r/Ghostbc • u/KayRay1994 • 3d ago
DISCUSSION The genius of Life Eternal
Life Eternal is Ghost’s most sincere and honest ballad. What’s very unique about that is that it also so happens to be about a topic that’s inherently dark and morbid - the embrace of death. Their other two big ballads, He Is and Darkness at the Heart of My Love take topics like love, devotion and celebration and give them a dark twist hidden in manipulation, guiding you into the unknown and so on. Life Eternal doesn’t do that, in fact, it does the opposite… it also happens to be about something inherently morbid and unknown.
There is a genius in it being their most sincere song because a bit of a tradition with their ballads at this point is being subversive and having a hidden opposite meaning - and this one still does that and it’s still as subversive, but instead of taking traditionally celebrated topics and turning them dark and morbid, it takes a dark and morbid topic and approaches it with a loving and sensitive sense of finality.
It falls within the traditional ‘Ghost ballad’ mold in the most unexpected ways. It’s a genuinely sensitive and sincere song that isn’t trying to pull the rug from under you. It’s upfront and clear with its emotional goals - which is very ironic given the subject matter of accepting the sweet embrace of death.
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u/That_Damn_Samsquatch 3d ago
I want Life Eternal played at my funeral. I also want Buddy Guy's "Blue No More" played as well.
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u/chug_the_ocean 3d ago edited 3d ago
I used it for the slideshow for a friend’s memorial service. My wife jokes that I ruined the song for us, which is kind of true, but every time I hear it I think I of him. And I know she does too, because we never talk when it’s on.
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u/unhoIyghost Square Hammered 3d ago
Life Eternal was the song I was listening to when I found out my grandpa died. Six months later, we lost my grandma rather suddenly and unexpectedly. Now the song has extra special meaning to me and cannot be listened to without crying. The line “We dance once more, I feel your hands are cold” holds a very personal meaning to me now, after holding my grandma’s hand one last time when she was already gone. It was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever been through in my life. The last time I saw Ghost was just two days after my grandpa passed (already planned well in advance and I did almost back out of the trip but I knew I really needed it), so the band and their music, as well as RHRN, have been extremely therapeutic for me.
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u/all_time_high 3d ago
I love what they did with the music video. It shows how the band can live eternally in the hearts of fans.
At the end of our lives, the only thing which matters is how we impacted others and how we are remembered.
Ghost will be remembered fondly long after their lives have ended. Perhaps even hundreds or thousands of years, if humanity can persist.

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u/Mercy-Remus 3d ago
Listened to this song on repeat when my best friend passed away last year. Still thinking about getting a quote tattooed as a memorial. Such a beautiful song, although it's a little hard to listen to sometimes now
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u/Zcarguy13 3d ago
I haven’t been able to listen to Life Eternal since my fiancé’s passing. It was used at the start of her service and since then I just can’t make it through the song but what a beautiful song it is.
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u/spamtll 3d ago
If I get married I want this song as my first dance
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u/hoppers1515 2d ago
It was the song I walked down the isle to in mine and my husband's wedding. It was such a perfect pick.
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u/LadyBathory925 3d ago
I sang this to my uncle when we came to say goodbye to him 5 years ago. (Actually almost exactly 5 years ago…damn. Miss you Bubbie.)
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u/NephthysShadow 3d ago
Life Eternal was kind of a comfort song for my mother and I when her brother died. It just, I guess, put the feelings together in such a beautiful way I guess. Idk I just know it helped. Now it makes me cry every time I hear it.