“Dancing with Your Ghost” by Sasha Alex Sloan is a deeply emotional song that explores the themes of loss, grief, and the struggle to move on after the departure of a loved one.
Through poignant lyrics and haunting melodies, Sloan captures the bittersweet nature of remembering someone who has passed or left, reflecting on the lingering impact of their memory.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
Sasha Alex Sloan Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
Yelling at the sky
Screaming at the world
Baby, why’d you go away?
I’m still your girl
Holding on too tight
Head up in the clouds
Heaven only knows where you are now
This verse captures the initial shock and grief of losing someone. The singer expresses intense emotions, feeling abandoned and questioning why the person had to leave.
The phrase “I’m still your girl” shows a lingering attachment, while “Holding on too tight” and “Head up in the clouds” suggest difficulty in accepting reality and a sense of being lost.
“Heaven only knows where you are now” implies that the loved one has passed away, leaving their whereabouts unknown and unreachable.
[Pre-Chorus]
How do I love, how do I love again?
How do I trust, how do I trust again?
In the pre-chorus, the singer grapples with the challenge of moving forward. The questions reflect a deep sense of uncertainty and fear about opening up to love and trust again after such a significant loss.
[Chorus]
I stay up all night, tell myself I’m alright
Baby, you’re just harder to see than most
I put the record on, wait ’til I hear our song
Every night, I’m dancing with your ghost
Every night, I’m dancing with your ghost
The chorus reveals the singer’s coping mechanisms. Staying up all night and telling oneself that everything is fine are attempts to deal with the pain.
The line “you’re just harder to see than most” suggests that the loved one is still present in spirit, though not physically visible.
Listening to their song and “dancing with your ghost” symbolizes holding onto memories and the past, finding solace in the connection they once had.
[Verse 2]
Never got the chance
To say your last goodbye
I gotta move on
But it hurts to try
This verse highlights the regret of not having a proper farewell, which adds to the difficulty of moving on. The acknowledgment that moving forward is necessary is tempered by the pain that accompanies the process.
[Bridge]
How do I love, how do I love again?
How do I trust, how do I trust again?
The bridge repeats the pre-chorus, emphasizing the ongoing struggle with love and trust. It reinforces the theme of emotional paralysis caused by the loss.
[Chorus]
I stay up all night, tell myself I’m alright
Baby, you’re just harder to see than most
I put the record on, wait ’til I hear our song
Every night, I’m dancing with your ghost
Every night, I’m dancing with your ghost
Every night, I’m dancing with your ghost
The final chorus reiterates the singer’s nightly ritual of connecting with the lost loved one through memories and music. The repetition underscores the persistence of grief and the comfort found in these moments of remembrance.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Dancing with Your Ghost”
“Dancing with Your Ghost” by Sasha Alex Sloan is a poignant exploration of grief, loss, and the struggle to move on after losing a loved one. The song captures the emotional turmoil that accompanies such a significant absence, reflecting on the memories and feelings that linger long after a person is gone.
The lyrics convey a deep sense of yearning and heartache. The singer grapples with the void left by the departed loved one, expressing frustration and sorrow through lines like “Yelling at the sky / Screaming at the world”. This imagery illustrates the helplessness and desperation often felt during the grieving process.
The singer feels a profound connection to the lost loved one, as expressed in the line “I’m still your girl,” which emphasizes the emotional bond that persists despite his absence.
Throughout the song, there is a clear struggle with the concept of moving forward. The repeated questions in the pre-chorus—”How do I love, how do I love again? / How do I trust, how do I trust again?”—highlight the vulnerability and uncertainty that accompany healing after a significant loss. The singer’s desire to find closure is palpable, yet the pain of trying to let go is evident in lines like “I gotta move on / But it hurts to try.”
The chorus introduces a ritualistic aspect of remembrance, with the singer stating, “I put the record on, wait ’til I hear our song / Every night, I’m dancing with your ghost.” This metaphor of “dancing with your ghost” symbolizes the act of engaging with the memory of the lost loved one, suggesting that the singer finds comfort in remembering him, even if it is bittersweet. The act of playing his song and dancing alone reflects a longing to feel close to the person who is no longer there.
In the end, “Dancing” with the ghost implies an active engagement with those memories. It conveys a sense of nostalgia and longing, where the singer finds herself reminiscing about the past, almost as if she’s still sharing moments with the lost loved one.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.