Tori Kelly first rose to attention when her cover of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You,” went viral, racking up over 22 million views. To date, her YouTube channel boasts over ONE MILLION YouTube Subscribers with over 89 million views. Now, two EP’s later Handmade Songs, which Kelly self-penned, produced, mixed and released, and Foreword, she plans to release her first full length debut this spring.
Kelly co-wrote “Nobody Love” off her 2015 Spring debut alongside Rickard Goransson and Max Martin. Martin says, "After hearing Tori sing, we felt so inspired that we had no choice but to get involved. It’s been such a pleasure to be a part of her journey.” She also co-wrote with such vets as Savan Kotecha, Toby Gad, Claude Kelly, Chuck Harmony, Wolf Cousins, and Ed Sheeran. The album, she says, does not depart from her soulful roots. “It’s like a marriage between that soulful urban thing and a mainstream pop vibe. It was hard to get to that place, but once we had ‘Nobody Love,’ I knew we’d cracked the code. It felt seamless.”
Working with one of the most successful hit makers in the industry is a long way from Kelly’s early years making songs in her bedroom and posting them online. Born and raised in Temecula, California, Kelly is the daughter of musicians, her dad is a singer and bassist and her mom plays piano and saxophone. She sites early influences like gospel singer Crystal Lewis, Jill Scott, Jeff Buckley, and Maxwell.
Over the past year and a half, Kelly has sold out shows in several major cities (including The Troubadour and The Roxy in Los Angeles, the Bowery Ballroom and Gramercy Theatre in New York City, and Bush Hall in London), headlined a nine-city sold-out U.S. tour, and supported Ed Sheeran, and Sam Smith on tour.
“I'm excited to get out and play for people. That's always the dream.”
Hollow
Tori Kelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't wanna be the lonely one
Picking petals when the party's over
No, it's not any fun
'Cause I'm fragile
And you know this
Wrap me in love, fill up my cup
Empty and only your love can fill up my cup
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh
I don't wanna be the first one folding
I don't wanna be the joker heart
Tell me, darling, will you understand me?
And not show me your cards?
'Cause I'm paper-thin
And you, you make me whole again
So hold me
Wrap me in love, fill up my cup
Empty and only your love can fill up my cup
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh
Look, I know you've been up at night
Trying sleep with one eye open
Crying out enough tears you could fill up the Atlantic Ocean
Don't front being home alone we learn this from Macaulay Culking
So I'm just waiting on you
I've been calling, pick me up, I know you need to pick me up
I need you to grip me up, you my baby girl no sippy cup, cup
Half empty or half full, I mean neither way just come and fill me up
Let's take it back to the old days, head down town and light the city up
On the late night, just pick a date and its date night
Karaoke, no stage fright, girl you were made for the stage light
'Cause you got that phenomenal, most honorable, got me falling, domino
Take you home to mama though, you know
Hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh
'Cause I'm hollow (yeah)
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh (oh yeah)
'Cause I'm hollow (I'm hollow)
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh
In "Hollow," Tori Kelly sings about feeling empty and wanting to be saved by someone's love. She expresses her vulnerability and desire to be held by someone who understands her fragility. The lyrics convey a sense of longing, emptiness, and the need for emotional connection. Tori doesn't want to be alone at the end of the night or the first to leave. She wants someone to wrap her in their love and fill her with their affection, so she no longer feels empty.
The first verse of the song shows Tori's avoidance of loneliness and her frustration when the party ends. She doesn't want to be the only one left, hanging out on her own, and pretending to enjoy herself. The chorus emphasizes her hollowness and vulnerability, seeking someone's love to fill her up. The second verse shows her insecurity and fear of being hurt by those close to her. She doesn't want to be betrayed or seen as a joke. Instead, she wants to be understood and made whole.
The guest rapper in the song, Big Sean, adds an interesting perspective to the lyrics. He acknowledges the pain and sadness Tori feels, being left alone and crying. He wants to be there for her, to pick her up and fill her up with love. The two even go on a date, where Sean is willing to sing karaoke with Tori, and show her off to his mother.
Overall, "Hollow" is a vulnerable confession of emptiness and the desire for love and connection. Tori Kelly's voice showcases the emotion well, and the addition of Big Sean brings a nice complementary element to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna be the last man standing
I don't want to be the only one left standing after everyone else leaves
I don't wanna be the lonely one
I don't want to feel lonely or isolated
Picking petals when the party's over / No, it's not any fun
Being alone after the party is over is not fun, it's like plucking flower petals to pass the time
'Cause I'm fragile / And you know this
I'm delicate and vulnerable, and you are aware of this about me
So hold me / Wrap me in love, fill up my cup / Empty and only your love can fill up my cup
Please comfort and love me, as only your love can make me feel whole and joyful
'Cause I'm hollow / Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh
I'm empty and unfulfilled without your love
I don't wanna be the first one folding / I don't wanna be the joker heart / Tell me, darling, will you understand me? / And not show me your cards?
