The Hollow
A Perfect Circle Lyrics
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Run him like a blade to and through the heart
No conscience, one motive
To cater to the hollow
Screaming feed me here
Fill me up again
And temporarily pacify this hungering
So grow, libido, throw
Dominoes of indiscretions down
Falling all around, in cycles, in circles
Constantly consuming
Conquer and devour
'Cause it's time to bring the fire down
Bridle all this indiscretion
Long enough to edify
And permanently fill this hollow
Screaming feed me here
Fill me up again
Temporarily pacifying
Feed me here
Fill me up again
Temporarily pacifying
The lyrics to A Perfect Circle's "The Hollow" describe a person who is consumed by desire, specifically sexual desire. The person being described appears as a "sexual being," with no conscience and one unrelenting motive: to satisfy their own emptiness. The singer urges this person to run towards their desire with a reckless abandon, comparing them to a blade that must cut through the heart to find fulfillment. The subject's hunger is unquenchable, and they scream for satisfaction, consuming anything and everything in their path.
The chorus of the song seems to provide some kind of solution for this person's insatiable thirst. They are begging to be filled up again, temporarily pacified until their next craving arises. The urge to consume is compared to falling dominoes, always in a constant cycle of indulgence and conquest. The singer then urges this person to bring the fire down, to bridle their indiscretions long enough to become edified, and to permanently fill the hollow that drives them.
Overall, "The Hollow" is a cautionary tale of what happens when one is consumed by desire, specifically sexual desire. The singer is begging the subject to become more than just a hollow shell that can never be filled, urging them to seek fulfillment in something other than their base desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Run desire run
Giving in to lust and passion
Sexual being
One who acts on their sexual desires
Run him like a blade
Using someone to satisfy one's desires
To and through the heart
Emotionally and physically manipulating someone
No conscience
Without guilt or morality
One motive
Driven by a single desire
Cater to the hollow
Satisfy the inner emptiness
Screaming feed me here
Desperately seeking fulfillment
Fill me up again
Finding temporary relief to emptiness
Temporarily pacify this hungering
Satisfying the craving, but not for long
So grow
The desire continues to intensify
Libido throw
Giving in to sexual desire without restraint
Dominoes of indiscretions down
One wrongdoing leads to another
Falling all around
The consequences of one's actions
In cycles
Repeating the same pattern of behavior
In circles
Stuck in the same pattern of emptiness and fulfillment
Constantly consuming
Forever hungry and unfulfilled
Conquer and devour
Overpower others to fulfill one's desires
'Cause it's time to bring the fire down
The moment has arrived to face one's emptiness
Bridle all this indiscretion
Control one's own behavior and desires
Long enough to edify
To become a better person
And permanently fill this hollow
To find true and lasting fulfillment
Screaming feed me here
Desperately seeking fulfillment
Fill me up again
Finding temporary relief to emptiness
Temporarily pacifying
Providing brief satisfaction to a craving
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Billy Howerdel, Maynard James Keenan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind