Griftwood by Ghost Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Spiritual Seduction and Hypocrisy within
Lyrics
Suffering for the lord is not an easy thing
Be it a conjuring
So ordained and adored, so immaculate
Ooh, so worth the debt
I’m your rock, baby
I won’t back down
I’m your rock, baby
Ask yourself, ooh
Are you righteous? Yes
You wanna play with the sire? Yes
You want a view from the spire? Yes
You want a seat by the pyre?
And never ever suffer again? Yes, yeah, yeah
Sacrifice for the whore leads the way from shame
Be it a loser’s game
The disdained and abhorred lash of the senate whip
Ooh, it’s a power trip
I’m your rock, baby
I won’t back down
I’m your rock, baby
Ask yourself, ooh
Are you righteous? Yes
You want to play with the sire? Yes
You want a view from the spire? Yes
You want a seat by the pyre
And never ever suffer again? Yes
You want to console the griever? Yes
You want to guide the believer? Yes
You are the greatest deceiver
And never ever suffer again
Holy mother, you washeth the sin from my feet
Holy mother
You shine like the sun and the moon and the stars in the sky
Holy mother, you washeth the sin from my feet (mother)
Holy mother
You shine like the sun and the moon and the stars in the sky
Holy mother, the world has set me on your shoulders (holy)
Holy mother
You shine like the sun and the moon and the stars in the sky
I’m your rock, baby
I won’t back down
I’m your rock, baby
Ask yourself
Are you righteous? Yes
You want to play with the sire? Yes
You want a view from the spire? Yes
You want a seat by the pyre?
And never ever suffer again (never ever suffer again)
Never ever suffer again
You want to play with the sire? Yes
You want a view from the spire? Yes
You want a seat by the pyre?
And never ever suffer again, yeah
You want to console the griever
You want to guide the believer
You are the greatest deceiver
And never ever suffer again
As the haunting strains of Ghost’s latest single ‘Griftwood’ echo through the airwaves, listeners are drawn into a cryptic narrative resonating with themes of faith, deception, and the human condition. The Swedish rock band, known for their theatricality and penchant for exploring the dark corridors of the soul, delivers yet another compelling piece that blurs the lines between sacrilege and sacredness.
Peering beneath the surface of ‘Griftwood,’ one discovers a labyrinth of metaphor and religious allusion that challenges the listener to question the very pillars of righteousness and devotion. This exploration is not just a journey through lyrics but a dive into the psyche behind them, and the musical sorcery that Ghost wields to ensnare and enlighten.
A Sinner’s Confession or a Saint’s Contradiction?
At first glance, ‘Griftwood’ may seem like an anthem for the steadfast, a homage to unwavering faith, as the chorus proclaims an unshakeable position: ‘I’m your rock, baby. I won’t back down.’ Yet, the deeper one delves into the verses, the clearer it becomes that Ghost is crafting a narrative steeped in irony. The song’s persona seems to position themselves as a pillar of religious fortitude, but a continuous string of interrogatives betrays an undercurrent of doubt and moral duplicity.
The repetitive affirmations beginning with ‘You want…’ followed by the eager response ‘Yes’ suggest a fanatic eagerness to achieve piety and proximity to the divine, but each aspiration is paired with a selfish desire for power and exemption from suffering. It’s a powerful critique of how religious fervor can sometimes be intertwined with personal ambition and the hunger for a sanctimonious control over the ethereal and the earthly.
The Allure of Power and the Lure of the Pyre
In its chorus, ‘Griftwood’ captivates the listener with the seductive promise of consequence-free existence. ‘You want a seat by the pyre? And never ever suffer again?’ sings the spectral voice, luring us with the imagery of a purifying fire — a classical symbol of both destruction and cleansing. However, the desire for a ‘seat by the pyre’ is a nuanced bid for a position of power, spectatorship, and perhaps a role in the judgment of others.
The pyre becomes a metaphor for the destructive consequences of power—those who are drawn to its warmth are also at risk of being consumed by it. Ghost weaves this cautionary tale into an eerily beautiful melody, ensuring that the temptation and the warning resonate equally within the listener’s consciousness.
The Hidden Meaning: Veneration or Vilification?
Beneath its melodic sheen, ‘Griftwood’ harbors a rich spectrum of interpretation. On one level, it can be seen as a religious person’s inner monologue, contemplating the price of their spiritual journey. On another, it serves as a biting commentary on the institutions that exploit faith for control. The song poses as an introspective examination of conscience, only to reveal the vanity and crippling fear of damnation lurking behind fervent displays of piety and righteousness.
Consequently, the track forces us to confront the uncomfortable notion that religion, often perceived as a force for good, can also be manipulated into a tool for personal gratification and the exertion of power over the masses. The lyrics deftly dance between adoration and accusation, leaving listeners to wrestle with their convictions and the authenticity of their spiritual leaders.
The Solemn Plea of the ‘Holy Mother’ and Its Resonance
The bridge shifts the narrative focus to a figure referred to as ‘Holy Mother.’ This repeated invocation evokes an image of the Virgin Mary, a symbol of purity and intercession in Christian tradition. Ghost’s utilization of this iconography appears to seek solace and redemption, but the earnest plea is undercut by the juxtaposition of previous verses, suggesting the pleas may be more manipulative than genuine.
‘Holy Mother, you washeth the sin from my feet,’ the line repeats, suggesting a desire to be cleansed of sin without the need for personal sacrifice or true contrition. This complex interplay of religious sentiment and subtextual skepticism anchors ‘Griftwood’ not only within the pantheon of Ghost’s discography but also within the ongoing discourse on the intersection of faith, redemption, and human frailty.
Memorable Lines: Navigating a Quagmire of Faith and Doubt
‘You want to console the griever? You want to guide the believer? You are the greatest deceiver.’ These striking lines from ‘Griftwood’ offer a scathing critique of hypocrisy within religious figures who take on the roles of comforter and guide while harboring deceitful intentions. It’s a poignant reminder of the potential incongruity between outward expressions of holiness and the inner moral compass.
In these memorable musical phrases, the duplicity inherent in the desire to appear as a beacon of truth while subtly manipulating the truth itself becomes manifest. ‘Griftwood’ thus stands as a profound musical parable, a modern psalm that mourns the loss of spiritual authenticity in a world where image often trumps integrity.
