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Two Ghosts

Two Ghosts is a recorded by English Harry Styles for his self-titled debut studio album, Harry Styles, released on May 12, 2017. The track, which appears as the fourth on the album, was co-written by Styles, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, , and Tyler Johnson, and produced by , Alex Salibian, and Tyler Johnson. It was issued as the album's second single to adult contemporary radio on and contemporary hit radio on , 2017, in the United States. Characterized as a country-influenced , "Two Ghosts" features acoustic instrumentation, including , and reflects on a past relationship through metaphors of disconnection and transformation, portraying the former lovers as "two ghosts" who have lost their vitality. Lyrically, the evokes and heartbreak, with lines like "We're not who we used to be / We're not who we used to be" emphasizing emotional distance and the struggle to recapture past feelings. Styles has described the as "pretty self-explanatory," amid speculation linking it to his former relationship with , though he has not confirmed such interpretations. Upon release, "Two Ghosts" received positive critical reception for its introspective lyrics and mature sound, marking Styles' transition from One Direction's pop style to a more roots-oriented solo approach. The song has been performed live in various settings, including acoustic renditions on The Late Late Show with James Corden and an unplugged studio version released as part of the Harry Styles: Behind the Album documentary series. It has been certified gold by the RIAA in the United States and has amassed over 360 million streams on Spotify as of November 2025.

Background

Writing and inspiration

"Two Ghosts" was co-written by Harry Styles, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Mitch Rowland, and Tyler Johnson during sessions leading up to One Direction's final album, Made in the A.M. (2015). The track originated as a potential contribution to that group project but was ultimately held back for Styles' self-titled solo debut album, released in 2017. In a 2019 interview with Rolling Stone, Styles explained the decision: "'Two Ghosts' I wrote for the band, for Made in the A.M., but the story was just a bit too personal." He described it as a pivotal moment in his songwriting evolution, marking a shift toward more introspective and universally resonant narratives that felt broader than his experiences with the band. The song's inspiration draws from reflections on a past romantic relationship, capturing a sense of and emotional distance. Styles has characterized the as evoking two people who once shared deep intimacy but now exist as mere "ghosts" of their former selves, haunted by memories. In a 2017 , when pressed on the track's meaning, he responded ambiguously, stating, "I think it's pretty self-explanatory," without elaborating on specific influences. This approach aligns with Styles' broader songwriting during his solo transition, emphasizing vulnerability while maintaining privacy about personal details. The collaborative process involved co-writers including , , Bunetta, and Rowland, frequent collaborators in Styles' early solo work, focusing on acoustic-driven balladry to convey . Styles has noted that the song's creation encouraged him to explore themes of change and loss in relationships, influencing subsequent tracks on his debut .

Recording and production

"Two Ghosts" was written by Harry Styles alongside Tyler Johnson, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, and Mitch Rowland. The track originated during sessions for One Direction's 2015 album Made in the A.M., but Styles deemed its lyrics too personal for the group and reserved it for his solo project. Production of "Two Ghosts" was led by Jeff Bhasker as executive producer, with additional production from Alex Salibian and Tyler Johnson. Engineering was handled by Ryan Nasci, who also mixed the track. The song was recorded in 2016 as part of sessions for Styles' self-titled debut album, primarily at Gee Jam Studios in Port Antonio, Jamaica, with further work in Los Angeles and London. The album's recording process emphasized a collaborative, live-band approach, with Styles, Bhasker, and a core group including , Salibian, guitarist , and drummer convening for two months at the remote Jamaican studio. This setup allowed the band to live and work together, fostering organic performances captured with minimal overdubs to preserve a raw, rock-oriented sound. Bhasker described the sessions as intensive, often extending into late nights, prioritizing emotional authenticity over polished pop production.

Composition

Musical elements

"Two Ghosts" is a that incorporates influences, characterized by its acoustic-driven sound and contemplative mood. The track features a prominent strumming pattern, evoking comparisons to artists like and in its introspective, hungover-like delivery. It blends elements of balladry suitable for a , with subtle accents provided by guitarist , adding a twangy texture that leans into territory. The is composed in the key of and unfolds at a of 69 beats per minute, contributing to its languid, reflective pace over a of 3 minutes and 49 seconds. Instrumentation remains sparse and organic, emphasizing , light percussion, and layered vocal harmonies to support Styles' emotive delivery, with an overall energy level around 41% that underscores its subdued, intimate feel. The structure follows a conventional verse-chorus form, building gently through its narrative without aggressive dynamics, prioritizing emotional resonance over complexity. It is written in common time (4/4).

Lyrics and themes

"Two Ghosts" is a melancholic that examines the emotional remnants of an ended relationship through introspective . The song, written by alongside co-writers Tyler Johnson, , Julian Bunetta, and John Ryan, employs vivid imagery to convey a sense of disconnection and transformation. Key verses describe a figure who bears physical resemblances to a former lover yet feels profoundly altered: "Same lips red, same eyes blue / Same white shirt, couple more tattoos / But it's not you, and it's not me." This highlights the theme of superficial continuity amid deep personal change, evoking a haunting familiarity that underscores loss. The reinforces isolation and unattainable longing, with lines like "Talking to myself in public / Dodging bullets with your / I wanna hold you, but I can't," portraying the internal turmoil of maintaining a public while grappling with private . These explore themes of emotional numbness and the struggle to reconnect, as the narrator and subject exist as "ghosts" – hollow echoes of their past selves – unable to recapture former vitality. The pre-chorus adds a layer of desire amid : "Tastes so sweet, looks so real / I if it's true / So I can fall right back into you." In the bridge, the song questions and : "Can we lose ourselves? / Acting on my TV screen / Yeah, I sold my soul." This captures the central theme of transience, where attempts to reconnect falter, symbolizing and the irreversible passage of time in . Styles has described the track as deeply , noting in a 2019 interview that he originally wrote it for One Direction's album Made in the A.M. (2015) but withheld it because "the story was just a bit too personal." This revelation emphasizes the song's autobiographical undertones, focusing on vulnerability and self-reflection rather than explicit narrative details. Overall, the themes of "Two Ghosts" revolve around the ghostly aftermath of romance, personal growth through heartbreak, and the dissonance between and , aligning with Styles' broader solo work that prioritizes emotional . The sparse, acoustic arrangement amplifies these introspective elements, allowing the to resonate as a on impermanence.

