Empty Bottles
Lou reed John cale & Nico Lyrics


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Empty, empty bottles
Lying side by side
Used up empty bottles
Remembering long lost wine

Keep our empty bottles
Making empty wine
Marking our intentions
Sadly out of time

And the summer make you lazy
A day at a time
And good company evades you
Passing you by

But I do love you against all odds
Though you don't know what I want
We're much poorer than that bottle
More foolish than that wine

Maybe we can make it
Though we failed before
You keep getting closer
Closer to me once more

And I'll try to entertain you
A day at a time
Try to make myself much clearer
From your wine

But I do love you against all odds
Though you don't know what I want
Seeing you and seeing me




We're much poorer than that bottle
More foolish than that wine

Overall Meaning

The first stanza of "Empty Bottles" by Lou Reed, John Cale, and Nico sets the scene with used-up bottles lying side by side, lost memories of long gone wine attached to them. The second stanza talks about the purpose of keeping empty bottles for making empty wine, marking our intentions, but ultimately this was all done for a lost cause as time had caught up with them. The third stanza reflects on how the summer can make one lazy and good company can sometimes evade those who need it the most, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation.


In the chorus, Lou Reed sings about his love for someone despite the odds being against them. He mentions how the two of them are much poorer and foolish than the empty bottles and wine, hinting at the regrets or losses they may have experienced in life.. The final verse talks about a second chance and the hope of making things work, to try and entertain and make things clearer between them.


Overall, the song Empty Bottles can be interpreted as a reflection on past mistakes, lost opportunities or broken love. Lou Reed's lyrics cleverly use the imagery of empty bottles and wine to depict this.


Line by Line Meaning

Empty, empty bottles
Used and emptied bottles lying side-by-side.


Lying side by side
The bottles are placed side-by-side next to each other.


Used up empty bottles
The bottles are empty and have been used before.


Remembering long lost wine
The bottles serve as a reminder of wine that was consumed in the past.


Keep our empty bottles
The empty bottles are kept and not thrown away.


Making empty wine
The empty bottles are being used to create an illusion of wine, when in reality there is none left.


Marking our intentions
By keeping the empty bottles, it marks the intention to drink more wine in the future.


Sadly out of time
Time has passed and the opportunity to drink more wine has been lost.


And the summer make you lazy
During the summer, one can feel more lethargic and complacent.


A day at a time
Taking things one day at a time.


And good company evades you
Despite wanting to be in good company, it seems to be elusive or hard to find.


Passing you by
The opportunity for good company is missed or ignored.


But I do love you against all odds
Even though it may be difficult, the love for the other person persists.


Though you don't know what I want
The other person may not fully understand or know what is desired.


We're much poorer than that bottle
In comparison to the bottles, they are much worse off or lacking.


More foolish than that wine
Their actions and decisions are more foolish than the wine they consumed.


Maybe we can make it
There is hope for the relationship to work out.


Though we failed before
Despite previous failures, they are willing to try again.


You keep getting closer
The other person is coming closer to them.


Closer to me once more
The other person is drawing near to them again.


And I'll try to entertain you
They will attempt to keep the other person amused or interested.


Try to make myself much clearer
They will try to be more honest and open about their own thoughts and feelings.


From your wine
They may have gained some clarity from the previous wine they consumed.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN CALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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