GH()ST

GH()ST, read as "ghost", is the main theme for Viola, from the video game Bayonetta 3. This theme is heavily inspired by alternative rock and likely tells the perspective of Viola as an thematically uncertain teenager, largely wrangled by the death of her mother and overwhelmed with the tasks forced upon her by events caused by the Singularity.

This angst seem to source from the course of Bayonetta 3's story, where Viola witnesses the destruction of her real mother before her eyes, and is plunged into a journey to prevent the same tragedies from happening to other universes. Specifically, the beginning of the track seems to describe Viola's inner thoughts while the Singularity is waging war on the β0 universe, which is the original home to Viola's real mother (β0 Bayonetta) and Viola herself. It both discusses the emotions experienced from the trials Viola faces as a person exposed to this domestic ruin early in her life, as well as Viola's anxiousness for growing up to only be a shadow of her mother (a "ghost"; a "secret").

During the events of Bayonetta 3, Viola is consistently portrayed as a character in the shadow of Bayonetta. Any time Viola has a time in the spotlight, it is quickly nullified by other characters and events. Midway through the track, Viola seems to gain a source of focused confidence to change this. The chorus becomes targeted at Cereza ("I don't wanna be your ghost"), implying that Viola now wants to surpass the legacy of her mother, as β0 Bayonetta captured and destroyed after the beginning of the game. This is further corroborated with the stanzas "Can't repeat this nightmare, this misery" which indicates that Viola's journey into the multiverse to stop the Singularity from destroying other universes has started during the song.

Despite the title of Bayonetta being handed down to Viola from a version of the main universe Bayonetta, Viola still has feelings of anxiety, saying that she hasn't been able to save herself even at the end of the track.

GH()ST is a phenomenal track that is exemplary of the amount of thought put into its lyrics, which has been a consistent boon for Bayonetta 3's original soundtrack thus far. GH()ST is sung by Mikaila Delgato of the Australian band Yours Truly. They are a clear showcase of the progression and intent of Viola's goals throughout the story of Bayonetta 3, and it is sung to an amazingly satisfying melody full of energy. I don't know how it took me this long to discover this song, but it has become one of my most played tracks of the year despite me only listening to it for about a month. The instrumentals within the track are also something I can't get enough of, with the electric guitar backing having such an addicting melody that almost tells its own story.

I find it distinctly motivational that Viola's anger and trauma was converted into a distilled desire for a revenge against the Singularity, and this track exemplifies this further.

GH()ST

Lyrics	Interpretation / Notes	Comments
Warning signs are written on the wall, yeah In my head, I can't wrap around it all And the red that's been drippin' down on the edge For far too long It's what we're bleeding for	"Warning signs" refer to the premonition of ruin and disaster brought upon the β0 universe by the Singularity. Mentioning the "red" may be referring to the blood of the soldiers who fought against this enemy.	The tempo is insane. Did the singer record this in one take? The riffs of the electric guitar are addicting here too.
I don't wanna be a ghost and Don't wanna be a little secret My heart's sinking on the other side Trapped between the walls That you'll never find	While Viola sees her mother taking on the Singularity, she wonders how she'll ever compare in the future. Will she only become her ghost? The little unspoken child of Luka and Cereza who couldn't meet up to their legacy?
My heart is buried in sinking sand My fate, my time slips right through my hands From the top of my lungs, I'm screamin', Speaking in tongues Why can't you hear me (Why can't you hear me?)	Having no one else to turn to, Viola feels the weight of the world bear down on her like a physical object. Speaking in tongues, or having these loud, conflicting thoughts race through your mind - not even being able to understand what particularly is causing you distress in that moment - is a feeling I instinctively related with.	This is my favorite stanza in the entire track and dare I say of the game. The detail of the lyrics paired with its effortless flow via Mikaila's vocals are outstanding.
I don't wanna be your ghost And don't wanna be your little secret All the hate grows inside of me These memories that I can't speak of	Targetting these lines towards the main universe Cereza, whom Viola steadily grows frustrated towards, this is a beginning of a vow to take on her challenges alone, and make a name for herself. With this main universe Bayonetta treating Viola like a joke, Viola is alone with the memories of her original universe.
I'm the ghost within you You're my history Begging to be free But you don't hear me	While Viola has her entire history of an Umbran understudy to thank her mother for, she still is desperate for a way out.	I like this confrontation of reality employed by Viola here. Instead of being an idealised scenario, Viola thinks through this logically.
Can't repeat this nightmare, this misery In a loop, it’s tearing apart at the seams In a loop, let's rewrite our history And time won't stop For now the fate's got me	Failing in the task to destroy Singularity would result in a replication of the tragedy that befell Viola's original universe.
I don't wanna be a ghost, and Can't have any unfinished business The world's weight is on my shoulders Set it free, the fire in me, that's trapped inside The fire that's trapped inside	This corroborates the newfound flame Viola has to break free from her chains and protect the multiverse on her own.
My eyes are blinded, a clouded mind, And the storm inside me is ragin' wild, From the top of my tower, I'm waitin', Still is the air Why can't I save me? (Why can't I save me?)	And despite this flame to protect others, Viola still has to deal with her feelings of self-doubt and confidence. Witnessing this version of Cereza and Luka being dragged to Hell is a repetition of the initial tragedy that Viola swore to prevent at the beginning of the song. Despite her efforts, nothing has really changed. Is there anything she can do to console herself?
I don't wanna be your ghost And don't wanna be your little secret All the hate grows inside of me These memories that I can't speak of
I'm the ghost within you You're my history Begging to be free But you don't hear me