‘Holy Ghost’ – Tom Walker

Marc writes:

The question I have is this:

Will the religious language help others to understand what Tom’s getting at, or will what Tom is implying help others understand the religious language we use?

This is the latest (at time of writing!) release off the upcoming album titled “I Am”… Again, I note the reaction I have to the album title, but what does it mean to Tom, and what does it mean to others?

It’s not the first time I’ve heard him singing about grace, but there is so much in this song that shouts at me because of the church culture I’m immersed in, including:

“I’m on my knees at your altar”

“You’re the kind of grace that you can’t replace”

“Better men have died for love like you”

“Erase my sins, my communion, Till death do us part, it’s a union”

And the Methodist in me leaps at the reference “You’re my love divine”

And then there’s the chorus:

“Your love is spiritual

When you hold me close

Only heaven knows

Your touch is biblical

Everywhere I go

You’re my holy ghost”

I’d love to sit round a firepit with a glass of something and hear where his knowledge of the language he uses comes from and what his experience entails. It feels to me like there is a story and a numinous journey that has led to lyrics like this…

But that’s because he’s speaking my language, and my experience is that the words he sings point to the Divine…

But what happens if someone unfamiliar with the language and symbolism of this beautiful song recognises the notion of an ever-present love, a clean slate and the peace of feeling held? How will we help them not merely to assimilate the language we are familiar with, but to have their own numinous encounter with the divine who offers the same?

I guess what I’m rambling my way through is the fact that the language is helpful to me because it’s familiar, and it is the sort of language I use in church. But is that language as helpful to others? What do they hear? Could we use different words?

Either way, as Tom said on his X tweet announcing the release: “Go listen to it and belt it out”…

… And I’d dare to add “Maybe even in worship.”

——

LYRICS:

I’m on my knees at your alter

When I bleed, give me shelter

You’re my evergreen

You’re my world unseen

My heart it beats to your rhythm

It’s not what you take, it’s what you’re given’

You’re the kind of grace

That you can’t replace

I watched you turn the skies from grey to blue

Better men have died for love like you

Your love is spiritual

When you hold me close

Only heaven knows

Your touch is biblical

Everywhere I go

You’re my holy ghost

I swear I’ve known you for centuries

You’re heaven-sent, how you save me

In our final hour

Call on higher power

Erase my sins, my communion

Till death do us part, it’s a union

A guiding light

You’re my love divine

I watched you turn the skies from grey to blue

Better men have died for love like you

Your love is spiritual

When you hold me close

Only heaven knows

Your touch is biblical

Everywhere I go

You’re my holy ghost

Find out more about Tom Walker at https://www.iamtomwalker.com/