We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Hungry Ghost

from Not A Proper Girl by Kate Owen

/

about

Hungry Ghost. This is a song about addiction. It is inspired by the book by Gabor Mate which describes addiction as a hungry ghost. That the abuse of drugs and alcohol is an attempt to eliminate the deep emptiness and pain humans can feel. I loved the image of a hungry ghost. What a great metaphor for emotional emptiness. This song was written for my dear friend who is an addict. It also explores the inability of people in pain to experience joy in life “the stars are bright but all you see is dark”, and that sometimes it feels as if you are not really living anyway so why not get high “Hold me under the water. I’m not breathing anyway”.

lyrics

Hungry Ghost
Music and Lyrics by Kate Owen

VERSE 1
The light is on, (but) baby your not home
You say it’s all right babe but I know it’s all wrong
Getting real high, falling down low
Feeding the ghost
Driving too fast, breathing too slow
Feeding the ghost

PRE-CHORUS 1
So hold me
Under the water now
I’m not breathing anyway
Go on and hold me
Under the water now
You said it would be this way

Hey.

CHORUS 1
Hunger drowns, The desperate clown
And, ghost blood weeps, Onto Angels feet
Hunger drowns, The desperate clown
While his child cries alone
He just wants to feel home

Verse 2
The stars are bright, but all you see in dark
Pushing too far, holding too tight
Feeding the ghost
Getting real high, falling down low
Feeding the ghost

PRE-CHORUS 2
So hold me
Under the water now
I’m not breathing anyway
Go on and hold me
Under the water now
You always said it would be this way

CHORUS 2
Hunger drowns, The desperate clown
And, ghost blood weeps, Onto Angels feet
Hunger drowns, The desperate clown
While his child cries alone
He just wants to feel home

credits

from Not A Proper Girl, released March 13, 2020
Played and sung by Kate Owen, Jonty O’Connor, Shane Bolingford, Tom Harris, Moses Robbins, Anita Clark, Elmore Jones, Ben Edwards, Mike Fordham.
All tracks written by Kate Owen.
Produced, recorded and mixed by Ben Edwards at The Sitting Room, Lyttelton, NZ.
Mastered by Chris Chetland at KOG, Auckland, NZ.
Photography by Justyn Rebecca Denny and Amanda Billing Artwork by Leon White Design.
For my Mum, Barbara Owen.
This album was made possible thanks to the generous contributions of 173 arts supporters who believed in me and my music. You know who you are.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Kate Owen image

Kate Owen New Zealand

A singer with a poetic, restrained intensity, Kate Owen has been song-writing for 20 years and performing live for a decade, but until now has never recorded an album. Her sound ranges from stripped-back laments to 90’s pop anthems. Her recordings showcases Owen’s songs with rich textures including synth and strings, & strong rhythmic pulses from live kits & drums machines. ... more

contact / help

Contact Kate Owen

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Kate Owen, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now