Ghost is a Swedish rock band famous for creating a heavy and theatrical sound. They were formed in 2006, and the band’s six studio albums have gained global attention and critical acclaim. The Ghost members are also famous for their unique on-stage presence, with all musicians except the vocalist performing as “nameless ghouls.” Within the Ghost band discography, which includes dozens of great singles, one song stands out. Released in 2019 on the band’s Seven Inches of Satanic Panic EP, “Mary on a Cross” is a viral sensation with an intriguing meaning.
Let’s pull back the curtains on this great song and see what all the fuss is about. From sex and drugs to religion and relationships, the meaning of “Mary on a Cross” differs depending on who you ask.
Who Is Ghost, and What Is “Mary on a Cross”?
Ghost is a largely anonymous heavy rock band with a fascinating mythology. Formed in the Swedish town of Linköping, they hold a unique place in the world of heavy music. Ghost traverses vast music territory, from hard rock and doom metal to psychedelic soundscapes and symphonic pop. Despite these many styles, the band’s sound is unified under a shared theatrical presence. Ghost’s theatrics are influenced by artists like Kiss, David Bowie, and Alice Cooper.
Tobias Forge is the only known member of the band, with this multi-instrumentalist performing lead vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, and percussion. He portrays a character from the Roman Catholic Church, but instead of the Holy Trinity, it’s all about Satan. His previous and current characters have included Papa Emeritus I–IV, V Perpetua, and Cardinal Copia.
All other Ghost members are listed as the “nameless ghouls.” They play the music, including guitars, bass, keytars, drums, percussion, keyboards, organ, synthesizers, and backing/choir vocals. To add another layer of meaning, each ghoul is represented by one of the five elements. The lead guitarist is fire, the bassist is water, the keyboardist is wind, the drummer is earth, and the rhythm guitarist is ether. In true Ghost theatrical style, each musician wears their respective alchemical symbol on their instrument and costume.
Ghost is famous for using religious symbolism in rock music. Many songs reference the forthcoming arrival of the Devil, although everything is tongue-in-cheek and done for entertainment. “Mary on a Cross” is the perfect example of the band’s approach to music and religion, combining blasphemous lyrics with accessible pop hooks and religious imagery in music. The song is cryptic and humorous, and the band’s adoring fans have interpreted it many ways.
“Mary on a Cross” Song Meaning
“Mary on a Cross” is far removed from typical pop music, and the lyrics are full of innuendo. Most of the controversial content occurs in the song’s chorus, where sexual imagery blends with drug references and Christian overtones. Let’s take a look at the lyrics and bring some much-needed clarity to this memorable song.
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
The lyrics of this song are ambiguous by design, and the singer is referencing multiple things simultaneously. While “Mary” going down seems like an obvious reference to oral sex, it could also be a reference to praying or going down in history. Just like Jesus himself, “Mary” is presented “on a cross,” highlighting the wisdom and sacrifice of Mary Magdalene beyond her accepted role as a simple whore.
While this interpretation is appealing, the song complicates matters by playing with drug references. “We’ll be riding high” is a prominent line repeated throughout the track, and it raises lots of questions. We can’t even assume “Mary” is a person, as this term is also slang for marijuana. A similar double meaning exists for the “tickle” line, which could be a reference to manual sexual stimulation, religious fervor, or the effects of recreational drugs.
What Ghost Says About the Song’s Meaning
Singer Tobias Forge talked about this song in a livestream, but his words didn’t exactly shed light on the puzzle: “It’s more about friendship, and how you together with someone else might have been something at one point and then you just ended up not being like that.” While we should always take the artist at their word, songs about missing someone are rarely this opaque.
For some context, the line above was delivered by Forge to a friend of his daughter. She asked him directly what the song was about, and like all good dads, he protected the innocence of the people involved. In the same interview, Forge said explicitly that the lyrics weren’t about the Virgin Mary. As suggested above, they were about Mary Magdalene, a central female figure in the Bible who sat by Christ’s side but is solely depicted as a prostitute.
Regardless of the song’s actual meaning, there was certainly no intent to insult beloved religious figures. The song may simply be pointing out connections between prayer, sex, and drug use, all of which involve altered states stretching beyond the individual. “Mary on a Cross” leans into the band’s wider story, which involves blurring lines between the sacred and secular for artistic effect.
The Controversy Around “Mary on a Cross”
As you can imagine, given the possible meaning of this song, “Mary on a Cross” attracted lots of controversy. This wouldn’t have been surprising to Ghost, who dress up as religious figures on stage and reference Satanism on a regular basis. The Christian community wouldn’t have been impressed, however, especially if they found the song accidentally when looking for forbidden love songs or songs with strong bass lines.
Despite some outrage on social media, most conservative Christian folk simply weren’t aware of this song’s existence. Ghost fans had a very different reaction, with most people loving the ambiguous lyrics and how they made people think for themselves. “Mary on a Cross” won’t be included on any easy karaoke songs for women or men list, but that’s exactly why fans love it.
Why Did “Mary on a Cross” Go Viral?
As mentioned above, “Mary on a Cross” came out in 2019 on Seven Inches of Satanic Panic. It wasn’t included on any of the band’s six albums, and it rose to prominence on social media years after its release. It became one of the biggest viral songs on TikTok when a user posted a slowed-down, reverb-heavy version beneath a Stranger Things clip. This intense audio-video combination created an incredible synergy, with the song’s emotional heartbeat made obvious when stretched out over a pop culture moment.
Many versions of “Mary on a Cross” have been released online over the years, and the band has definitely benefited. From the original slowed-down track to emotional edits, cinematic renditions, and novel mash-ups, the viral success of this track has been huge. The original fan-made video paired with Stranger Things reached 2.9 million views on TikTok, and the single debuted at No. 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 and now has around 790 million streams on Spotify!
Final Thoughts
“Mary on a Cross” is a fantastic song with a great story and infectious sound. More than just a pop song, however, it’s a great reminder of the complex relationship between art and meaning. Many of the best artworks in history have multiple meanings, which often shift over time based on the surrounding cultural context. While “Mary on a Cross” by Ghost is hardly an all-time masterpiece, it challenges listeners to think critically about art, sex, religion, and the nature of memory itself.