2. The Story So Far were a Chicago punk rock band that formed in 1999 and split up in the mid-2000s. Made up of former members of 88 Fingers Louie, King for a Day and Tomorrow's Gone, the band released their debut EP in 2000 on Hopeless Records.
Empty Space
The Story So Far Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is your space is empty
It’s buried below
The stress and the envy
All the places I go
It still hasn’t left me
I hated it then
And now it consumes me
Tread swiftly and lightly
Make up the lost ground
And see what you don’t see
All questions aside
I asked and you lied
And now my hands are tied
All I can show
Is absence from your life
That I can’t control
It’s all that I get right
Keep paying the toll
I know that it seems like I’m always upset
I know it seems like I'm always upset
(I know it seems like I'm always upset)
All that I know
Is your space is empty
It’s buried below
It still hasn’t left me
All that I know
Is your space is empty
It’s buried below
It still hasn’t left
I dwell on it nightly
Tread swiftly and lightly
Make up the lost ground
And see what you don’t see
All questions aside
I asked and you lied
And now my hands are tied
Dwell on it nightly
Tread swiftly and lightly
Make up the lost ground
And see what you don’t see
All questions aside
I asked and you lied
And now my hands are tied
The lyrics to The Story So Far's song, "Empty Space," are filled with emotions of longing, emptiness, and frustration, all of which are directed at someone who has left a void in the singer's life. The opening line, "All that I know is your space is empty," sets the tone for the song, expressing the singer's obsession with the fact that this person is no longer present in their life. The phrase, "It's buried below the stress and the envy," suggests that the weight of the absence is ever-present and that the singer is constantly reminded of the lost relationship.
The second verse seems to be a reflection on the singer's past, tied to the same person that left this "empty space." The lines "All the places I go, it still hasn't left me / I hated it then and now it consumes me" suggest that there may have been some negative history with this person, but despite that, the impact of their absence is as strong as ever. The phrase "tread swiftly and lightly" suggests that the only way to move forward is to do so lightly, but quickly, as if they're racing to overcome the absence before it completely consumes them.
The final verse speaks to the idea that the singer has done everything they can to understand the situation and find closure, but they feel lied to and unable to break free. The lyrics "All questions aside I asked and you lied / And now my hands are tied" seem to indicate that the singer confronted the person who left the void but was met with dishonesty, leaving them feeling trapped in the emptiness.
Line by Line Meaning
All that I know
The singer's only knowledge about their situation is that the other person's space is empty.
Is your space is empty
The other person's emotional space is vacant, perhaps due to stress and envy.
It’s buried below
Their emotional turmoil remains hidden from view.
The stress and the envy
The reasons behind their emotional emptiness may be pressure and jealousy.
All the places I go
The artist has tried different methods to cope with this distance.
It still hasn’t left me
Despite these efforts, the singer still feels the impact of this emptiness.
I hated it then
The singer didn't like this situation from the start.
And now it consumes me
Now it seems like the artist cannot escape or ignore this feeling.
I dwell on it nightly
The artist is preoccupied with this issue, especially at night.
Tread swiftly and lightly
The artist is cautious and aware of how they approach this situation.
Make up the lost ground
The singer feels like they've fallen behind in their relationship because of this distance.
And see what you don’t see
The artist hopes to understand the other person's perspective better and figure out how to bridge the gap.
All questions aside
Despite the doubts and confusion, the singer wants to focus on resolving the issue.
I asked and you lied
The singer tried to clear things up, but the other person was dishonest.
And now my hands are tied
This lie has made it difficult for the singer to move forward and find a solution.
All I can show
The artist feels like their only contribution to this relationship is their absence from the other person's life.
Is absence from your life
The artist is not present in the other person's life in the way they want to be.
That I can’t control
Despite wanting to be closer, the singer cannot force the other person to let them in.
It’s all that I get right
Being out of the other person's life is the only thing the singer feels like they are doing properly.
Keep paying the toll
The emotional cost of this situation is significant, but the artist feels like they have to endure it.
It knows that it seems like I'm always upset
The artist acknowledges that their frustration and sadness may be perceived as a constant state of being.
Contributed by Michael P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kaylafillman3322
Lyrics:
All that I know
Is your space is empty
It's buried below
The stress and the envy
All the places I go
It still hasn't left me
I hated it then
And now it consumes me
I dwell on it nightly
Tread swiftly and lightly
Make up the lost ground
And see what you don't see
All questions aside
I asked and you lied
And now my hands are tied
All I can show
Is absence from your life
That I can't control
It's all that I get right
Keep paying the toll
I know that it seems like
I'm always upset
I know it seems like I'm always upset
(I know it seems like I'm always upset)
All that I know
Is your space is empty
It's buried below
It still hasn't left me
All that I know
Is your space is empty
It's buried below
It still hasn't left
I dwell on it nightly
Tread swiftly and lightly
Make up the lost ground
And see what you don't see
All questions aside
I asked and you lied
And now my hands are tied
I dwell on it nightly
Tread swiftly and lightly
Make up the lost ground
And see what you don't see
All questions aside
I asked and you lied
And now my hands are tied
@CharlieViking95
10 years later and this is still the quintessential pop punk anthem. Masterpiece.
@HollowRick
Facts bro 😄
@amandai.1334
When I was at their concert. Parker Canon was trying to crowd surf and he jumped on my hand and broke my wrist. It was a privilege to get my wrist broken by him.
@vickmakesmesick
i got a concussion at one of their shows and i had never felt so honored.
@kyleconnell9345
Kevin Root that was weak, try harder
@kevinroot142
kyle c you just said what any person would say if they didn't have a comeback. its like you can do all the bullying for me.
@kyleconnell9345
Kevin Root ......
@kevinroot142
kyle c ......
@pauljames7134
33 years old, and this song will forever remain in heart.
@dougnulton
We out here. Apropos of the song, this shit still hasn’t left me.