Opal was a psychedelic band from Los Angeles. The band was part of the Pais… Read Full Bio ↴Opal was a psychedelic band from Los Angeles. The band was part of the Paisley Underground music style, incorporating rich vocal style and guitar interplay in a folk rock style. Opal formed in 1983 under the name Clay Allison featuring David Roback (previously of Rain Parade), bassist Kendra Smith (from Dream Syndicate), and drummer Keith Mitchell. After one single, however, they released the remaining Clay Allison tracks under the band's new name, Opal.

In 1984, Fell From the Sun EP was released and then followed in '85 by another EP, Northern Line. In 1987, the band released their first and last full-length album, Happy Nightmare Baby, on SST. Smith left the group on the Happy Nightmare tour and effectively put an end to the band. David Roback continued with vocalist Hope Sandoval, and in 1989 this band became Mazzy Star. A singles and rarities anthology, Early Recordings, was released that year on Rough Trade.

Empty Bottles
Opal Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Empty bottles
Up on my shelf
Are empty people
All by themselves

Empty hearts
And broken lives
Forgotten places

Inside my mind

Still be in Memphis
But I heard that whistle blow
Swim in the ocean
Driving in my car

Empty bottles
Up on my shelf

Broken people
All by themselves

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Opal's "Empty Bottles" delve deep into the idea of loneliness and emptiness, represented by shelves full of empty bottles and broken people. The metaphorical connection between empty bottles and empty people establishes a sense of melancholy, as if the singer has lost all hope and the only things left are reminders of the past. The suggestion of forgotten places inside the mind further reinforces the idea of memories and the struggles of dealing with the past.

The imagery of the singer being still in Memphis while also hearing the whistle blow evokes feelings of restlessness and wanting to move on. Even though life might feel stagnant, there is a need for change and new experiences. The reference to swimming in the ocean and driving in a car add to this desire of freedom and escape from the emptiness of the present.

Ultimately, the repetition of the lines "Empty bottles/Up on my shelf/Broken people/All by themselves" create a haunting effect within the listener, leaving them with a sense of isolation and heartache. The lyrics of "Empty Bottles" capture the essence of the human experience, as we all have moments of loneliness and nostalgia for the past.

Line by Line Meaning

Empty bottles
I have bottles on my shelf that are empty.

Up on my shelf
The bottles are positioned high on the shelf.

Are empty people
The people in my life feel empty and hollow.

All by themselves
These people are alone in their emptiness.

Empty hearts
The people around me have hearts that feel empty.

And broken lives
Their lives are filled with brokenness and chaos.

Forgotten places
I have places in my mind that I have forgotten.

Inside my mind
These forgotten places reside in my thoughts and memories.

Still be in Memphis
I may physically be in Memphis, but I feel emotionally detached.

But I heard that whistle blow
I have a desire to move on from Memphis and start anew.

Swim in the ocean
In search of clarity and calm, I plan to swim in the ocean.