Trey Anastasio (born Ernest Joseph Anastasio III on September 30, 1964 in F… Read Full Bio ↴Trey Anastasio (born Ernest Joseph Anastasio III on September 30, 1964 in Fort Worth, Texas, United States) is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. He is credited by name as composer of 152 Phish originals, 140 of them as a solo credit, in addition to 41 credits attributed to the band in the generic. He was rated as number 73 on The Rolling Stone List of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2003.

Throughout his career, Anastasio has participated in various projects outside of Phish, furthering his reputation as a multifaceted composer, instrumentalist, and vocalist. He continues to thrill fans with powerful live performances, and is by no means close to being finished.

Empty House
Trey Anastasio Lyrics

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Love went away, went away
Went away, went away, went away so soon
Love went away, went away
Went away, went away, went away so soon

Love went away, went away
Went away, went away, what am I to do?
Now that love went away, went away

Went away, went away so soon

She went away, went away
Went away, went away, went away so soon
She went away, went away
Went away, went away, went away so soon

She went away, went away
Went away, went away, what am I to do?

Now that love went away, went away
Went away, went away so soon

Overall Meaning

These lyrics come from Trey Anastasio's song Empty House, which is a melancholy reflection on lost love. The repetition of the phrase "Love went away, went away" creates a sense of finality and despair, as if the singer is struggling to come to terms with the sudden absence of a loved one. The repetition of "went away so soon" further emphasizes the unexpected nature of the departure - this isn't a breakup that was anticipated or prepared for.

The second half of the lyrics shift to a specific individual, likely the person who left. The use of gendered pronouns ("she went away") suggests that this is a romantic relationship, but it's possible that the lyrics could be interpreted more broadly. Regardless of who the person is, the sense of loss is just as profound. "What am I to do?" the singer asks repeatedly, as if grasping for some sort of guidance or understanding. The repetition of the refrain serves as a reminder of the magnitude of the loss and the difficulty of moving forward.

Overall, these lyrics capture the raw emotions of heartbreak and grief. The repetition and minimalism of the lyrics give a sense of the singer being stuck in a loop, unable to fully process or move on from the loss.

Line by Line Meaning

Love went away, went away
The feeling of love has left and is no longer present

Went away, went away, went away so soon
It departed quickly and without warning

Love went away, went away
The feeling of love has left and is no longer present

Went away, went away, went away so soon
It departed quickly and without warning

Love went away, went away
The feeling of love has left and is no longer present

Went away, went away, what am I to do?
Without love, the singer is unsure of how to proceed

Now that love went away, went away
The singer is reflecting on the absence of love

Went away, went away, went away so soon
It departed quickly and without warning

She went away, went away
The person the artist loved has left

Went away, went away, went away so soon
They left quickly and without warning

She went away, went away
The person the singer loved has left