"Empty Walls" was released on September 10, 2007 as a digital download and September 25 as a CD single. It can also be found on a 2 track Reprise promo issue dated September 4, 2007 as well as in edited form on promotional copies that have been sent out to radio stations.
An acoustic version of the song also appears on the limited edition of Elect the Dead.
The "Victorious Club Mix", as featured on the single, was produced by DJ LethalRush.
CD single
1. "Empty Walls" 3:51
2. "Gratefully Disappeared" 1:41
2 track promo
1. "Empty Walls" 3:49
2. "The Unthinking Majority" 3:47
Radio Edit promo single
1. "Empty Walls" (Radio edit) 3:52
7" single
1. "Empty Walls" 3:51
2. "Empty Walls" (Victorious Club Mix) 5:45
Chart positions:
Billboard Canadian Hot 100: 72
U.S. Billboard Hot 100: 97
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks: 3
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks: 4
UK Singles Chart: 78
UK Rock Chart: 1
Empty Walls
Serj Tankian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dismissive apprehension
Don't waste your time, on coffins today
When we decline, from the confines of our mind
Don't waste your time, on coffins today
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Choking from intoxication
Don't you see their bodies burning?
I want you to be
Left behind those empty walls
Taunt you to see
From behind those empty walls
Those empty walls
When we decline, from the confines of our mind
Don't waste your time, on coffins today
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
Don't you see their bodies burning?
I want you to be
Left behind those empty walls
Taunt you to see
From behind those empty walls
I want you to be
Left behind those empty walls
I taunt you to see from behind those empty walls
From behind those empty walls
I loved you (from behind those empty walls)
Yesterday, before (from behind those empty walls)
You killed my family (the walls)
Don't you see their bodies burn
Don't you see their bodies burn
I want you to be left behind those empty walls
Taunt you to see from behind those empty walls
I want you to be left behind those empty walls
Taunt you to see from behind those empty walls
From behind those empty walls
From behind those fucking walls
From behind those goddamn walls
Those walls, those walls
The lyrics of Serj Tankian's song "Empty Walls" are open to interpretation, but they seem to be about the dangers of conformity and inaction in the face of social and political problems. The "pretentious attention" and "dismissive apprehension" mentioned in the first line could refer to people who ignore or downplay serious issues, while "coffins" could be a metaphor for the consequences of inaction.
The repeated line "Don't you see their bodies burning?" is a powerful and disturbing image, suggesting that there are real and immediate consequences to ignoring problems. The lines "Desolate and full of yearning / Dying of anticipation / Choking from intoxication" could be describing the suffering of people who are trapped in a hopeless situation, whether that's poverty, addiction, or political oppression.
The chorus with the lines "I want you to be / Left behind those empty walls / Taunt you to see / From behind those empty walls" could be a call to action or a warning. It seems to be addressed to someone who is either complicit in or indifferent to the suffering of others, and the singer wants them to see firsthand what it's like to be left behind and alone. The final lines with their curses and repetitions suggest a deep anger and frustration with the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Pretentious attention
People are overly concerned with appearances and trying to impress others
Dismissive apprehension
People are quick to judge and dismiss things without truly understanding them
Don't waste your time, on coffins today
Don't let the fear of death and the inevitable fleetingness of life hold you back from living in the moment
When we decline, from the confines of our mind
When we let our negative thoughts and fears hold us back and prevent us from living fully
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Can't you see the pain and suffering of others?
Desolate and full of yearning
Those suffering are lonely, sad, and longing for something they can't have
Dying of anticipation
The pain of waiting and hoping for something that never comes is killing them
Choking from intoxication
People are trying to numb their pain and escape from reality by using drugs and alcohol, but it's only making things worse
I want you to be
The artist wants the listener to understand something important
Left behind those empty walls
To be stuck in a place of emptiness, sadness, and regret because of one's actions
Taunt you to see
The singer challenges the listener to look beyond their limited perspective and see the truth
From behind those empty walls
The artist is trying to convey a message from a place of pain and suffering
I loved you (from behind those empty walls)
The singer once had strong feelings of love for the listener
Yesterday, before (from behind those empty walls)
The singer's love for the listener was in the past, before something terrible happened
You killed my family (the walls)
The listener is responsible for the singer's family's death and the singer is trapped in a place of grief and anger because of it
From behind those fucking walls
The artist is angry and frustrated with being trapped in a place of pain and suffering
From behind those goddamn walls
The artist is cursing the walls that are trapping them in their misery
Those walls, those walls
The walls represent the singer's pain and suffering and the listener's responsibility for it
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Serj Tankian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kriztrz6226
I couldnt find anyone posting a comment of the full lyrics so here they are
Your empty walls
Your empty walls
Pretentious attention
Dismissive apprehension
Don't waste your time, on coffins today
When we decline, from the confines of our mind
Don't waste your time, on coffins today
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
I want you to be
Left behind those empty walls
Taunt you see
From behind those empty walls
Those empty walls
When we decline, from the confines of our mind
Don't waste your time, on coffins today
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
I want you to be
Left behind those empty walls
Taunt you see
From behind those empty walls
I want you to be
Left behind those empty walls
I taunt you to see from behind those empty walls
From behind those empty walls
From behind those empty walls
The walls
From behind those empty walls
I loved you (From behind those empty walls)
Yesterday, before (From behind those empty walls)
You killed my family (The walls)
Don't you see their bodies burning
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication?
