Too Much Of Nothing
Spooky Tooth Lyrics


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Dylan

Too much of nothing can make a man ill at ease
One man's temper rises while another man's temper might freeze
Now in the day of confession, we cannot mock a soul
Oh, when there's too much of nothing, no one has control.

Say hello to Valerie, say hello to Vivian
Give her all my salary on the waters of oblivion.

Well, now too much of nothing can cause a man to weep
He can walk the streets and like most and boast of what he'd like to keep
But it's all been done before, it's all been written in the book
And where there's too much of nothing, nobody should look.

Say hello to Valerie, say hello to Vivian
Give her all my salary on the waters of oblivion.

Now too much of nothing can make a man a liar
It can cause some man to sleep on nails, it can cause others to eat fire
Everybody's doin' somethin', I heard it in a dream
But when there's too much of nothing, it just makes a fella mean.





Say hello to Valerie, say hello to Vivian
Give her all my salary on the waters of oblivion.

Overall Meaning

The song “Too Much of Nothing” by Spooky Tooth is actually a cover of Bob Dylan's original song. The lyrics explore the idea that too much of any good thing can become a bad thing. The song emphasizes the message that excess, no matter what form it takes, can lead to a loss of control and cause negative consequences, even in individuals who are generally perceived as strong or level-headed.


The first verse implies that when there is an abundance of nothing, people begin to act out of character. One person may become angry and agitated while another may withdraw and become distant. The second verse suggests that having too much of nothing can cause a man to feel overwhelmed, as if he cannot escape his fate. Similarly, he may walk the streets and brag about his accomplishments, which have all been done before and written in the books. The third verse delves deeper into the negative effects of excess as it can cause a man to become deceitful, destructive, and unpleasant.


The chorus of the song repeats the names Valerie and Vivian, indicating that these may be the sources of the singer's struggles. When the singer gives away his salary, it symbolizes his willingness to sacrifice for his desires. But when he gives it away on the “waters of oblivion,” it suggests that he is metaphorically throwing away his resources and his well-being.


Line by Line Meaning

Too much of nothing can make a man ill at ease
An excess of nothingness in life can cause anxiety or uneasiness


One man's temper rises while another man's temper might freeze
Different individuals react differently to the feeling of emptiness


Now in the day of confession, we cannot mock a soul
It is inappropriate to mock or make fun of someone sharing their struggles


Oh, when there's too much of nothing, no one has control.
An overabundance of nothingness can make one feel helpless or powerless


Say hello to Valerie, say hello to Vivian
Acknowledging someone's presence, possibly as a distraction from the feeling of emptiness


Give her all my salary on the waters of oblivion.
Escaping from reality or responsibilities by giving away one's financial resources


Well, now too much of nothing can cause a man to weep
Excessive emptiness can lead a person to sadness or tears


He can walk the streets and like most and boast of what he'd like to keep
One might try to appear as if they have what they desire, but it's all a facade


But it's all been done before, it's all been written in the book
Everything has already been experienced or expressed in some way


And where there's too much of nothing, nobody should look.
This emptiness is something to be avoided and not sought after


Now too much of nothing can make a man a liar
The feeling of emptiness can cause one to act dishonestly


It can cause some man to sleep on nails, it can cause others to eat fire
Empty emotions can drive people to make self-destructive decisions


Everybody's doin' somethin', I heard it in a dream
Everyone seems to be taking action or making progress, at least in the dream world


But when there's too much of nothing, it just makes a fella mean.
Excessive emptiness can lead to anger or cruelty towards others




Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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