Self-described genius and musical megalomaniac, committed blogger at The Ti… Read Full Bio ↴Self-described genius and musical megalomaniac, committed blogger at The Time Being and compulsive music-maker. Multi-instrumental arch wit and vegan. His band the Church have survived for almost 30 years (since 1980) in spite of/because of him. A joker, a toker, a midnight sleeper with five incredible daughters in two hemispheres. Handle with extreme caution.

Nothing Inside
Steve Kilbey Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey, get out of my way, I cannot stay
I cannot adore you
Drained, leaving the game, chasing this train
That they put before you

You lied, there's nothing inside
Say the river jordan is chilly and wide
Once I told you I nearly tried

You, you're so unprepared, so badly ensnared
That they can't ignore you
Fall, out of the blue, everything's true
How can I assure you

You lied, there's nothing inside
Always at the church and never a bride
Once I told you I nearly tried

Hey, get out of my way, I cannot stay
I cannot adore you
You lied, there's nothing inside
Saddle up a dream and we're off on a ride

Once I told you I nearly tried
Hey

Overall Meaning

The song "Nothing Inside" by Steve Kilbey is a deeply emotional song about the struggle of a person who tries to love someone but finds nothing in return. The song begins with the singer asking the person to move out of their way as they cannot stay and adore them because they are drained and have other things to chase after. The person being addressed is poorly prepared and badly ensnared by something that others cannot ignore. The song highlights the unreliability and falseness in the relationship by saying that the person lied and that there is nothing inside them.

The song also talks about the person being unable to assure the subject of the song. The imagery of the "river Jordan" being chilly and wide is used to indicate the distance and the separation between the two people. The following lines indicate that the singer had once tried to reveal their true feelings to the other person but was unsuccessful. The song continues with a repetition of the first verse, highlighting that the singer cannot stay with the person any longer as they lied and there is nothing inside of them. However, there is a glimmer of hope as they saddle up a dream and are off on a ride.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey, get out of my way, I cannot stay
I need to leave and cannot have you obstructing my path

I cannot adore you
I do not have any feelings of admiration for you

Drained, leaving the game, chasing this train
I am tired and leaving this situation, pursuing something else

That they put before you
The opportunity presented to you by someone else

You lied, there's nothing inside
You have been dishonest and have no genuine emotion or substance

Say the river jordan is chilly and wide
Your words mean nothing to me

Once I told you I nearly tried
I confided in you once about my struggles

You, you're so unprepared, so badly ensnared
You are unready and caught up in a difficult situation

That they can't ignore you
They are unable to overlook your presence

Fall, out of the blue, everything's true
Unexpectedly, everything came to light and was revealed to be genuine

How can I assure you
How can I make you believe me?