After Rasputin’s death, he and the protagonist travel together through space as he attempts to help the protagonist back to his lifeless body left on Earth.
The main inspiration behind this song lyrically was the Tibetan Book Of The Dead that features the lines –
‘Wrathful ones nine eyes gaze…’
Wrathful ones nine eyes gaze
Holding skulls
Filled and laced
With human blood
Wrathful ones nine eyes gaze
Holding skulls
Filled and laced
With human blood
Shades of darkened skies
Emptiness
Twilight holding through
Offering
Life in zenith
Bulls blood shot eyes
Flattened portrait of the night sky
Feel crust hum
Facing the North
Vapor space
Between heaven and Earth
Wisdom and the knower
A planet collide
Divisible we fall
Hear dirt waves
Wading forth
Vapor space
How long has it been since we flew through the shadows
I have walked on many other planets
Sinister twin
Choking on fear
Bonded iron
Sink to the core
Hear dirt waves
Wading forth
Vapor space
Shades of darkened skies
Emptiness
Twilight holding through
Offering
Wrathful ones nine eyes gaze
Holding skulls
Filled and laced
With human blood
Ghost of Karelia was written by Brann Dailor & Troy Sanders & Bill Kelliher & Brent Hinds.
Ghost of Karelia was produced by Brendan O’Brien.
Mastodon released Ghost of Karelia on Tue Mar 24 2009.