Ghosting by Mother Mother (Fear)

 

In this song, Ghosting by Mother Mother, the singer uses metaphors, symbolism, ambiguity and allegories to portray the fear of being forgotten or ignored.

The song begins with the singer introducing the audience into what he has been doing, which is "Ghosting" Though this is not a literal term, in fact it is allegory and means that he has been haunting others, perhaps trying to grab attention. Ghosts are generally invisible, so perhaps he feels that even though he has been,"ghosting" causing a disturbance ("Ghost in your house, ghost in your arms. When you're tossing, when you turn in your sleep, it's because I'm ghosting your dreams"), he has felt unnoticed.

The singer comes to realize that his tactics of "ghosting"-meaning haunting to catch ones attention- to be useless. The singer decides to come clean of his foolish acts, "And this is why I have decided, to pull these old white sheets from my head." Notice how the singer mentions that the sheets are old, meaning that he has used this tactic of "ghosting" for some time now. He continues, "I'll leave them folded neat and tidy, so that you'll know I'm out of hiding." Again, this is allegory, the singer does not literally mean to come out of hiding, only that he is done playing games and has finally come clean. This is the singer's resolve, as they realize that their effort to be noticed is showing no progress. The singer repeats the first stanza, perhaps to add emphasis on the fact that this is his struggle; being invisible, with no means of finding a "home", or a person to consider a friend as a place to return to.That his fear is being unnoticed by the person, perhaps maybe society in general, is chasing after, and to never be noticed.

The speaker has come to terms with himself to finally leave the person they are pursuing after. This is were the singer says, "And this is why I have decided, to leave your house and home unhaunted." In this specific stanza, the singer realizes the significance of how much the person they are chasing after, really doesn't need, nor want them. He is aware that this person, "Don't need poltergeists for sidekicks." Poltergeists are generally spiritual beings that haunt, "supernatural beings supposedly responsible for physical disturbances such as loud noises and objects thrown around." While, "poltergeists for sidekicks", is ambiguity, it is also the description that is directed towards how the singer is trying to catch attention, be noticed, and to stop being a ghost. The chorus of the song is important and essential to the meaning of the song. The singer says, "You don't need tricks, you don't need treats. You don't need no Halloween, and you don't need me." 

As if the singer is saying that his, "ghosting" is nothing but a costume for Halloween. It is a metaphor for saying that his feeling can only be addressed when acting up, or causing a disturbance to grab attention. As well as the "tricks" and "treats" symbolize his feelings. In total, the singer is saying that the person that he is pursuing after does not need his attempts of starting a relationship, in fact, the person is not even noticing him. As well as the singer is beginning to see that his pointless antics were never going to be noticed, as the person does not need him in their life. 

The speaker makes a new approach, coming clean as he had removed the "old white sheets" from their head. Instead, the speaker asks, "Hey, would it be so bad if I stayed?" and continuing to mention, "I'm just a ghost out of his grave, and I can't make love in my grave." an allegory for he has no "home" nor no place/person that he can proudly claim as a friend. The next lines, "I won't put white into your hair. I won't make noises in your stairs. I will be kind and I'll be sweet, if you stop staring straight through me." as his proposal stating that he will no longer be "ghosting", or pestering, if he is simply noticed. Perhaps being noticed here means that the person has to stop ignoring his feelings, and if they were to reject him, they should give him a straight answer. Lastly, the singer repeats the first stanza and the third to emphasize the fear of being rejected, and being ignored by the one that has meant a lot to them.