Absolution by Ghost Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Enigmatic Quest for Redemption
Lyrics
Every day a little more you’ve been dying
Dying to reach the setting sun
As a child, with your mind on the horizon
Over corpses, to the prize you kept your eyes on
Trying to be the chosen one
All those things that you desire
You will find there in the fire
Put your hands up and reach for the sky
Cry for absolution
You’ll be down on your knees and you’ll cry
Cry for absolution
Even now when you’re here you are moving
Hysterically seeking out what needs improving
And you’re still asking for the sun
All those things that you desire
You will find there in the fire
Put your hands up and reach for the sky
Cry for absolution
You’ll be down on your knees and you’ll cry
Cry for absolution
Put your hands up and reach for the sky
Cry for absolution
You’ll be down on your knees and you’ll cry
Cry for absolution
Put your hands up and reach for the sky
Cry for absolution
You’ll be down on your knees and you’ll cry
Cry for absolution
Ghost’s gripping track ‘Absolution’ encases a powerful narrative on the relentless pursuit of fulfillment and the inexorable yearning for redemption. At its core, the song is an anthem that resonates with the human condition, echoing our innermost desire to find meaning and atonement in the journey of life.
Dissecting ‘Absolution’, we delve deep into the metaphors and existential undertones skilfully woven by Ghost. It’s a song that stands as both a critique and a reflection—throwing light on our perpetual struggle with mortality, ambition, and the inherent need to make peace with our actions.
Echoes of Mortality: The Battle Against Time
From the very onset, ‘Absolution’ confronts us with the stark reality of our own mortality. ‘Ever since you were born you’ve been dying’ is not just a startling statement; it’s an inescapable truth. The song captures the essence of a universal struggle—every day is a step closer to the end, a concept that Ghost portrays with a blunt poeticism that is both chilling and thought-provoking.
The imagery of decay and the setting sun serve as potent symbols for the inevitable decline all humans experience. The band challenges listeners to confront the impermanence of life, pushing us to consider the weight of our actions in the limited time we possess.
The Ambitious Child and the Corpse-Strewn Path to Glory
In a notable shift from the sombre introduction, Ghost introduces the archetype of the ‘child with your mind on the horizon.’ It is a powerful symbol of innocence tainted by ambition. The child’s gaze, fixed on a distant price ‘over corpses’, conveys a harrowing willingness to achieve greatness at any cost. The line speaks to the darker side of human nature—ambition, often draped in nobility, can lead to a path littered with moral casualties.
This juxtaposition exposes the thin line between determination and the hubris that can consume one’s soul. The song poses an implied question to listeners: At what price does one’s ambition come, and who pays for it?
Infernal Desires: The Fire as a Dual Metaphor
Ghost’s brilliantly reoccurring theme of ‘the fire’ serves a dual purpose. It symbolizes both the destructive power of desire and the purifying aspect of trials. ‘All those things that you desire, You will find there in the fire,’ is suggestive of the consuming nature of unchecked wants. Yet, there’s a transformative force implied—an opportunity for rebirth—a crucible in which one may find absolution.
The song weaves a sense of urgency and a quest for purification through suffering. There is an implicit acknowledgment that we are endlessly chasing desires, which in turn lead us to both our downfall and our salvation; a paradox that is intrinsically human.
An Elegy for Supplication: The Quest for Absolution
The chorus is a plaintive cry—a universal plea resonating with the depth of humanity’s quest for forgiveness. The repeated invocation to put hands ‘up and reach for the sky’ and then be ‘down on your knees’ is emblematic of the human dichotomy between divine aspiration and earthly penance.
Ghost doesn’t just sing; they evoke a haunting liturgy. They compel us to examine our own lives: are we simply going through motions, or are we actively seeking a path to atonement? The emotive weight of the chorus captures the struggle for pardon and the inherent desire for spiritual elevation.
Peeling Back the Veil: The Hidden Meaning Behind ‘Cry for Absolution’
Delving deeper, ‘Absolution’ could be Ghost’s exploration into the struggle with modernity and its discontents. The insatiable drive for progress, ‘hysterically seeking out what needs improving,’ points to a potential critique of our collective obsession with perpetual self-improvement and material success.
Hiding beneath its macabre imagery and anthemic melodies, ‘Absolution’ is both a reflection and a forewarning. It asks its audience to consider whether the relentless pursuit of our desires and the endless improvement we seek are ultimately leading us towards fulfillment or hurling us into the abyss of our own creation.
