Early rehearsals in Justin's parents house were followed by a move to secret rehearsal space behind some storage cartons in the basement of Glasgow Art Centre (now defunct). Later on the band secured official rehearsal space at the Art Centre in a proper room with a cupboard to keep their gear in. Postcard Record signing and future megastars Aztec Camera rehearsed in the room next door. At this time Paul Tyagi (drums) joined the band as its first drummer. The first recorded Del Amitri track "What she Calls it" was the B side of a flexi-disc given away free with Stand and Deliver fanzine - the A side was given to another future Glasgow megaband The Bluebells. Unable to read music, early Del tracks were arranged and remembered according to 'bits' named after musical influences that included from Genesis, Captain Beefheart and Orange Juice.
Guitarists Bentley and Scobbie left in 1982 for university and the band faced a brief uncertain future until Justin Currie placed an advert in the window of a music store asking for people who could play to contact him, and the new line-up was formed with Currie (bass and vocals), Iain Harvie (lead guitar), Bryan Tolland (guitar) and Paul Tyagi (drums). The first non-flexi 45 single was 'Crows in the Wheatfield' with cover design by artist Laura Michael. Tyagi left after the release of the first album three years later becoming a successful photographer. Currie and Harvie were the only members of the band to remain present throughout its history – they were also the main songwriters of the group.
Jon McLoughlin (recorded and toured with the band during 'Some Other Suckers Parade') passed away in March 2005 from complications of Diabetes. He was 42.
Empty
Del Amitri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If the good life won't arrive
You've been reading S.O.S.
When it's just your clock reading 5:05
And why are you so possessed
By the thought that she got free
And why are you figuring who's the best
When just your luck ran out
We do not lie side by side
And mock the thought of you
And I don't take her hand and ask
Is this what he used to do?
'cause I just want to free her from
Your jails of jealous dreams
'cause at least a house when it's empty
Stays clean
I won't pretend
That I was simply swayed
It was a two way thing not a
Three day fling
No secrets kept, no truth betrayed
And here's the house that held
The nightmare that went on
And you're sitting there wishing you'd never been born
With that self-inflicted crown of thorns
We do not lie side by side
And mock the thought of you
And I don't take her hand and ask
Is this what he used to do?
'cause I just want to free her from
Your jails of jealous dreams
'cause at least a house when it's empty
Stays clean
I won't pretend
That I'm the savior of the innocent and bad
But put two withered old blooms in a couple of rooms
And they'll behave like lunatics
And crave what makes them sad
So here's a card that says
Happy twenty-second birthday and I wish you were dead
And here's a house that held
A bevy of devils and an angel as well
And you want what I've got
When all I've got is guilt
And a room that won't stay still
Filled with pockets full of crumpled up money and
A mantelpiece littered with bills
'cause at least a house when it's empty
Stays clean
The song "Empty" by Del Amitri explores the aftermath of a failed relationship and the conflicts that arise from jealousy and bitterness. The singer is speaking to his ex-partner, telling her not to worry so much about her life not being the way she wants it to be. He accuses her of imagining things to be worse than they are and warns her against comparing herself to others. He also questions why she is so concerned with who is the best when her luck just ran out and she chose him. The singer claims that he and his new partner do not mock or think about the ex-partner and that all he wants is to free his partner from her jealous dreams. He compares their relationship to a house that is empty and clean, unlike the previous one which was tainted with nightmares, devils, and an angel too.
The first verse questions why the ex-partner is so obsessed with herself and concerned with who is the best when she has lost, and the singer has won. He dismisses her jealous and imaginings and claims that all is okay with him and his new partner. The verse also sheds light on the fact that the new partner had been previously tied down, highlighting the intensity of the previous relationship. The singer seems to feel guilty and empathetic towards his ex-partner, telling her that at least a house when it's empty stays clean, implying that they have moved on and now live in a clean and healthy environment.
The chorus repeats the message of the singer's dissociation with his past relationship and his hopes to free his partner from her jealous dreams. He also emphasizes the importance of a clean house when empty, pointing out the stark contrast between their current environment and the last one, which was filled with devils and an angel.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't get so distressed
Don't worry so much
If the good life won't arrive
If things don't work out the way you want them to
You've been reading S.O.S.
You've been panicking and feeling desperate
When it's just your clock reading 5:05
When you're just feeling tired and worn out
And why are you so possessed
And why are you so obsessed
By the thought that she got free
By the thought that she's moved on
And why are you figuring who's the best
And why are you comparing yourself to others
When just your luck ran out
When things didn't work out for you
And she chose me
And she chose to be with me instead of you
We do not lie side by side
We don't sleep together
And mock the thought of you
And make fun of you
And I don't take her hand and ask
And I don't ask her if she misses you
Is this what he used to do?
If this is what you used to do
'cause I just want to free her from
Because I just want to help her escape from
Your jails of jealous dreams
Your obsessive, possessive behavior
'cause at least a house when it's empty
Because at least a house is quiet and peaceful when there's nobody in it
Stays clean
Stays unblemished
I won't pretend
I won't lie
That I was simply swayed
That I was easily influenced
It was a two way thing not a
It was a mutual decision and not
Three day fling
A short-term affair
No secrets kept, no truth betrayed
No lies were told and no trust was broken
And here's the house that held
And here's the house where
The nightmare that went on
The unhappy situation that occurred
And you're sitting there wishing you'd never been born
And you're miserable and regretting your life
With that self-inflicted crown of thorns
With that self-imposed burden on your head
So here's a card that says
So here's a message that
Happy twenty-second birthday and I wish you were dead
I hope you have a miserable birthday and I don't care if you're alive or not
And here's a house that held
And here's the house where
A bevy of devils and an angel as well
A group of bad people and one good person too
And you want what I've got
And you're jealous of what I have
When all I've got is guilt
When all I feel is bad about what's happened
And a room that won't stay still
And a restless, uneasy feeling inside me
Filled with pockets full of crumpled up money and
With cash that's been crumpled up and shoved in my pockets
A mantelpiece littered with bills
A fireplace mantle covered with unpaid bills
'cause at least a house when it's empty
Because at least a house is peaceful when there's nobody in it
Stays clean
Stays untarnished
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JUSTIN CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind