“Ghost in You” by Psychedelic Furs (1984)

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 14 April 2024

We go punk this Sunday with the 1984 hit Ghost in You by the British band Psychedelic Furs more known to our generation with the song Pretty in Pink that was eventually made into a movie though not necessarily an interpretation of the music itself.

Ghost in You was written by the Psychedelic Furs’ lead vocalist Richard Butler, their second single from their fourth studio album Mirror Moves released in 1984. It is another poignant love song about someone most probably gone yet still so loved. The music and lyrics are very mysterious that we feel it perfectly captures our reflection this third Sunday Easter on the meaning of Christ’s Resurrection which is getting real as opposed with how young people today use the word “ghost” and “ghosting” which is to leave behind or drop like a hot potato. Our Filipino expression say it so well: to be ghosted is “iwanan sa ere” or to be left hanging.

In our gospel this Sunday, Luke tells us how the disciple thought Jesus was a ghost when He appeared to them anew after Easter; Jesus read their minds and clarified He was not a ghost but truly alive with flesh and bones.

The Filipino expression says it all completely, iniwan sa ere which is worst than the English expression “dropped like a hot potato”. To be ghosted is to be betrayed, to be taken for granted, to be discarded like a thing. It is utter lack of respect to another person. Worst, it is lack of life full of pessimism and indifference to life itself.

https://lordmychef.com/2024/04/13/easter-is-getting-real-not-ghosting/

In Ghost in You, Butler tells us how he seemed to have been ghosted by his beloved for reasons not so clear. And we go with him, in his pains and deep longing to be loved in return by his beloved.

A man in my shoes runs a light
And all the papers lied tonight
But falling over you
Is the news of the day
Angels fall like rain
And love is all of heaven away
Inside you the time moves

And she don’t fade
The ghost in you
She don’t fade
Inside you the time moves
And she don’t fade

Notice how the lover declares his deep love that is so pure, “all of heaven away” that remains within him through time like a ghost “And she don’t fade/ The ghost in you/ She don’t fade”.

About ten years ago, we used to pass by a billboard somewhere in the Banaue-C3 area in Quezon City that says “True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and only a few have seen.” It is quote from French moralist Francoise de la Rochefoucauld (163-1680).

Very true!

Like our reflection this Sunday, Easter calls us to be real, not like ghosts. The Psychedelic Furs’ Ghost in You is great music because we all go through it some times even many times. Easter tells us to get real and move on with life.

Jesus Christ is not a ghost. Had never and would never ever ghost us because He is faithful, truly alive and truly present with us especially in our darkest and emptiest moments in life. Many times, we do not see nor recognize Him because we are so focused at how we were ghosted especially by loved ones.

https://lordmychef.com/2024/04/13/easter-is-getting-real-not-ghosting/

Here’s one of our favorite music in the 1980’s worth listening to today to see how far we have gone real, especially in our love. Or, have we remained ghosted?