquire about the person's personality.
I say, he's kind of shy,
Describing the person's personality as introverted.
But that's the kind of girl I am
Stating a similarity in personality with the person.
He's my kind of guy
The attraction to the person is reaffirmed.
I'll build my world around you
Willingness to make the person a central focus of life.
I'll bless the day that I found you
Feeling grateful for meeting the person.
I'll stand beside you, I'll never leave
Promise to be a constant and supportive presence in the person's life.
Or tell you all those lies
Commitment to honesty in the relationship.
That you'd never believe
Acknowledging that trust is important and should not be breached.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHANE PATRICK LYSAGHT MACGOWAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Red Hawk
This song has more meaning for me now.
My daughter died from septic shock, she got it from using dirty needles.
My sister died a little later from liver failure,from drinking.
A lot of friends and people I knew died.
Richie Hoyt
I'm sorry.
I lost my best friend to a heroin overdose some years back.
...and then my wife when she drank my methadone 2 years ago.
Hold on, Guy.
May your daughter and sister be resting in peace.
freddan6fly
Sorry to hear about your pain. Stay strong.
Mike Chase
sorry to hear friend. My girlfriend committed suicide this year on a night she asked if I could see her. I feel your pain
Dean Nilvalli
I like all the versions I have heard so far. The demo with Cait, this one with Cait, and the version with Sinead. All different, all great. Cait takes a very different approach, Sinead has her own approach, both of them work brilliantly. Also.... Shane sure seems to like ghosts. Think of all the songs with some reference to ghosts in them!
Kat Noir
One of my favorite songs of all time. Cuts deep.
modefour
This is definitely my favourite version of this song.
Nate J
Sinead’s version is alright, but when Cait sings “I'll stay beside you and I'll never leave..Or tell you all those lies you'd never believe” it’s like she’s grabbing and shaking your soul.
A.J. Meyer
Perhaps a controversial opinion: Sinead’s version is ruined by Shane (the song is meant to be sung by a female voice, imo). But yeah, this is Cait’s song and it’s an absolute gem.
TM Rezzek
Haunted by the ghost of this song since I heard it on college radio so many years ago...and now I've found it again!! Sometimes in life, you actually DO realize small joys!