"Ghost" is a song written by Katy Perry, Bonnie McKee, Henry Walter, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin for her fourth studio album, Prism. The song is a "mid-tempo song written in Santa Barbra, California, USA." The instrumental was used in the first season of Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life. The song was included in the first setlist for "Prismatic World Tour" that Perry shared on Instagram before the tour commenced, but was never actually performed live. Perry admitted the reason was because the song was difficult to sing live due to how personal it is to her. She said she would try to perform the song live for the first time during "Witness: The Tour" but the song was notably absent from the setlist.
Background[]
Originally it was thought that the song refers to Perry's divorce with comedian, Russell Brand, but when meeting a fan during the release livestream of Witness, Perry revealed the song isn't about who we "think" it's about. Later during a Meet & Greet at "Witness: The Tour", she confessed to a fan that the song was actually about John Mayer.
Lyrics[]
You sent a text
It's like the wind changed your mind
We were best friends
Yeah, we were building a life
With every kiss and every letter
Every promise of forever
Oh, but you hit "send"
And disappeared in front of my eyes
And now you're just a ghost
When I look back, never would have known that
You could be so cold
Like a stranger, vanish like a vapor
There's just an echo where your heart used to be
Now I see it clearly
And there's just a pillow where your head used to sleep
My vision's 20/20
I see through you now
Something has died
Now that I have made up my mind
I'll be alright
It doesn't haunt me at night
'Cause every gift and every letter
Every promise of forever
Now, is out of sight
Like you were never alive
And now you're just a ghost
When I look back, never would have known that
You could be so cold
Like a stranger, vanish like a vapor
There's just an echo where your heart used to be
Now I see it clearly
And there's just a pillow where your head used to sleep
My vision's 20/20
I see through you now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now
So, rest in peace
I’ll see you on the other side
And now you're just a ghost
When I look back, never would have known that
You could be so cold
Like a stranger, vanish like a vapor
There's just an echo where your heart used to be
Now I see it clearly
And there's just a pillow where your head used to sleep
My vision's 20/20
I see through you now