13 Ghost Songs To Get Spooky To
My Mixtape’s A Masterpiece is a weekly feature in which a guest compiles a playlist around some theme. This week, Amber R.W. Knapp assembles 13 tracks with ‘ghost’ in the title that cover a broad spectrum of emotions. Read Amber’s thoughts on each song and listen along to the Spotify and YouTube playlists below.
In a space where Valentine’s Day meets second Halloween, there’s a vast number of songs featuring the word “ghost” in the title. They can be stories of love, or loss, or simply eerie. This list of thirteen songs (quite fitting) covers that entire spectrum.
Enjoy, you lovestruck spooky beings!
1. “Ghosts Over Calvary” by Creeper
If you’re not listening to Creeper already then you’re in for a treat. I will use any opportunity to recommend their music so, of course, I put their song “Ghosts Over Calvary” first on this list. Ben Tipple of DIY compared Creeper’s evolving style to that of Meat Loaf’s debut album Bat Out Of Hell so if you’re into theatrical alternative goth rock music go check out Creeper right-freaking-now.
2. “Her Ghost In The Fog” by Cradle Of Filth
“Her Ghost In The Fog” is one of the tracks on Cradle Of Filth’s album entitled Midian, based off of Clive Barker’s story Cabal AKA the basis of the movie NIGHTBREED. It’s spooky on multiple levels and not just because of ghosts in the fog! The song also appears on the GINGER SNAPS soundtrack earning it bonus awesome points.
3. “The Ghost Of You” by My Chemical Romance
Emo kids unite because we’re going back to 2004! Maybe we’re going to look at it through rose-tinted glasses but that year did deliver some albums that became staples of a generation. My Chemical Romance’s Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge still stands out from then and “The Ghost Of You” was the saddest song on the album.
4. “Ghost In The Mirror” by Motionless In White
Gothic metalcore/recently-nu-metal band Motionless In White have never strayed from putting horror references in their songs.
Going back to their 2009 EP When Love Met Destruction with the single “Ghost In The Mirror” which features references to the Tim Burton love story CORPSE BRIDE.
Ghost in the mirror.
Just look beyond the balanced reflection.
So tell me dear, can your heart still break
If it's already stopped beating?
5. “Eloise’s Ghosts” by Koffin Kats
The Detroit-based psychobilly band looked in their backyard for inspiration for “Eloise’s Ghosts”. The Eloise Psychiatric Hospital—located in Westland, Michigan—was an asylum and hospital complete with an adjoining cemetery, so it would be a safe bet to say that the area is probably full of ghosts.
6. “Ghost Of Frankenstein” by Misfits
It comes as no surprise that Misfits can find their way onto a list about song titles containing horror or Halloween-related words. The ode to the 1942 Universal Monster movie THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN is another addition to their arsenal of songs about the classic monsters.
7. “If You Have Ghosts” by Ghost
Once, while mindlessly scrolling the internet, I saw someone compare Ghost’s music to a “spooky version of ABBA” and it’s not wrong at all and also probably why I’m a fan. This cover of a Roky Erickson song is further proof.
8. “Ghostfire” by Tiger Army
Tiger Army seems to fly underneath my radar and I need to change that. So here they are: the psychobilly staple made the list.
9. “What’s It Feel Like To Be A Ghost?” by Taking Back Sunday
Another emo throwback with Taking Back Sunday from their 2006 album Louder Now. This song opens the album with distorted guitars and begs the question “What’s It Feel Like To Be A Ghost?”
10. “Ghost Light Waltz” by Argyle Goolsby
Clocking in at just under two minutes, this song is a fast horror punk homage to the 1962 movie CARNIVAL OF SOULS.
11. “The Ghosts Of Me And You” by Less Than Jake
This is probably the most upbeat sounding song on this list but it’s about a depressing breakup…so I suppose it balances out. Leave it to ska legends Less Than Jake to make you want to dance while crying over lost love.
The ghosts of you and me
And I'm just a moved on memory
And you're still alive
And I'm still getting by
12. “The Ghost That’s Haunting You” by Trivium
Trivium’s style could only be described as a melting pot of metal sub-genres and I cannot recommend their melodic chaos enough.
13. “Living With A Ghost” by Light The Torch
Being a fan of Howard Jones during his days with Killswitch Engage is what led me to listening to him front Light The Torch. I put on their most recent album, 2021’s You Will Be The Death Of Me, during a recent road trip and loved it, also finding this addition to my list of ghost songs.
