“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” – Marcus Aurelius, 121–180 CE
Remembering Glen Campbell’s Legacy
We recently enjoyed a music program featuring the story and songs of Glen Campbell. He was a wonderful musician and songwriter who touched us with his songs, and later in life continued to make heartfelt music as he lived with Alzheimer’s. We are so fortunate to benefit from the gift of song that Glen Campbell left us — his inspired songs like Rhinestone Cowboy, Southern Nights, Gentle on My Mind, and his amazing farewell work, Ghost on a Canvas.
Music That Connects and Heals
Another gifted musician is creating music sessions for our residents that she develops with their input and life experiences — Jennarose Johnson. Recently, Jennarose centered one of her sessions around Glen Campbell’s story and songs. During her program, we felt the inspiration and power of Ghost on a Canvas.
The Meaning Behind “Ghost on a Canvas”
Ghost on a Canvas was written and recorded by Glen Campbell in collaboration with Paul Westerberg, and is a courageous song reflecting the layers of change he was experiencing when first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Listening to the lyrics at first, I understood his meaning of the ghost — that many people don’t or can’t see the person who is living with Alzheimer’s. The neurological changes can lead to feeling disconnected. His song reflects in words and melody how lonely that existence can be.
The Caregiver’s Reflection
After listening to Campbell’s song a few more times, I made another connection. I saw another layer that includes the people who care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s. As caregivers, we sometimes feel like a ghost on the canvas — unseen, though deeply present.
The Ghost-Like Nature of Alzheimer’s
Caregivers around the country have been on a mission to improve care for people living with Alzheimer’s, even though there is no real treatment yet and more people are being diagnosed each year. It is an epidemic that itself is ghost-like — an ephemeral disease that many find difficult to understand because it affects so much more than memory.
It changes the way a person sees, hears, feels, and makes sense of their world. As caregivers, the more we seek to understand how these brain changes affect the loved ones in our care, the better we can provide environments and services that support wellbeing for them and their families. There will be a cure one day, but until then, there is a lot of work at hand — and as Glen Campbell’s lyrics point out, it’s soul work.
A Message of Hope
Ultimately, Ghost on a Canvas carries a message of hope. The “ghost” symbolizes the soul of a person that remains present even as memories and abilities fade due to Alzheimer’s disease. The song and album are interpreted by many as a profound meditation on the “mystic experience of a soul’s journey on earth” and the acceptance of mortality, with elements of spiritual reflection.
The “canvas” represents the landscape of one’s life, and the “ghost” symbolizes one’s spirit as it sketches and paints the human experience — learning, growing, and developing over a lifetime.
Keeping Hope Alive
Hope is so important to all involved in the care of loved ones living with Alzheimer’s. Let’s continue to generate hope for a better way forward whenever possible. May we all have beautifully crafted paintings full of meaning, exploration, and purpose.
October’s Resource Highlight: Teepa Snow
🎧 Dementia Care Partner Podcast with Teepa Snow
Learn More
🔎 Story behind Like a Ghost on a Canvas lyrics – Google Search
Jennarose Johnson can be reached at:
+1 (707) 753-2673