Empty Chairs
Don McLean Lyrics


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I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless night
Creep through my fingers and the moon is bright
Beams of blue come flickering through my window pane
Like gypsy moths that dance around a candle flame

And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you'd go
Until you did I never thought you would

Moonlight used to bathe the contours of your face
While chestnut hair fell all around the pillow case
And the fragrance of your flowers rest beneath my head
A sympathy bouquet left with the love that's dead

And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you'd go
Until you did I never thought you would

Never thought the words you said were true
Never thought you said just what you meant
Never knew how much I needed you
Never thought you'd leave, until you went

Morning comes and morning goes with no regret
And evening brings the memories I can't forget
Empty rooms that echo as I climb the stairs
And empty clothes that drape and fall on empty chairs

And I wonder if you know
That I never understood

That although you said you'd go
Until you did I never thought you would

Overall Meaning

In "Empty Chairs," Don McLean narrates the pain and heartbreak he feels in the aftermath of a failed relationship. The song captures the emptiness that lingers in the aftermath of a breakup. The first few lines depict the restlessness and unease the singer feels, unable to sleep as thoughts of his lost love occupy his mind. He describes the moon shining through the window, casting a blue light that resembles gypsy moths fluttering around a flame.


The second verse provides some context for the relationship. The singer reflects on the intimacy he shared with his lover, including a memory of her chestnut hair falling on the pillow beside him. He also notes the presence of a bouquet of flowers left behind, a final gift from his love that now represents the death of their relationship.


The final verse focuses on the aftermath of the breakup. The singer describes the emptiness of the rooms that were once filled with love, with only echoes remaining as he walks up the stairs. The sight of empty clothes draped over chairs serves as a reminder of the absence of his lover. The song ends with the singer reflecting on his disbelief that his lover is truly gone, despite her warning.


Overall, "Empty Chairs" captures the sense of loss and confusion that comes with a relationship's end. It is a poignant reminder of the depths of emotion associated with heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless night
Insomnia plagues me, and I can't stop tossing and turning


Creep through my fingers and the moon is bright
The moon is shining bright, but I can barely hold onto it through my anxiety


Beams of blue come flickering through my window pane
I see flashes of blue light filtering in through my window


Like gypsy moths that dance around a candle flame
The beams of light dance around like moths around a flame


And I wonder if you know
I question if you truly understand


That I never understood
I couldn't comprehend


That although you said you'd go
Even though you promised to leave


Until you did I never thought you would
I never believed that you would actually go


Moonlight used to bathe the contours of your face
I remember how the moon shone on your face


While chestnut hair fell all around the pillow case
Your chestnut hair used to cascade around the pillow


And the fragrance of your flowers rest beneath my head
The scent of your flowers still lingers where my head once lay


A sympathy bouquet left with the love that's dead
The bouquet you left was a symbol of our love that's now gone


Never thought the words you said were true
I never believed that your words were sincere


Never thought you said just what you meant
I always felt like there was a hidden meaning behind what you said


Never knew how much I needed you
I didn't realize how much I relied on you


Never thought you'd leave, until you went
I didn't expect you to leave, until you did


Morning comes and morning goes with no regret
I wake up every morning with no regrets about our past


And evening brings the memories I can't forget
But as the day goes on, memories flood my mind that I can't shake


Empty rooms that echo as I climb the stairs
The empty rooms around me seem to reverberate with every step I take


And empty clothes that drape and fall on empty chairs
I see your empty clothes hanging off the chairs, a constant reminder of your absence




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON MCLEAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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The Goddess


on The More You Pay

No. As The Auctioneer explains "what we don't sell we shoot or give away - cuz the more you pay, the more it's worth" so the horse is given to the persona/narrator rather than shooting it to death. The Gallery goes wild in celebration that the horse will go to someone instead of being killed.

Joe Boxer


on Vincent

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dcWFYtG8RFM

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