Gospel of Ghosts

[Intro: Soulful organ with sparse percussion] (spoken word) When the world goes quiet And the phones stop ringing [Verse 1] Good old friends, they slipped away Silent now where laughter lay Promised care, then turned their back Ghosts in shadows, love's gone slack Used to call me every day Now they vanish, fade to gray Left me standing all alone Turned their hearts to solid stone [Pre-Chorus: Building energy with gospel organ] But I won't let their silence win Gonna find my voice within [Chorus: Full gospel choir with brass section] (call and response) Oh, gospel of ghosts, sing through the night! (Voices lost, but I'll claim my right!) Hallelujah, rise from the pain! (Turn their silence to my refrain!) When they disappear like smoke (I'll be stronger than their joke!) Oh, gospel of ghosts, sing through the night! I'LL CLAIM MY RIGHT! [Inst: Funky bass and syncopated drums] [Verse 2] "I should stop talkin' to the dead," I cried She said, "No, let their mem'ry guide" But I meant her, a ghost so near Unreliable, drowned in fear No reply from friends, no aid from the state Ghosts in suits, they seal my fate But I'll preach love through every tear Gospel lifts me, year by year [Pre-Chorus: Building energy with gospel organ] But I won't let their silence win Gonna find my voice within [Chorus: Full gospel choir with brass section] (call and response) Oh, gospel of ghosts, sing through the night! (Voices lost, but I'll claim my right!) Hallelujah, rise from the pain! (Turn their silence to my refrain!) When they disappear like smoke (I'll be stronger than their joke!) Oh, gospel of ghosts, sing through the night! I'LL CLAIM MY RIGHT! [Bridge: Stripped down to organ and handclaps] (spoken word) They think silence is their weapon But it's teaching me to sing Every ghost that walks away Makes my spirit take wing (building) From their absence, strength is found I won't let them drag me down!