The Longshot
Chasing a Ghost
Song Meaning
Billie Joe Armstrong (Vulture, January 2024): "There’s a song I did on the Longshot record called Chasing a Ghost, which talks about being lonely in sobriety. Dilemma is sort of connected to that."
Fan interpretation: "The 'ghost' the narrator is chasing could be his longing for alcohol, but it could also be a person – someone who eventually gave him a 'punch in the nose' for his boozing but was his 'last hurrah' at the same time; the same person he's 'in trouble and in love' with again in Dilemma. His sobriety might have come too late to save that relationship and he's thinking he's still lonely and miserable ('thanks for the company but I'm still standing alone'), so why not just start drinking again? Chasing a Ghost also feels like a prequel to Suzie Chapstick. Both songs refer to 'a long, long time ago.' The line 'if you see her, tell her that I said hello,' seems to foreshadow 'will I ever see your face again?'"
Fan interpretation by The Bellie on GDC: "The ghost could be something that never existed, something he was seeing through these girlfriends who weren't meant for him, and even now, he continues to desire it. The word ghost is like referring to a dead person. While they aren't dead, it could be connoting the faded side of the memory associated with them, while it's only faded in time, not so much in his mind, so I tend to believe the word is chosen to describe not only the fact it doesn't exist, but also maybe the link to death he kinda finds through these girlfriends."
Fan interpretation: "The 'ghost' the narrator is chasing could be his longing for alcohol, but it could also be a person – someone who eventually gave him a 'punch in the nose' for his boozing but was his 'last hurrah' at the same time; the same person he's 'in trouble and in love' with again in Dilemma. His sobriety might have come too late to save that relationship and he's thinking he's still lonely and miserable ('thanks for the company but I'm still standing alone'), so why not just start drinking again? Chasing a Ghost also feels like a prequel to Suzie Chapstick. Both songs refer to 'a long, long time ago.' The line 'if you see her, tell her that I said hello,' seems to foreshadow 'will I ever see your face again?'"
Fan interpretation by The Bellie on GDC: "The ghost could be something that never existed, something he was seeing through these girlfriends who weren't meant for him, and even now, he continues to desire it. The word ghost is like referring to a dead person. While they aren't dead, it could be connoting the faded side of the memory associated with them, while it's only faded in time, not so much in his mind, so I tend to believe the word is chosen to describe not only the fact it doesn't exist, but also maybe the link to death he kinda finds through these girlfriends."
Have your own interpretation of "Chasing a Ghost"? Leave a comment below.
Lyrics
Piss stains and cigarettes, this party's getting dull
I'm looking for a bump and a love to call my own
I'm feeling like a moron, bitter and withdrawn
Standing in the shadows with all the good times gone
I got the tears, oh baby, crying in my soul
Hang from the chandelier from a long, long time ago
Chasing a ghost
Chasing a ghost
Ooh
Everyone is happy and everyone is gay
Feeling the spirits and twisting the night away
But when the thrill is gone and I'm staring at my phone
Thanks for the company, but I'm still standing alone
I got the tears, oh baby, crying in my soul
Hang from the chandelier from a long, long time ago
Chasing a ghost
Chasing a ghost
Ooh
Well, it ain't the same
Ain't it a shame?
Here's to the painkillers, oh yeah
On Saturday night
So if you see her, tell her that I said hello
I miss the times we spent and now I gotta go
She was my last hurrah and always got me stoned
Thanks for the sympathy and the punch in the nose
Chasing a ghost
Chasing a ghost
Ooh
Chasing a ghost
Alright
Chasing a ghost
I'm looking for a bump and a love to call my own
I'm feeling like a moron, bitter and withdrawn
Standing in the shadows with all the good times gone
I got the tears, oh baby, crying in my soul
Hang from the chandelier from a long, long time ago
Chasing a ghost
Chasing a ghost
Ooh
Everyone is happy and everyone is gay
Feeling the spirits and twisting the night away
But when the thrill is gone and I'm staring at my phone
Thanks for the company, but I'm still standing alone
I got the tears, oh baby, crying in my soul
Hang from the chandelier from a long, long time ago
Chasing a ghost
Chasing a ghost
Ooh
Well, it ain't the same
Ain't it a shame?
Here's to the painkillers, oh yeah
On Saturday night
So if you see her, tell her that I said hello
I miss the times we spent and now I gotta go
She was my last hurrah and always got me stoned
Thanks for the sympathy and the punch in the nose
Chasing a ghost
Chasing a ghost
Ooh
Chasing a ghost
Alright
Chasing a ghost
Live History
Live History
- Total Plays
- 30 times / #125 most played
- Most Recent
- December 31, 2019 Oakland, CA
- Earliest Known
- April 13, 2018 Oakland, CA
11 tracks
Comments
Song Comments