Two Ghosts

Album: Harry Styles (2017)
Charted: 58
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the only song on Harry Styles' debut solo album that he didn't pen during his 2016 songwriting stay in Jamaica. Instead, he told the attendees at the record's listening party, it was written a couple of years before.
  • As soon as this song was made available listeners began to suggest the lyrics are about the breakdown of Harry Styles' brief relationship with Taylor Swift in early 2013.

    Same lips red, same eyes blue
    Same white shirt, couple more tattoos


    Taylor Swift has a famous penchant for red lipstick and the "white shirt" may reference lyrics in her song "Style" about their fling, where she sings about a "white T-shirt."
  • When asked by Nick Grimshaw on his BBC Radio 1 show on May 12, 2017 whether the song is about Taylor Swift, Harry Styles replied: "I mean I think it's pretty like self-explanatory. I think, y'know it's about sometimes things change and you can do all the same things… and sometimes it's just different, y'know."

    The DJ then played the track, introducing it with: "So here we go, the one about Taylor Swift." Listeners then heard Styles scream "Ahhh, oh no!" in response.
  • Harry Styles originally wrote this ballad for One Direction's Made in the A.M. album, but it was felt the lyrics were a bit too personal.

Comments: 3

  • Bee from SydneyPhenomenal that Harry can write a song referencing someone with blue eyes and tattoos during a period where he and Louis had to become ghosts to each other in public, and some geniuses still think it's about Taylor Swift. Because she's the only person in the world who has red lips? White shirt? He and Louis also shared a white shirt many times.
    Btw, you're misrepresenting his 'ah no' in response to Nick. It was more like 'AAAH! NO!' Because it is not about Taylor. He's not going to straight up tell you that, but he said 'no' as best he can. And it's obvious. Just like Haylor was one of the most obvious PR stunts of all time.
  • J M from Canadathe song is about Louis Tomlinson ...Taylor Swift doesn't have a tattoo
  • Mathilde from FranceIt's about Louis Tomlinson.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.