Empty Spaces
Pink Floyd Lyrics


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What shall we use
To fill the empty spaces
Where we used to talk?
How shall I fill
The final places?
How should I complete the wall




Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pink Floyd's song Empty Spaces are open to interpretation, but one possible explanation is that it represents the emptiness and loneliness one can feel in the absence of meaningful communication and connection with others. The singer is asking what they can use to fill the void left by the loss of conversation with someone they used to talk to. They are also wondering how they can fill the final spaces, perhaps referring to the last moments or interactions with that person. Finally, they are questioning how they should complete the metaphorical wall that has been built up around them as a result of their lack of connection with others.


The theme of walls and isolation is prevalent throughout Pink Floyd's album, The Wall, from which Empty Spaces is a part of. The album tells the story of a rock star named Pink who builds a wall around himself as a defense mechanism against the pressures of fame and personal struggles. The album reflects the band's own experiences with isolation and detachment from their audience during their tours.


Line by Line Meaning

What shall we use
How can we possibly fill the void that has been left behind?


To fill the empty spaces
How can we replace the conversations that we used to have?


Where we used to talk?
How can we bring back the memories of our past conversations?


How shall I fill
How can I personally fill the emptiness that I feel?


The final places?
How can I find closure for the last remaining gaps in my heart?


How should I complete the wall
How can I finally overcome the emotional barrier that I have built for myself and allow myself to move on?




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Unison Rights S.L.
Written by: Roger Waters

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Loves2smoodge

What shall we use to fill the empty spaces where waves of hunger roar?
Shall we set out across this sea of faces in search of more and more applause?
Shall we buy a new guitar? Shall we drive a more powerful car?
Shall we work straight through the night?
Shall we get into fights, leave the lights on, drop bombs, do tours of the East, contract diseases?
Bury bones, break up homes, send flowers by phone?
Teach a trick, go to shrinks, give up meat, rarely sleep?
Keep people as pets, train dogs, race rats, fill the attic with cash, bury treasure, store up leisure?
But never relax at all, with our back to the wall.



@flimsyjimnz

Love the little ol' ladies helping themselves!

What shall we use to fill the empty spaces
Where waves of hunger roar?
Shall we set out across the sea of faces
In search of more and more applause?
Shall we buy a new guitar?
Shall we drive a more powerful car?
Shall we work straight through the night?
Shall we get into fights?
Leave the lights on?
Drop bombs?
Do tours of the east?
contract diseases?
Bury bones?
Break up homes?
Send flowers by phone?
Take to drink?
Go to shrinks?
Give up meat?
Rarely sleep?
Keep people as pets?
Train dogs?
Race rats?
Fill the attic with cash?
Bury treasure?
Store up leisure?
But never relax at all
With our backs to the wall



All comments from YouTube:

@fletchb2937

How this got left out of the original album is a complete mystery to me. I will never understand how this utterly angry and sublime piece could have been cut.

@TheMadcap919

From what I’ve heard, it was cut out due to the limitations of the Vinyl record or something like that. I’ve also heard it was a very last minute decision.

@muscles5714

Some men in a suit won't let it be there

@user-bs6th7vq2p

I agree... Makes owning the movie that more special

@henrykrinkle3

@@user-bs6th7vq2p There's a vinyl version which includes it.

@FireJojoBoy

@James Flood there is? I've only heard that the song is on the tracklist, but I don't think that there ever was a studio recording of the wall that had this song in it

31 More Replies...

@CurrencyChronicles1

This song is honestly just amazing and so catchy, by far probably one of Pink Floyd’s best song, it’s such a shame it wasn’t released

@nyahhbinghi

yes catchy is the first word that came to mind here lol

@terriquinlan7683

Gerald Scarfe's work in this movie is stupendous. Potent, nightmarish. There's a brutal cynicism in the song, and the imagery conveys it with grisly power. I love the snouts of expensive cars poking out of the wall. Yep, need more stuff to fill your life, not too many things that can't be helped with an ostentatious and over-priced car.

@pulse4503

Its work here, still holds up big time

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