| Ghost of Days Gone By | |
| Cover: | Ghost of days gone by.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Alter Bridge |
| Album: | AB III |
| Released: | April 18, 2011 |
| Genre: | Hard rock |
| Length: |
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| Label: | Capitol |
| Producer: | Michael "Elvis" Baskette |
| Prev Title: | Wonderful Life |
| Prev Year: | 2010 |
| Next Title: | Addicted to Pain |
| Next Year: | 2013 |
"Ghost of Days Gone By" is a song by American rock band Alter Bridge, released in the United States as the third single from their third album, AB III, on April 18, 2011.[1] In the United States, the song was self-released via EMI, like the album. Musically, the song features a somewhat lighter tone than other songs on the album except for the much heavier and darker bridge. The song's lyrics are about mortality, reminiscing past memories, and "coming to terms with the fact that time will go on."[2]
The band hinted via Facebook that "Ghost of Days Gone By" would be released as the second single in North America and the third single overall, after "Isolation" and "I Know It Hurts," the latter of which was released worldwide except for the United States. On March 7, 2011 the band wrote on Facebook "The Ghost Of Days Gone By... haunting North America this spring... It's coming!!!"[3] It was later shown on FMQB that the song would be self-released via EMI to rock radio on April 18, 2011.[1] The official artwork for the single was designed by guitarist Mark Tremonti's brother Dan Tremonti, who has designed all of the artwork for the band. It was revealed via Facebook on March 17, 2011.[4] It was released to rock radio on March 28, 2011.[5]
Lead vocalist Myles Kennedy said that the song is "a bit of a departure from the theme of the rest of the record." He explained: