VHS's three core members have played music together for most of their lives. James Bohannon and Conor Cook went to middle school together in New York City, while James went to high school with Nils Vanderlip where they started their first band.
In 2015 VHS formed, based initially around home recordings which the band posted on Soundcloud. VHS began performing around NYC's lower east side rock clubs, eventually selling out several shows at the Mercury Lounge that year. In 2015, they released their debut EP whose lead single "Lean" rose to #8 on the Spotify Viral charts. In 2016, VHS released Stereo Hype, which included the indie hit “Waiting on the Summer." VHS performed at major festivals that year including Lollapalooza and ACL. The band continued to release singles and tour leading up to the release of their debut LP Retrofuturism in November 2018. VHS's songs have also been featured in Shameless, Sunday Night Football, Love, You, and dozens of other TV shows.
Ghost
Vhs Collection Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And ride it to the end of the line
Pull the chord after Broadway
Just to keep from losing my mind
I ride the roller coaster, kinda like a movie poster
I just want to feel more alive
When we get bored, I board the subway
It's lonely on the island tonight
I feel it in my bones
All I need is you
I feel it in my bones
All I need is you
On the [?], I was lonely
And these are streets where I used to sleep
I came from [?] towards a memory
Manhattan was a city of dreams
I was a real fast talker, hustler and a side-street walker
I was trying just to survive
On the [?], that's where they showed me
How to live like I'm alive
I feel it in my bones
All I need is you
I feel it in my bones
All I need is you
I feel it in my bones
All I need is you
I feel it in my bones
All I need is you
The city will burn, the city will fade
With you by my side, as I'm walking awayThe city will burn, the city will fade
I feel it in my bones
All I need is you
I feel it in my bones
All I need is you
I feel it in my bones
All I need is you
I feel it in my bones
All I need is you
The lyrics of VHS Collection’s “Ghost” depicts a man who takes the subway to escape his boredom and the loneliness he feels on the island. The singer tells of how he rides the subway to the end of the line and how it feels like a roller coaster, something that makes him feel more alive. He reminisces on his past and how he used to sleep on the streets before finding his way to Manhattan, which he describes as a city of dreams. The singer talks about his past as a “hustler” and a “side-street walker,” all in a bid to survive. He found refuge on the subway, and it was there that he was shown how to live like he's alive.
The lyrics show the singer's vulnerability and how he seeks solace in a place where he can be alone with his thoughts. The subway symbolizes the singer's escape from his reality, and the roller coaster ride he describes represents his need for something daring and exciting. The lyrics of “Ghost” are honest and sincere, and the message conveyed is one of hope and the need to find one's place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
When I get bored, I take the subway
To escape boredom, I ride the subway
And ride it to the end of the line
I ride the subway until the last stop
Pull the chord after Broadway
I pull the subway stop cord after Broadway
Just to keep from losing my mind
I do it to maintain my sanity
I ride the roller coaster, kinda like a movie poster
I ride the subway like it's a thrilling movie
I just want to feel more alive
I do it to feel more alive
When we get bored, I board the subway
When we get bored, I ride the subway
It's lonely on the island tonight
I feel lonely on the island tonight
I feel it in my bones
I have a strong feeling
All I need is you
All I need is your company
On the [?], I was lonely
I felt lonely on the street
And these are streets where I used to sleep
These are the streets where I used to spend nights
I came from [?] towards a memory
I am reminiscing about the past
Manhattan was a city of dreams
Manhattan was a place where people chased their dreams
I was a real fast talker, hustler and a side-street walker
I was a street-smart and resourceful person
I was trying just to survive
I was just trying to stay alive
On the [?], that's where they showed me
On the street, I learned important lessons
How to live like I'm alive
How to truly live life to the fullest
The city will burn, the city will fade
The city can change and will change
With you by my side, as I'm walking away
I want you to be with me as I move on
I feel it in my bones
I have a strong feeling
All I need is you
All I need is your company
Contributed by Sadie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@teh_nagato
Listen 10-20 times every day. I'm sick, but can't stop. I feel it in my ears, all I need is this track.
@RishabhSawant
same here. Been listening to this the whole week
@danielsneighborhood2050
Omg, that is funny.
@RishabhSawant
I hope this makes its way into mainstream music. I've been addicted to this song.
@iamGuzzi
lets hope not so we can keep it all to ourselves :)
@SnaptrixGaming
Bringing back 80's synth style music
@DBR00
I head this song for the first time yesterday, July 3,2024 and immediately fell in love with it.
@emimautx
Just discovered this amazing song on Spotify, love it.
@SKIROW
All I need is a VHS Collection in my playlist
@CobaltLobo
I hear this playing at my work all the time and have been dying to know what the name of the song was. finally was able to catch more of the lyrics and found it that way lol.