Key Takeaways
- The song “Mary on a Cross” by Ghost is officially stated by Tobias Forge to be about friendship, focusing on how relationships can change over time.
- Many fans, however, interpret it as having romantic or sexual undertones, possibly involving marijuana, given the lyrics and band’s themes.
- The meaning seems to have multiple layers, with “Mary” potentially referring to Mary Magdalene or even marijuana slang, adding to the controversy.
“Mary on a Cross” by the Swedish rock band Ghost has captured widespread attention, especially after going viral on TikTok in 2022.
Official Meaning According to Tobias Forge
Tobias Forge, the band’s lead singer, has clarified that “Mary on a Cross” is about friendship.
In a live stream with Brann Dailor from Mastodon on September 21, 2022, Forge provided insights into the song’s meaning. He stated that it is primarily about friendship, focusing on how relationships can evolve over time, with two people who were once significant together ending up differently.
He clarified that the chorus, “You go down just like Holy Mary/Mary on a cross,” is tongue-in-cheek, with “go down” potentially meaning going down in history rather than a sexual reference.
Forge also suggested that “Mary” might refer to Mary Magdalene, seen as a “proclaimed wh*re” and possibly Jésus’s wife, which symbolizes someone miscredited, rather than the Virgin Mary.
Additionally, he noted his stage name in a pre-Ghost band, Mary Goore, as a possible internal reference, distancing the song from religious connotations about the Virgin Mary.
An interesting fact is the band’s lore, where the song is part of a fictional 1969 backstory, suggesting it could also reflect the band’s Satanic and anti-religious themes, which added depth beyond friendship.
Fan Interpretations
Despite Forge’s clarification, fans have proposed various theories, often diverging from the friendship narrative. Some key fan interpretations include:
- Romantic or Sexual Relationship: Many fans, influenced by lines like “If you choose to run away with me/I will tickle you internally,” see the song as about a romantic or sexual relationship.
- Marijuana Reference: Some fans believe it’s about marijuana, with “Mary” being slang for “Mary Jane” and “on a cross” possibly referring to a cross joint, aligning with the band’s rock lifestyle.
- Religious Satire and Lore: Given Ghost’s Satanic imagery and lore, some fans see “Mary on a Cross” as a critique of religion, with “Mary on a cross” symbolizing blasphemy or the band’s anti-religious stance.
- Band’s History and Personal Connection: Some fans link “Mary” to Forge’s past, with his stage name Mary Goore in the band Repugnant. It indicates the song reflects his personal journey or the band’s early struggles.
These interpretations suggest the song’s ambiguity, with fans often seeing multiple layers, including friendship, but also romance, marijuana, and religious satire. The controversy arises from the lyrics’ suggestive nature and the band’s thematic elements, leading fans to question Forge’s friendship narrative.
Lyrics Analysis
The lyrics provide further insight into potential meanings. They include:
- “We were speeding together down the dark avenues/But besides all the stardom, all we got was blues/But through all the sorrows, we’ve been riding high/And the truth of the matter is I never let you go, let you go.”
- “You go down just like Holy Mary/Mary on a, Mary on a cross/Not just another bloody Mary/Mary on a, Mary on a cross/If you choose to run away with me/I will tickle you internally/And I see nothing wrong with that.”
It’s easy to understand the lyrics talk about a journey of two people, possibly band members or friends that are facing stardom’s challenges while “riding high,” which could imply being high on marijuana or achieving success.
However, the chorus, with “go down” and “tickle you internally,” obviously has a romantic or sexual tone, which contrasts with Forge’s friendship interpretation.
The mention of “Holy Mary” and “bloody Mary” (a cocktail) adds ambiguity, with some fans linking “Mary” to marijuana slang, “Mary Jane,” and “on a cross” to a cross joint, a type of marijuana cigarette popularized by the movie Pineapple Express.
