First Time Reaction to "Rats" by GHOST - Deep Dive

In this video I will be doing a Deep Dive into the song "Rats" by GHOST. I will be watching four videos including a Lyric Video, the Official Music Video, an acoustic performance, and a Live concert performance.
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[@krystalraihannahwinkfield2507]

Tobias Forge is literally brilliant in that his lyrics are jyst deep. He is actually talking about both religious indoctrination and the pandemic plague and making a comparison of the two.

[@TouchyReactions]

Genius

[@krystalraihannahwinkfield2507]

Wait till you hear From the Pinnacle to the Pit ....if you intend on doing that

[@krystalraihannahwinkfield2507]

And yanno he is right in so many ways about the evils of organized religion...I mean I am both Christian and Trans...but I don't practice any one denomination, say screw this doctrin nonsense bullshit because doctrin is part of the word indoctrination by these men who weaponize religion to gain power over everyone. I don't believe in that, my relationship with the Lord who btw is Transgender too is a very personal relationship as is everyone's personal spiritual journey whatever that may be and it damn sure isn't for me or anyone else to dictate to another. If you think about everything...ok lol I'm getting on a soapbox here, but I'll just say personally I love Jesus and Jesus taught us to love so that's what I try to do...which means don't judge not my business...or at least try not to..I make efforts to just accept people for who they are....just some folk make this really difficult.... I love Ghost because it's great music, so catchy, so intellectually deep and all these things that I feel and go through in my life it's in here and he talks about some serious shit in really intelligent ways , ways I can't so it makes people think...awesome it's just awesome. Also awesome how you read and respond to all your commenters

[@GeekFurious]

Some say this song is about a pandemic. Some say it's about Tobias taking shots at former members of the touring band who sued him. But it's most likely about toxic social media/Internet. Interesting seeing the 2019 show and comparing it to 2022... which is bigger now. More energy.

[@robbiegreen7067]

The whole album "Prequelle" is centered around the black plague. The song is about the black plague. People thought it was a punishment from God. The sickness spread through the streets all over Europe and the rats were the one carrying it. But of course it's Ghost so there is probably a double meaning.

[@danieledstrom5777]

Tobias has mentioned that the album is about the rising far right/reactionary movements in Europe/USA. You can even find topical references to Trump in Faith ("I am/have all eyes, I am/have all ears, I am the wall, and I'm watching you fall")

[@doomedgeneration1917]

​@@danieledstrom5777no, thats the impera album.

[@lolisweetze7393]

fans believe that the Ghouls that plays instruments in the MV are all Tobias. But the dance part is not him. You can see that the mask is not fit well. Love your reaction!!

[@TouchyReactions]

Thank you

[@PNW-Twelve]

The reference for Rats is even more simple. This song and the entire album is about the Bubonic Plague. It's fuckin doooooope!!

[@PNW-Twelve]

Do Miasma next??

[@karlsmith2570]

3:42 Basically, this song is in part making reference to the Bubonic Plague, which was likely spread by rats But, it's also a reference to when 4 former members of Ghost had sued Tobias Forge for royalties for their participation in their earlier successes during their tenure in the band

[@Lazarus_Cardinalis]

This song is from te same era as Dance Macabre, and yes, the plague is a main theme of the Prequelle album!

[@absea7918]

Great video. What really stands out is how high a bar Ghost sets for themselves in terms of performance. The harmonies (especially during the acoustic and live) are spot on, and the band is locked in tight. Ghost is one of the best acts today. People may not like their style, but no one can say they don't put huge effort into everything they do.

[@pvksl]

This song and video clip was what first that got me into Ghost back in 2018. They became on of my fave bands almost immediately, and this track is still in my Ghost top 10. Also, seeing how much you liked this acoustic live, you should go for acoustic versions of such songs as 'Ghuleh/Zombie Queen', 'Jigolo Har Meggido', and possibly for 'He Is' too.

[@TouchyReactions]

Thanks

[@aliiirxsa4235]

Haha the three songs u reccomended are my favorite three ghost songs right now :)

[@karlsmith2570]

25:50 It's interesting that you'd make this comment about Tobias looking like Michael Myers, especially considering that Ghost actually did a song titled "Hunter's Moon" that was featured in the soundtrack for the movie "Halloween Kills"

[@dansantosn]

This whole album is about comparing blind belief and misinformation to a plague: both dangerous and fast spreading. And he took the Black Plague as the artistic background concept for comparison. Yes, this song is talking about religion, using the plague as an allegory. So yeah, you were right about your assumptions, but not one OR the other. It's BOTH hehe.

