A few weeks back, I wrote an emotional article about something I didn't expect to stumble into at all—Carl Jung. More specifically, his concept of individuation.
What began as casual curiosity turned into a surprising journey of anger, tears, and reflection. That article, written on December 7th, explored how accidentally "tripping into" Jung's work cracked open feelings I didn't know were still waiting to be acknowledged.
Since writing that article, something shifted.
The intensity of those emotions softened—not because they disappeared, but because I moved forward with them rather than resisting them.
That forward movement led me to write several lyric videos, each touching on personal growth and inner awareness. The one I'm sharing today, Ghost in the Passenger Seat, comes from that next step forward.
Behind My Lyrics To "Ghost In The Passenger Seat"
I wrote these lyrics on December 19th, 2025, and I wasn't planning on writing them at all.
I've been writing since 8 years old (1968), and most of the time words just fall into my head, fully formed, and I have to get them out.
The process takes hours—writing the lyrics, creating the artwork, and putting together the lyric video. Currently, I'm doing it all myself. So it's a huge production for me; however, it's rewarding.
Once I start, I feel a strong need to finish the project entirely, sometimes writing and working for eight to ten hours straight. Thank goodness for my Cubii—my under-desk exercise machine—so I can keep moving while writing.
Even so, I'm often emotionally spent the next day because projects like this pull a lot out of me. But the fun of creating and the need to deliver the message always overrides the drain.
Exploring the Shadow Self
This song explores another well-known Jungian concept: the shadow self. The parts of us shaped by past pain, fear, shame, or survival—the parts we'd rather ignore, bury, or pretend don't exist.
Jung believed we don't heal by rejecting these parts, but by acknowledging and integrating them. The shadow doesn't go away just because we refuse to look at it. It comes along for the ride whether we like it or not.
In Ghost in the Passenger Seat, the shadow self is personified as a ghost—sometimes called the "ghost self." She sits in the passenger seat of a car, traveling everywhere the woman goes. The car becomes a metaphor for life's journey, and the passenger seat becomes the space where unhealed parts demand attention.
The lyrics tell the story of realizing that healing doesn't mean banishing the ghost—it means recognizing her, listening, and eventually allowing her to move out of the front seat, to sit quietly in the back, happy that she's been acknowledged.
I intentionally chose light, bouncy music to carry a serious theme. I like contradictions like that.
When subjects become too heavy, hope can get lost in the weight of the message.
I feel that by pairing a meaningful topic with an upbeat, almost playful tone, the song becomes more approachable—an invitation rather than a lecture. Healing doesn't always have to sound sad to be real.
Final Thoughts: Healing, Creativity, and the Journey
The shadow self is a complex and timely subject. Carl Jung's work has found renewed attention as more people search for meaning, healing, and self-understanding beyond surface-level positivity.
This song is my way of engaging with that conversation—honestly, thoughtfully, but lightly. It's a reminder that even heavy truths can be approached with creativity, metaphors, and hope.
I hope you enjoyed the lyrics—and the lyric video—as much as I enjoyed bringing this story to life.
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50 Years of My Poems and Lyrics are on Amazon, Where Available.
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