like a ghost
Van Johnson Lyrics

Van Johnson's song "Like a Ghost" is a poignant and introspective exploration of a love that has ended, leaving the singer feeling hollow and haunted. The opening lines of the song are particularly striking, as Johnson sings of a woman whose footsteps are as light as gossamer, suggesting that she is no longer solid or present in the singer's life. The sense of absence is underscored by the image of being buried with two pence as passage paid, hinting at the traditional practice of placing coins on the eyes of a corpse in order to pay the ferryman who will carry them across the River Styx.

The lyrics also touch on the idea of memory and the ghosts of the past. The line "where were you when only the shadows and ghosts were left?" could be interpreted as a longing for a lost connection or a feeling of betrayal, as if the woman in question has forsaken the singer when times were tough. The reference to "alleys of gasoline hearts" and "intangible untouchable skylines" evokes a sense of urban dislocation and isolation, suggesting that the singer feels adrift in a city that once seemed full of possibility.

Throughout the song, the woman is presented as a spectral figure, haunting the singer with her absence. The motif of walking through someone "just like a ghost" is repeated, emphasizing the idea that the singer feels erased or ignored by their former lover. Despite the pain and sadness in the lyrics, there is also a sense of resignation and acceptance. The final line, "she treads so softly now gossamer footsteps and she's walking through me just like a ghost," suggests that the singer has come to terms with the loss and is now able to watch the woman move on with a sense of detachment.