I don't want to be the first person to give up or to be hurt in a relationship, I want you to understand me and not hold back your true feelings
'Cause I'm paper-thin / And you, you make me whole again
I'm fragile like paper, but you have the power to make me feel complete and happy again
Look, I know you've been up at night / Trying sleep with one eye open / Crying out enough tears you could fill up the Atlantic Ocean / Don't front being home alone we learn this from Macaulay Culking / So I'm just waiting on you
I know you've been struggling and crying, and we all feel scared when we're alone at home at night, so I'm waiting for you to come to me for comfort
I've been calling, pick me up, I know you need to pick me up / I need you to grip me up, you my baby girl no sippy cup, cup / Half empty or half full, I mean neither way just come and fill me up
I've been reaching out to you, I know you need someone to lift you up and support you, and I need you to be there for me too. Let's fill each other up, no matter how much we have left
Let's take it back to the old days, head down town and light the city up / On the late night, just pick a date and its date night / Karaoke, no stage fright, girl you were made for the stage light / 'Cause you got that phenomenal, most honorable, got me falling, domino / Take you home to mama though, you know
Let's reminisce about the past and go out on a fun date night, singing karaoke without any worries. You are special and talented, and I'm falling for you. I want to introduce you to my family
Hollow / Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh / 'Cause I'm hollow / Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh / 'Cause I'm hollow (yeah) / Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh (oh yeah) / 'Cause I'm hollow (I'm hollow) / Yeah, I'm hollow, oh oh oh
Repeated chorus of feeling empty and incomplete without the love and comfort of the person she is singing to
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc., CTM Outlander Music LC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAYLEY WARNER, LINDSEY RAYMOND JACKSON, SEAN MICHAEL ANDERSON, THOMAS WILLIAM MACKEN, VICTORIA LOREN KELLY, ZACHARY SCOTT POOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ryan Luch Ycalina
"Hollow"
I don't wanna be the last man standing
I don't wanna be the lonely one
Picking petals when the party's over
No, it's not any fun
'Cause I'm fragile
And you know this
So hold me
Wrap me in love, fill up my cup
Empty and only your love can fill up my cup
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh, oh, oh
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh, oh, oh
I don't wanna be the first one folding
I don't wanna be the joker heart
Tell me, darling, will you understand me?
And not show me your cards?
'Cause I'm paper-thin
And you, you make me whole again
So hold me
Wrap me in love, fill up my cup
Empty and only your love can fill up my cup
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh, oh, oh
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh, oh, oh
I confess (yeah), my weakness
Till you pick up the parts that are broken
Pour out your perfection on me now
And hold me
Wrap me in love, fill up my cup
Empty, 'cause only your love can fill up my cup
So hold me
Wrap me in love, fill up my cup
Empty and only your love can fill up my cup
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh, oh, oh
'Cause I'm hollow
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh, oh, oh
'Cause I'm hollow (yeah)
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh, oh, oh (oh yeah)
'Cause I'm hollow (I'm hollow)
Yeah, I'm hollow, oh, oh, oh
DavidParody
Tori slays the game. 2016 is going to be a huge year
Deronne Kingcaid
Of course no doubt about it 2016 Tori Kelly is going to be a Force Next Year
Lucy Fernandez
get along
Dai
@Lucy Fernandez ???????
Shannen Reyes
Not only in year of 2016 but more years counting!! :)))
The Red Cupcake 🇺🇦
reading this comment made me sad
2016 was the best year of my life
Reah Israel
Understand that when an artist is "underrated," it's simply because they refuse to sell out and do the things that most top artists do for recognition. Tori Kelli wants to be an artist that glorifies God by how she carries herself and the example she leads. That's not sexy to an entertainment industry that cares more about using sex to sell, therefore, they wont promote her, BUT there will come a time when those who exalted themselves will be humbled and those humbled themselves will be exalted whether society likes it or not. When God is ready to promote his elite, he will and no one will be able to stop it. People like Tori understand this, so it doesn't phase them. They do what they do for the Love of the Music and their gifts and not for the Love of attention and approval from mankind.
Chilling
I legitimately couldn't say it better very true.
Rachël
AMEN! ❤
Gail Kinyua
Amen!!!