Meaning of "Ashes" by Ghost

The lyrics of "Ashes" by Ghost can be interpreted as a juxtaposition between a seemingly innocent children's game and the concept of death. The mention of "Ring a Ring of Roses" and "A pocket full of posies" alludes to the game that children play, but the following line, "Atishoo, atishoo, we all fall down," hints at a more sinister meaning. The line is a direct reference to the nursery rhyme, "Ring Around the Rosie," which is believed to have originated during the time of the plague. In the original nursery rhyme, the line "We all fall down" represents the mass deaths caused by the disease.

The mention of ashes on the water, in the sea, and riverside further adds to the interpretation of death. Ashes are commonly associated with the remains of the deceased after cremation. By placing the ashes in different locations, it symbolizes the ubiquity of death and how it touches all aspects of life. The repetition of the counting sequence, "One, two, three," possibly signifies the inevitability of death, as if counting down until everyone succumbs to it.

The lyrics of "Ashes" convey a sense of darkness and mortality in a seemingly innocent package. It highlights the idea that death is an inescapable part of life, even in situations that appear harmless and childlike. The song's lyrics can be seen as a reminder that no matter how much we try to elude or ignore it, death is always present and will eventually catch up to us all.