Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: grindcore
Song Meaning of “Book Wall” by Ghostlimb
The song “Book Wall” by Ghostlimb reflects the effects of mental illness on an individual, and the struggles of putting up a metaphorical wall of protection around their emotions due to the pain felt. In this song, a person puts up a book wall to protect themselves from judgement and criticism, while they attempt to find inner peace and solace.
The song starts with the line “We built a book wall, to cover up the door, To keep the world out, And keep ourselves in,” which implies that the person has created a barrier of books to keep themselves safe from what lies beyond and to protect themselves from the people in the outside world. The chorus mentions “Trembling suffocation/ It’s a shelter in the wind,” which could be interpreted as feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, yet still finding some comfort and safety in the barrier they created.
There is a feeling of desperation in the verse “We just stare into the book wall/ Hoping not to feel so small,” which expresses a deep longing within the person to escape their feelings and be accepted by society, while being constantly reminded of how insignificant they feel.
The song ends with the line “And we left the book wall standing there/ Because we know that we’d have to face the fear,” which could be interpreted as the person coming to the realization that while they can temporarily hide their emotions, they can’t run away from them forever. In the end, they will soon have to accept and confront their internal struggles.
Overall, “Book Wall” by Ghostlimb paints a vivid picture of the struggles of dealing with mental illness and the common tendency to build walls for protection and safety in order to avoid the pain and judgement of the outside world.