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dex-xe · 3 years

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I’ve made Spotify playlists inspired by each of the ghosts and I’ve made these little written pieces to talk about them. if you wanna read them, please go ahead - if not then enjoy the music!!

This is Humphrey’s playlist:

Body - Mother Mother

I wish I were sorry, but I’m honestly not. There’s no real consensus regarding what the song is actually about. I usually interpret it as being about body/gender dysphoria which isn’t really relevant here but I guess it links to the separation between body and soul and the idea that the body doesn’t define you which I think is quite relevant to Humphrey who relies on his soul for attention from others rather than his physical presence in a room.

Sign of the Times - Harry Styles

I feel like Humphrey probably has the most reasonable understanding of the passage of time of all the ghosts. He’s very down to earth compared to the rest of them. I know Robin has been there longer but I think he’s probably accepted the change of time without really considering it philosophically, whereas with Humphrey getting lost all the time he’s probably had more time to contemplate and I think he’d appreciate the song to listen to while he’s stuck various places. Also he’d like he piano, Humphrey’s a kinda piano man you can’t tell me otherwise (no Billy Joel fuck off).

Greensleeves - Ralph Vaughan Williams & Philharmonia Orchestra

This’ll come up a lot in various other ghosts’ playlists but I’ve tried to include some music from each of their time periods to try and capture what they would have heard so yeah, enjoy some Tudor music.

Tilted - Christine and the Queens

It’s been established that Humphrey’s wife was French so I felt the need to include at least a little bit of French which this song obviously captures. Also again it’s kinda the idea of not having total control over your body.

Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band

No idea why it’s just a Humphrey song I will take no criticism on this.

Don’t Look Back In Anger - Oasis

The scene with Fanny and Humphrey talking about their marriages is one of my favourite scenes and basically the whole “marriage went wrong but you can’t look back at it with contempt because it’s over now and time’s moved on” is what he was trying to say to Fanny and aid her recovery from her marriage trauma in the same way that Humphrey has healed from his.

High and Dry - Radiohead

I also see this song in reference to that scene with Fanny because it’s like no precise meaning to my knowledge but I interpret it as being about telling someone to let go of other people and what’s happening with them and focus on yourself and what you need.

My Iron Lung - Radiohead

Humphrey’s death is constrained by the decisions he made in life that brought about his death, which is kindaaaaa the meaning of the song like it’s a stretch. Like it’s actually about Radiohead being constrained by Creep as one of their most successful songs but like the idea of being stuck in a box and not being able to live freely. I really want to learn more about Humphrey’s life in the new series cause like, I want development to show how his beheading was brought about and what it’s like to live his… death completely restrained by his situation.

Body Terror Song - AJJ

“I’m so sorry that you have to have a body, one that will hurt you, and be the subject of so much of your fear, it will betray you, be used against you, then it'll fail on you my dear”. There we go!! Humphrey’s body wanders away - newsflash from me.

Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles

“A ballad for the lonely”, catch me crying over Humphrey as usual. But yeah obvious reason is cause Humphrey is often left alone and unable to interact with the others. The other thing I like to think when listening to this song is about the idea of lonely people noticing the little details no one else does, in the song it’s clearly the little details about the protagonists lives (Eleanor Rigby picking up tiny grains of rice with no one to help, and Father McKenzie writing sermons no one will hear) but Humphrey - like I think many lonely people — notices little things like Francis writing the letter to Thomas etc.

Where Is My Mind? - Pixies

Idk this song is just trippy. I remember reading ages ago that it was about scuba diving. But yeah, I primarily think it’s a Humphrey song because I just like the image of his body wandering aimlessly about the house with this song looking for his head XD

Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks

Again, I’ve said this a few times now but Humphrey being an observer of Button House and what takes place within it’s walls, just watching the others going about their days as he sits alone. I know the writer said he watched the world from the window of a hospital as a child and I think being able to watch over the city without being able to participate because of physical ailment is pretty telling.

