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"Ghosts" is a song 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[]
The track was initially written in 1990 for Dangerous under the title "Ghost".[1] Teddy Riley is credited as the producer. Although it didn't make the cut, "Ghost" would be re-recorded and reworked in 1993 for the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album, now titled "Ghosts". It once again wasn't featured on the album. The track was finally tampered with for the last time in 1996.
The song itseld is speculated to be referencing Jackson's fight with individuals in the industry, who turned their backs on the King of Pop 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 of "Ghosts" would leak online. Different sources state it originates from 1993, other claim it is a much later version from 1996. Throughout the recording, Michael mostly mumbles or sings with much lower-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?
Trivia[]
- Lyrics from "Ghosts" were reused in another song featured on the remix album, "Is It Scary".