[@TouchyReactions]

Thanks Dan 😊

[@wassupinlasvegas9735]

The song is probably open to different interpretations; a lot of great work is like that, even despite efforts to subtly lead one down the path of the "author's voice." There is a key word/phrase here early on though: beliefs contagious. On a side note, the guy in the Dance Macabre video you thought might be the lead singer is an actor. I originally thought the same, but searched and found the cast's names on IMBD. The live acoustic video I watched last month and laughed at the crowd interaction, or lack thereof, at first, thinking maybe they would be revealed to be playing in a funeral home or mortuary. Way to show some life, Chicago!

[@lorireynolds3540]

Justin Andrews is the actor playing young Papa Nihil in the Dance Macabre video and Tobias is the one playing the guitar in the other video.

[@yensid4294]

The white horse is Death, one of the 4 Horseman of the apocalyps

[@jasonstewart3996]

I love how you are doing this. This is my first time watching your videos. Im a huge Ghost fan and reaction video fan. the fact that you do all these versions of the same song is a true reaction video. Im sold and im a new subscriber

[@TouchyReactions]

Thanks Jason

[@lindsay3614]

Fun fact: I named my work fantasy football team Them Rats after this song. Cardinal Copia was my profile pic, and I finished in 1st so now I feel like I have to consider this a good luck song for me.

[@TouchyReactions]

Nice

[@JK-ld8cd]

I feel its about Tobias take on Social Media. Just take it line by line, fits perfectly on what SM can do to you, family, or inner circle. but in the usual Ghost way, they have a song with multiple meanings to fit the album and group.

[@TouchyReactions]

I'll have to listen to it again and see if it works.

[@run4walk]

Yeah, this entire album was, while ultimately themed of "death and doom", heavily inspired by the Black Plague. The intro piece to this album is called Ashes and features young children's voices singing the Ring around the Rosie nursery rhyme which is said to be about the Black plague. Dance Macabre is said to be about a true phenomenon in which the suffering people partied hard in an attempt to live each day as if it was the last because they knew damn well it could be.

[@SODOMIIZER]

I really love and appreciate the effort you put into these reactions, I genuinely feel excited whenever you post them, I'm very glad you're enjoying Ghost as a whole and hope it just keeps getting better from here! I'd definitely recommend Faith if you get the chance

[@TouchyReactions]

Thanks Kaii

[@nicholasacuff5248]

I really love and appreciate these deep dives!! For another song suggestion as big as a Ghost fan I am I'd have to say pick at random because you cannot go wrong. However for the sake of good content He Is would be a good one to do next since it does have a music video and plenty of good live takes available for you to review.

[@TouchyReactions]

Thanks Nicholas 😊

[@Tbone.357]

Seems obvious the song has a double meaning: Both the black plague and proselytizing religions. But then again, Tobias Forge likes to be mysterious and probably lets people decide for themselves what it means.

[@sheilacampbell1635]

OMG I WAS AT THIS CONCERT!!!!!😮😮😮😮😃🤘🤘🤘

[@TouchyReactions]

Oh, awesome.

[@casualgamerdads3840]

I always felt that this song is about former band members

[@jeffreyrussell8774]

Prequelle is a concept album about the black plague.

[@igorvenon]

Ótimo trabalho! Mais reações de Ghost por favor!!!

[@stlouiscardinalfan69]

Since the beginning of listening to Rats I have always thought it had double meaning. The obvious anti-religion piece is a given but I also think it is a metaphor for social media.

[@TouchyReactions]

Interesting

[@FamousGirlfriend]

Yeah, I really liked this, especially the choreography in the music video! Interesting take, yes, religion is a good interpretation. My first impression was that the song is about society or something. It seems to me, the rats are a metaphor for something destructive finding their way into society. It might be consumerism or greed. Rich people (the rats) seemingly having fancy dinners, living "the good life, setting the bar for how people are "supposed" to live, with greed and destructive ambition spreading like a disease in society. Religion fits, though. I like that. Nice reaction, anyway! Cheers!

[@staceyrees353]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@peo4989]

Rats might be anacronym for religion lol just thinking here. You just called it btw either the plague of religion or black plague. Man give it to a real atheist to call it out. Big hug from Sweden.

[@TouchyReactions]

Thank you 😊

[@bjhellstream]

Your two theories about the lyrics are both rights. There are a double meaning here involving both the black death and religion.

[@aidenbobs]

ghost always has a literal meaning in their songs that means something not literal the "black plague" is the spreading of religion

[@TouchyReactions]

That's what is great about Ghost

[@aidenbobs]

@@TouchyReactions that’s why they’re my favourite band!

[@TouchyReactions]

@@aidenbobs Dropping my Absolution Reaction in a few hours

[@aidenbobs]

@@TouchyReactions I’m excited, that’s one of my favourites

[@TouchyReactions]

@aidenbobs watch till the end. I change my mind by the end

[@showmetimefelix7500]

More GHOST! Your 💯 percent wrong. hahaha the song is about 🐀 Rats. No hidden meaning to the Rats in this awesome song by Ghost.

[@xxxSlavetraderxxx]

Its about social media