This article is about Ghosts. You may have been looking for Michael Jackson's Ghosts.
"Ghosts" is a song written and produced by Michael Jackson released as the fourth track from the Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix album. It serves as the second single from the album, being released as a part of the "HIStory/Ghosts" double A-side single, put out on July 30, 1997.
Background[]
"Ghosts" started as an instrumental track by Teddy Riley from the Dangerous era. Based on Riley's Future Records studio credit (which was built after Dangerous), the track was started in Spring 1993 for the Addams Family Values soundtrack before the project was dropped.[1]
“Ghosts” was updated in October 1994 during sessions for the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album at The Hit Factory, with more overdubs and an unused operatic intro performed by Luciano Pavarotti. However, it was ultimately left off the album. After HIStory, "Ghosts" was revisited in August 1995 by Bruce Swedien and Rene Moore. Next, Brad Buxer worked on the track in March 1996, before it was completed a few months later for inclusion in the Michael Jackson's Ghosts short film. Eventually, it was re-mixed and edited for Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix in January 1997.
“Ghosts” is theorized to be referencing Jackson’s battle with individuals in the industry, who turned their backs on him over the years, with lyrics such as "You put a knife in my back, shot an arrow in me" seemingly confirming it.
Music video[]
The clip is a montage of scenes from the Michael Jackson's Ghosts short film.
Audio[]
In 2017, a 'demo' version of "Ghosts" reconstructed using the original multitracks leaked online. Throughout the recording, Jackson mostly mumbles or sings with less effort.
- Demo – (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
There's a ghost down in the hall
There's a ghoul upon the bed
There's something in the walls
There's blood up on the stairs
And it's floating through the room
And there's nothing I can see
And I know it fled its tomb
Because now it's haunting me
[Refrain]
I don't understand it
Hey!
I don't understand it!
Aaow!
[Verse 2]
There's a tapping in the floor
There's a creak behind the door
There's a rocking in the chair
But there's no one sitting there
There's a ghostly smell around
But nobody to be found
And a coughing and a yawning
Where a restless soul is going
[Refrain]
Don't understand it
(Got a ghost, got a break in the walls)
Hey!
(Got a ghoul, got a break in the halls)
Don't understand it!
(Got a ghost, got a break in the walls)
(Got a ghoul, got a break in the halls)
(Got a ghost, got a break in the walls)
(Got a ghoul, got a break in the halls)
(Got a ghost, got a break in the walls)
(Got a ghoul, got a break in the halls)
[Chorus]
And who gave you the right to scare my family?
And who gave you the right to share my baby, she needs me
And who gave you the right to shake my family tree?
You put a knife in my back, shot an arrow in me!
Tell me, are you the ghost of jealousy?
The ghost of jealousy
[Verse 3]
There's a tapping in the floor
There's a creak behind the door
There's a rocking in the chair
But nobody's sitting there
There's a ghostly smell around
But nobody to be found
And a coffin in-lay open
Where a restless soul is spoiling
[Refrain]
Don't understand it!
(Gotta ghost, gotta break in the walls)
Yeah, yeah!
(Got a ghoul, got a break in the halls)
Don't understand it!
(Got a ghost, got a break in the walls)
You’re just a dog gone!
(Got a ghoul, got a break in the halls)
Aaow!
[Chorus]
And who gave you the right to scare my family?
And who gave you the right to share my baby
She needs me
And who gave you the right to shake my family tree?
And who gave you the right to take intrusion
To see me?
And who gave you the right to shake my family?
And who gave you the right to hurt my baby
She needs me
And who gave you the right to shake my family tree?
You put a knife in my back, shot an arrow in me!
Tell me, are you the ghost of jealousy?
A suckin' ghost of jealousy
Aaow!
And who gave you the right to shake my family?
And who gave you the right to share my baby
She needs me
And who gave you the right to shake my family tree?
And who gave you the right to take intrusion
To see me?
And who gave you the right to hurt my family?
And who gave you the right to hurt my baby, she needs me
And who gave you the right to scare my family tree?
You put a knife in my back, shot an arrow in me!
Tell me, are you the ghost of jealousy?
The ghost of jealousy
Aaow!
[Outro]
Dog gone
But there's no doubt about it, piece of mind
Tell me, are you the ghost of jealousy?
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Lyrics from "Ghosts" were reused in another song featured on the remix album, "Is It Scary".
- An alternate mix of "Ghosts" is available on YouTube. This is a version of the track that was used in the credit sequence of the Michael Jackson's Ghosts short film. The notable differences in this version of the track include a more prominent and funky bassline and added background vocals at the end of the chorus. It's unknown if this mix was created before or after the original track, yet it is commonly referred to as the "early version".
- "Ghosts" is sometimes misspelled as "Ghost" in some countries with certain releases like for example the Belgium and the Dutch releases of the 2008 compilation album, King of Pop.