Ghost

This is a good song. Jeff Ament's protagonists within his lyrics seem to be the same person; someone who sees restrictions around him, and may try to get out, but ultimately almost gives in to these restrictions as if they are written in stone. I don't see the protagonists in his lyrics as lifting themselves out of the victim role even though, as in this song, they do the following (I took some liberties with the words);

i'm flying away, away
driving away, away
riding away, away
hiding away, away
flying away away
driving away away

The protagonists escapes but it seems temporarily. I think Jeff is a passionate lyricist, and it didn't hit me until this song.

Again, the ironic part is the line:

bring it on cause im no victim.

The protagonist is totally a victim only because he sees himself as one. This person may try to escape, or claw his way out of a hole for love, but I don't see responsibility for the things in his life. I don't see the change.

Now, at the same time, as the protagonist is trying to break these self-imposed chains that he projects as cultural chains, he is using courage. No doubt about it. He's trying. Really interesting song. It is like Nothingman is singing.

Why Ghost for a title. What is a ghost? A ghost is person that was once alive, and is dead, but doesn't know to let go of attachments. Hmm, could add a totally different element. Are we to assume this is about an actual ghost? I dobut it. I think the title is a metaphor. That maybe it is attachments to the past, maybe part of these self-imposed restrictions, that keep him struggling. I wonder if there is an interview out there where Jeff discusses this song. Would be interesting to see how off or on the mark I am, eh?