Release and promotion

Single release

"Two Ghosts" was sent to adult contemporary radio in the United States on August 7, 2017, as the second single from ' self-titled debut studio . It followed to the next day. Promotion for the single was limited, consisting primarily of acoustic performances and digital releases. On August 31, 2017, released an unplugged live version recorded at Metropolis Studios in , available exclusively on as part of the "Harry Styles: Behind the Album - The Performances" series. In 2017, he issued a Singles edition featuring a reworked acoustic take on "Two Ghosts" paired with a cover of Little Big Town's "." The single debuted on the UK Singles Chart in May 2017 during the album's release week, peaking at number 58. In the United States, it reached number 18 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. "Two Ghosts" has since been certified gold in the US by the RIAA, denoting 500,000 units consumed, as of November 29, 2022.

Live performances

"Two Ghosts" was first performed live by Harry Styles on May 8, 2017, at Rough Trade NYC in Brooklyn, New York as part of an intimate album release event. Following its release as a promotional single, the song featured in several television and studio performances. On June 8, 2017, Styles delivered a stripped-down rendition during a rooftop session on The Late Late Show with James Corden in London, accompanied by his band in a casual, sunlit setting. An official live studio version was released on August 31, 2017, as part of the Harry Styles: Behind the Album - The Performances series on Apple Music, showcasing a tender acoustic arrangement. Additional promotional appearances included the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge on September 11, 2017, where Styles performed the track with a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain," and the Jonathan Ross Show on September 2, 2017. The song became a staple of Styles' debut concert tour, Harry Styles: Live on Tour (2017–2018), where it was played at 89 out of 95 shows, typically in the early portion of the setlist following "Ever Since ." This tour marked the track's most extensive live run, with performances emphasizing its folk-rock elements through full-band arrangements. In subsequent tours, such as (2021–2023), "Two Ghosts" appeared less frequently, often as a brief intro or mashup with "Falling," including at select dates like the , 2021, show in and the tour finale on , 2023, at RCF Arena Campovolo in , , where it transitioned directly into "Falling." Overall, the song has been performed live 103 times as of November 2025.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release as part of ' self-titled debut album in 2017, "Two Ghosts" received generally positive to mixed reviews from music critics, who appreciated its introspective and acoustic simplicity while noting its derivative influences. In an aggregate review from The Singles Jukebox, the song earned an average score of 5.81 out of 10 across 16 critics, highlighting its nostalgic and emotional resonance but critiquing its occasional vagueness. Critics frequently praised the track's heartfelt delivery and mature themes of lost love and personal change, often attributing its emotional weight to Styles' sincere vocals. Nellie Gayle of The Singles Jukebox described it as "reminiscent of Ryan Adams – simple, heartfelt, and driven by vocals that ring with sincerity," emphasizing its soothing, anxiety-relieving quality. Anthony Easton awarded it a 9/10, calling it a showcase of "erotic longing" where Styles' "smooth tenor convinces as it seduces." Similarly, Stephen Eisermann noted the "beautiful, if simple, lyric that is elevated by the emotion that comes through from Harry’s voice," while the Spectrum Pulse review lauded its "soft acoustic crooning" as grounded in "real emotion" reflecting relational aftermath with maturity. Billboard characterized it as "a plaintive strummer in the mold of Beck at his most contemplative or Ryan Adams at his most hungover," underscoring its melancholic introspection. Some reviewers, however, found the song's straightforward structure and allusions to Styles' past relationship with —particularly the lyric "Same lips , same eyes blue," echoing her ""—to be overly imitative or lacking depth. The Independent observed that it would prompt fans to "scramble to uncover any and all references to his life," marking it as the album's most explicit personal nod but critiquing its subtlety elsewhere. called it "sweet and wistful" yet "dull," a "near-perfect " of Swift's "" era with twangy guitars and simplistic drums that paled against other tracks. In The Singles Jukebox, Hillegeist gave it a 0/10 for sounding "pretentiously simple and vagueblogging," and Joshua Minsoo Kim scored it 3/10, detracted by the "obviousness of the 'we’re not who we used to be' line." positioned it as leaning toward "contemporary country than pop radio," suggesting its acoustic lilt positioned it as a potential but tied to biographical . Overall, "Two Ghosts" was seen as a solid, if unflashy, entry in Styles' shift to rock-infused work, contributing to the album's 68/100 score amid broader acclaim for its retro influences.

Commercial performance

"Two Ghosts" experienced moderate commercial success upon its release as the second single from ' debut album. In the , it debuted and peaked at number 53 on the Official Singles Chart in May , spending one week in the top 100. In the United States, the song reached a peak position of 118 on the in 2017 but did not enter the main chart, instead appearing on the at number 18. It peaked at number 13 on the chart and number 32 on the chart. It later received a certification from the RIAA on November 29, 2022, denoting 500,000 units in combined sales and streaming equivalent. The track charted modestly in select other markets, including number 33 on Australia's Singles Chart in August 2017. Its streaming performance grew over time, surpassing over 362 million global streams on as of November 2025, contributing to its certifications.

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