O Lord, in Thy Wrath - Orlando Gibbons & Choir of Clare College, Cambridge

This is just a Tudor song. I grew up very very religious and, while I’m not sure I heard this exact song, I spent hours upon hours in church services every week with songs very similar to this and the music was the only thing I actually enjoyed about it. But yeah, I wanted to include at least a few religious songs in Humphrey’s because of my theory regarding his death which (given that we might find out about it in season 3 and I might be totally wrong) I’m gonna just briefly mention XD I basically think his death might’ve been religiously motivated because of the instability of state sanctioned religion in England at the time. Elizabeth I (monarch when Humphrey died) put 200 Catholics to death and given that Humphrey was married to a French woman and the French were under Catholic rule at the time it might not be too far outside the realm of possibility for Humphrey to have lost his head for being the ‘wrong’ denomination. Idk, probably miles off cause I’m really bad at theories but we’ll find out soon hopefully!!

Pantyhose and Roses - Echobelly

Just for the line “it could change but it never will”. Being a ghost must be such a difficult existence because there’s very little they can do to change what’s wrong because they obviously can’t leave where they die. But especially for Humphrey, nothing can change really for him because of his situation.

Waltz #2 (XO) - Elliott Smith

“I’m never gonna know you now, but I’m gonna love you anyhow”. As far as we know Humphrey’s relationship with his wife obviously wasn’t the best and it seems as if he possible barely knew her cause of the language barrier and the fact it was an arranged marriage.

After Hours - The Velvet Underground

This song has such a feeling of isolation like wishing that you could be a part of everyone’s fun but you’ve yet to find the person with whom you can experience that fun with.

Out of Time - Blur

I’ve said it before I’ll say it again but the idea of noticing the small things around you and focussing on the bigger picture of the world rather than hyper fixating on the intricacies of our own existence. Also, this is totally irrelevant but there’s an episode of Torchwood called ‘Out of Time’ in which three people from the 1950s suddenly rock up in 2000s Cardiff and the Torchwood 3 team have to take care of them and try to teach them about the modern world (it’s one of my favourite episodes, like it’s genuinely really good) and I think that’s really cool.

Blackstar - David Bowie

The song is just sad and I put it on any playlist of a sad character, no further explanation.

Why do I use my paper, ink and pen? - William Byrd, Stile Antico & Fretwork

More Tudor music, Tudor musiccccc.

25 Minutes to Go - Johnny Cash

Obvious but yeah there we go: just basically a man waiting and being led to his death which, if the assassination theory is to be believed (which we shall soon find out I guess) then the idea of Humphrey being led to his death is potentially gonna be a sorrowful story to hear about in the show??

#bbc ghosts humphrey #bbc ghosts

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lbbounaries · 4 years

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Summer Lyrics

Sunburn:

Come waste your millions here

Secretly she sneers

Another corporate show

A guilty conscience grows

And I'll feel a guilty conscience grow

She burns like the sun

And I can't look away

And she'll burn our horizons

Make no mistakes

Come let the truth be shared

No one ever dared to break

These endless lies

Secretly she cries

She burns like the sun

And I can't look away

And she'll burn our horizons

Make no…

by Muse

Sunburn Analysis:

Sunburn written by Matt Bellamy, lead vocalist. This song is about moving into a new world mentally and/or physically. You realise that it’s not what you thought it was going to be. The band Muse state it was written at a time of change for them, from painting and decorating, to signing on and flying first class to LA.

When I listen to Sunburn, I get a sense of anger and frustration. Someone who has been mistreated and used by those who have underestimated her strength, that comes from years of anger being pushed down until one day it is realised and burns everyone who has never shown any respect. All lies have been broken and the truth has come out, ridding her of any guilt she felt before towards those people. They shake with fear in the presence of her power, but are captivated by the sheer magnitude of it.

