Empty
Joe Pisapia Lyrics


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He searches the left brain
For something to say.
He searches the right brain
But he can't find the words in either place.
He finds himself empty.

He studied the meaning
Of sun and of shine
And after a lifetime
Of staring at the sun
He's going blind
He finds himself empty

When you gonna give up
When you gonna give up
Always trying to make sense
When you gonna give up
When you gonna give up
Always trying to explain

If you find yourself empty
At a loss for words
Be thankful you're living
A life that's free and clear




And unrehearsed
If you find yourself empty

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joe Pisapia's song Empty highlights the struggle of a person who is trying to express himself, but fails to do so. The first two lines describe the character's attempt to articulate his thoughts using logical and creative sides of his brain, but to no avail. He is then left feeling empty, unable to find the words he needs to express himself.


The next few lines describe the character's obsession with finding the meaning of life - represented by staring at the sun. However, this desperate search has left him empty, as he is now going blind. The repetition of the phrase "he finds himself empty" underscores the despair the character is feeling, and how he is trapped in a cycle of searching but never finding fulfillment.


Line by Line Meaning

He searches the left brain
He tries to come up with something logical and rational using his analytical abilities.


For something to say.
He searches for the right words to express his thoughts and emotions.


He searches the right brain
He tries to use his creative and artistic abilities to come up with something to say.


But he can't find the words in either place.
Despite his efforts, he can't seem to find the right words to convey his thoughts and feelings.


He finds himself empty.
He feels empty and lost, unable to express himself in the way he wants to.


He studied the meaning
He spent time learning and understanding the meaning of things.


Of sun and of shine
He contemplated the significance of light and brightness.


And after a lifetime
After all his years alive and learning.


Of staring at the sun
Of contemplating the sun's light and rays.


He's going blind
He's losing his ability to see things clearly and with meaning.


When you gonna give up
When will you stop trying to make sense of things.


Always trying to make sense
Consistently attempting to understand and rationalize life's mysteries.


When you gonna give up
When will you accept that some things can't be explained or fully understood.


Always trying to explain
Persistently attempting to provide an intellectual explanation or rationale for everything.


If you find yourself empty
If you feel lost and unable to communicate.


At a loss for words
Unable to express yourself clearly or coherently.


Be thankful you're living
Be grateful for your existence and the opportunities it presents.


A life that's free and clear
A life unencumbered by constraints or restrictions.


And unrehearsed
Spontaneous and unscripted.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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