Don't you see their bodies burning (I want you)
Desolate and full of yearning (to be)
Dying of anticipation (left behind)
Choking from intoxication? (those empty walls)
I want you to be left behind those empty walls
Taunt you to see from behind those empty walls
I want you to be left behind those empty walls
Taunt you to see from behind those empty walls
From behind those empty walls
From behind those fucking walls
From behind those goddamn walls
Those walls, those walls
@fathimatuzahro700
~ LYRICS ~
Empty Walls
Serj Tankian
Your empty walls
Your empty walls
Pretentious attention
Dismissive apprehension
Don't waste your time, on coffins today
When we decline, from the confines of our mind
Don't waste your time, on coffins today
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
I want you
To be
Left behind those empty walls
Don't
You see
From behind those empty walls
Those empty walls
When we decline, from the confines of our mind
Don't waste your time, on coffins today
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
I want you
To be
Left behind those empty walls
Don't
You see
From behind those empty walls
Want you to be
Left behind those empty walls
Don't
You see
From behind those empty walls
From behind those empty walls
From behind those empty walls
The walls
From behind those empty walls
I left you
yesterday before
you killed my family
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
I want you
To be
Left behind those empty walls
Told you
To see
From behind those empty walls
Want you to be, left behind those empty walls
Told you
To see
From behind those empty walls
From behind those empty walls
From behind those fucking walls
From behind those goddamn walls
Those walls
Those walls
@Sphinxfall
Your Empty walls,
Your Empty walls,
Pretentious attention,
Dismissive apprehension,
Don't waste your time,
On coffins today,
When we decline,
From the confines of our mind,
Don't waste your time,
On coffins today...
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning,
Dying of anticipation,
Choking from intoxication,
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning,
Dying of anticipation,
Choking from intoxication,
I want you to be left behind those empty walls,
Taunt you to see from behind those empty walls...
Those empty walls,
When we decline,
From the confines of our mind,
Don't waste your time,
On coffins today...
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning,
Dying of anticipation,
Choking from intoxication,
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning,
Dying of anticipation,
Choking from intoxication,
I want you to be left behind those empty walls,
Taunt you to see from behind those empty walls,
Want you to be left behind those empty walls,
I taunt you to see from behind those empty walls,
From behind those empty walls,
From behind those empty walls,
The walls!
From behind those empty walls...
I loved you yesterday,
(From behind those empty walls...)
Before you killed my family,
(From behind those empty walls, the walls...)
Don't you see their bodies burning?
Desolate and full of yearning,
Dying of anticipation,
Choking from intoxication,
Don't you see their bodies burning,
Desolate and full of yearning,
(I want you...)
Dying of anticipation,
Choking from intoxication,
(To be left behind those empty...)
I want you to be left behind those empty walls,
Taunt you to see from behind those empty walls,
(Desolate and full of yearning, Dying of anticipation, Choking from intoxication...)
Want you to be left behind those empty walls,
(Don't you see their bodies burning? Desolate and full of yearning, Dying of anticipation, Choking from intoxication...)
I taunt you to see from behind those empty walls,
(Trust your empty walls, trust your empty walls)
From behind those empty walls,
(Trust your empty walls, trust your empty walls)
From behind those empty walls,
(Trust your empty walls, trust your empty walls)
From behind those empty walls,
Those walls!
Those walls!
@TheDevildog1991
This is honestly one of the most haunting music videos ever made. The children playing cheerfully while providing a living metaphor for the horrors of war. Just brilliant
@Hoitusmaximus24
Art.
@J0ELLEx
Yeah, haunting. It's really something. Well said.
@patrickh.3858
2021 approves
@wojciechmasiewicz7500
@@J0ELLEx sz
@blainebarrett3184
Yea and most peiple don't even understand this song, jus like Reality TV and Harakiri
@idontapproveofyourlifestyle
These kids are now old enough to understand and appreciate the message behind the fun they were having on that day, hell, some of them are almost old enough to serve. time flies
@lifteddaydream8536
Thats wild to think about. i was around that age (maybe a bit older) and am now 24.. Shits crazy
@comradeurod9805
Crazy how relentless something can be that you can't even touch huh
@epicdragon2866
Fact