Psycho:

Love, it will get you nowhere

You are on your own

Lost in the wild

So come to me now

I could use someone like you

Someone who'll kill on my command

And asks no questions

I'm gonna make you

I'm gonna break you

I'm gonna make you

A fucking psycho

Your ass belongs to me now

Are you a human drone?

(Aye, sir!)

Are you a killing machine?

(Aye, sir!)

I'm in control, motherfucker, do you understand?

(Aye, sir!)

Your mind is just a program

And I'm the virus

I'm changing the station

I'll improve your thresholds

I'll turn you into a super drone (super drone)

And you will kill on my command

And I won't be responsible

I'm gonna make you

I'm gonna break you

I'm gonna make you

A fucking psycho

Your ass belongs to me now…

by Muse

Psycho Analysis:

Psycho was written by lead vocalist Matt Bellamy. The song explores the violent nature of modern society. Matt Bellamy explains the songs in the album Drones, including Psycho, are metaphorical psychopaths enabling psychopathic behaviour. The world is run by these Drones turning the rest of humankind into a “super drone” with this psychopathic behaviour.

Matt continues to say that the album itself explores the journey of a human, from abandonment and loss of hope, to indoctrination by the system to be a human drone, to their eventual defection from their oppressors.

My interpretation of the song involves the training and brainwashing of armies, stripping them of their humanity, and replacing it with the urge and need to kill. Being trained to kill on command, with no empathy, to then be blamed when the consequences come around. Being abandoned and forgotten, left to suffer with the trauma and guilt of the actions forced upon them.

Time Is Running Out:

I think I'm drowning

Asphyxiated

I wanna break this spell

That you've created

You're something beautiful

A contradiction

I wanna play the game

I want the friction

You will be the death of me

Bury it

I won't let you bury it

I won't let you smother it

I won't let you murder it

Our time is running out

You can't push it underground

You can't stop it screaming out

I wanted freedom

Bound and restricted

I tried to give you up

But I'm addicted

Now that you know I'm trapped sense of elation

You'd never dream of

Breaking this fixation

You will squeeze the life out of me

Bury it

I won't let you bury it

I won't let you smother it

I won't let you murder it

Our time is running out

You can't push…

by Muse

Time Is Running Out Analysis:

My personal interpretation of this song is about life itself. At times you feel like you're drowning and that you will never be free to do what you want to do, and try to stop it. But there will be a point where you are addicted to everything life can give. You can’t stop it from taking its course, and you can’t contain it or ‘screaming out’. It is meant to be seen and heard and used to its full potential.

Time Is Running Out written by lead vocalist Matt Bellamy. This song is open to many interpretations. One is a girl who smothers a guy, but he is now ‘addicted’ to her and can’t let go.

It could also be a commentary on the fleeting nature of time itself, and how it can be so overwhelming but beautiful. It is slowly sucking the life out of us and, in the end, it will be the death of the majority of humankind. The song states that you can’t stop it, and you can’t manipulate it. You are free until you realise you are, then it will restrict you - ‘bound and restricted’.

Based on the music video, it suggests the lyrics refer to the approach of a nuclear holocaust: ‘you can’t push it underground, you can’t stop it screaming it out, how did it come to this?’

Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide:

Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth

You pull on your finger, then another finger, then cigarette

The wall-to-wall is calling, it lingers, then you forget

Ohhh, you're a rock 'n' roll suicide

You're too old to lose it, too young to choose it

And the clock waits so patiently on your song

You walk past a cafe, but you don't eat when you've lived too long

Oh, no, no, no, you're a rock 'n' roll suicide

Chev brakes are snarling as you stumble across the road

But the day breaks instead, so you hurry home

Don't let the sun blast your shadow

Don't let the milk float ride your mind

They're so natural, religiously unkind

Oh no, love, you're not alone

You're watching yourself, but you're too unfair

You got your head all tangled up, but if I could only make…

by David Bowie

Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide Analysis:

Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide written by David Bowie. This song is about Bowie’s persona, Ziggy Stardust and his collapse. The song closes the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. You get an idea of what the song is about just from the title itself.

