Lyrically Speaking: Does Ghost tackle the rudimentary in ‘Mary On A Cross’?
Ghost frontman Tobias Forge is talented at blending provocative lyrical imagery with the most alluring musical arrangements. Thus, he is the prime candidate to infiltrate the social media mainstream with a track that seemingly merges sacrilegious elements with polished pop-rock hooks.
Since Ghost emerged in 2010, they have been known foremost for their air of mystery. Like several hard rock and metal groups, Ghost fully embraces a dramatic flair by donning intricate gothic attire, amplified by the revered corpse paint frequently linked to black metal. Beyond their frontman, Ghost has forged a culture mirroring the hardcore imagery established, honed, and revitalised by enduring icons within the metal sphere.
Before they became discovered by TikTok, fans of the band knew that a lot of their trajectory had been hard-earned — by infiltrating similar circles to acts like Metallica, Ghost effectively achieved the seemingly impossible task of transforming from a support band into an established artist in its own right. Hits such as ‘Dance Macabre’, ‘Square Hammer’, and ‘Kiss The Go-Goat’ solidified their musical legacy, forever etched within the captivating realms they inhabited.
‘Mary On A Cross’ seemed to follow in a similar direction until its viral surge made it a different beast entirely. In September 2022, a TikTok user shared a modified version of the three-year-old track, slowing it down and adding reverb to accompany a compilation of various Stranger Things scenes. The video gained massive traction, amassing hundreds of thousands of TikTok clips using either the original or the altered version of the song.
Many of those hearing the song for the first time were baffled by its lyrics — was this signalling another surge of Satanic panic? What does it mean to “go down just like Holy Mary”? Why is Mary on a cross? While newcomers to Ghost might initially find the band’s aesthetic frightening, exploring the lyrics reveals that you can appreciate their music without making any deals with the devil.
At a glance, the lyrics to ‘Mary On A Cross’ seem convoluted and complicated, a staple of Forge and his ambiguous nature. “We were speeding together down the dark avenues,” sings Forge. “But besides all the stardom, all we got was blues.” However, the chorus seems the most strange: “You go down like Holy Mary / Mary on a cross”, a seemingly bold blend of Biblical and sexual references.
The song’s poetic nature shines through Forge’s attempt to depict a romantic connection. He holds deep feelings for someone, evidently hinting at sensual moments. “But through all of that sorrow / We were riding high,” he states before delivering a promise akin to a lost lover: “And the truth of the matter is / I never let you go, let you go.”
In true fashion, Forge himself has hesitated to unravel the mystery, yet he acknowledged that one of his daughter’s friends had heard the song was being perceived as “perverted”. During a live stream conversation with Mastodon’s Brann Dailor, the singer sought to set the record straight: “There are multiple layers in the lyrics that it might be important for people to understand,” he started.
“The chorus is written very tongue in cheek of course. ‘Go down’ doesn’t necessarily mean as in a 69 sense of the word, it can also mean go down as in go down in history, your own ascent,” he continued.
Adding: “Mary doesn’t necessarily mean Mary, mother of Jesus. It might mean Mary Magdalene, the proclaimed whore who might have been the wife of Jesus – just as a symbol for someone who came off as one thing but actually had other intentions and did something else. Someone who’s miscredited.”
As the song progresses, it’s clear that it also delves into types of friendships, the kind that could’ve presented a particular connection or potential, but in the end, things didn’t align. As is clear when Forge sings: “We were searching for reasons / To play by the rules / But we quickly found / It was just for fools.”
Although there undoubtedly remains some expected humour within the song, such as the line “I will tickle you internally / And I see nothing wrong with that,” the song achieved what Forge aims for — stirring just the right reactions. It faced criticism from religious TikTok users, who labelled it as an abomination and blasphemy, but this is emblematic of Ghost’s essence. ‘Mary On A Cross’ may hold various interpretations, yet exposing opposition to diverse art forms is a plus.