Lyrics such as, “Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth” and “the clock waits so patiently on your song” suggest that Ziggy was born to die. Time is killing him slowly, waiting for him to finish his performance. Personally, I think that this is David Bowie singing to Ziggy Stardust, saying his final goodbyes, knowing what is going through his mind. “I’ve had my share, I’ll help you with the pain, You’re not alone”. I believe he is thankful for what Ziggy did for him and his career, and knows his time has come. “Gimme your hands ‘cause you’re wonderful”.

Lazarus:

Look up here, I'm in heaven

I've got scars that can't be seen

I've got drama, can't be stolen

Everybody knows me now

Look up here, man, I'm in danger

I've got nothing left to lose

I'm so high it makes my brain whirl

Dropped my cell phone down below

Ain't that just like me?

By the time I got to New York

I was living like a king

Then I used up all my money

I was looking for your ass

This way or no way

You know, I'll be free

Just like that bluebird

Now ain't that just like me?

Oh I'll be free

Just like that bluebird

Oh I'll be free

Ain't that just like me?

by David Bowie

Lazarus Analysis:

Lazarus written by David Bowie. Bowie was working on his off-Broadway musical Lazarus, a sequel to The Man Who Fell to Earth. He played the lead Thomas Jerome Newton, a man who remains on Earth unable to die. It is the only song from the production on the album.

Lazarus is a biblical name, who was restored to life four days after his death by Jesus. Reasoning behind the naming of the song, could be a metaphor for the resurrection of the Newton character. It could also be Bowie reflecting on the revival of his own career after years of self-imposed silence.

The song had a new meaning after David Bowie passed away, two days after the release of the album Blackstar. Bowie died of cancer, and had known that his life was coming to an end, indicating that in this song he was coming to terms with his death. “Look up here, I’m in heaven”.

In the music video, Bowie sings from a hospital bed with a wrap covering his eyes. A woman comes out of a wardrobe, reaching up at him from under the bed, and from under the desk as he quickly and desperately writes. She is the visual representation of Death. Bowie’s final scene is him backing into the wardrobe from where Death came from, and closing the door.

People Are Strange:

People are strange when you're a stranger

Faces look ugly when you're alone

Women seem wicked when you're unwanted

Streets are uneven when you're down

When you're strange

Faces come out of the rain

When you're strange

No one remembers your name

When you're strange

by The Doors

What Percent Are Monsters:

Early morning rain and I can’t explain

All this heartache falling down on me

And I’ve been runnin for far to long

Take me when you’re gone

Don’t wanna sing about love sing about pain

I feel all alone

We don’t feel the same

Town was built

Town was paved

Early morning rain and I can’t explain

All this heartache

Don’t go

What do you get when you lose someone?

The same old place and the same old scars

What do you do to forget someone?

You don’t look back you never look back

Stay don’t go

How many time do you have to let me go

What do you get when you lose someone?

The same old place and the same old town

by Friends of Clay

Every You Every Me:

Sucker love is heaven sent

You pucker up, our passion's spent

My hearts a tart, your body's rent

My body's broken, yours is spent

Carve your name into my arm

Instead of stressed, i lie here charmed

'Cause there's nothing else to do

Every me and every you

Sucker love, a box i choose

No other box i choose to use

Another love i would abuse

No circumstances could excuse

In the shape of things to come.

Too much poison come undone

'Cause there's nothing else to do

Every me and every you

Every me, me

Sucker love is known to swing

Prone to cling and waste these things

Pucker up for heavens sake

There's never been so much at stake

I serve my head up on a plate

It's only comfort, calling late

'Cause there's nothing else to do

Every me and every you…

by Placebo

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