We are the empty men, we are the masked men
Resting together, cavity, stuffed with straw
Figure, without shape, shadow, without nuance
Impotent power, the empty men
Movement, without action
All who have gone with true vision
To death's higher dwelling, may recall us here
Not as 'damned, destructive ghosts
Simply as the empty men
Simply as the masked men
This is the lost land
This is the desert land
Here the graven images are built
Here is the place where they will attain
The entreaty of a lost soul's desire
Beneath the glimmer of a dying sun
Can it be so in death's second domain?
No longer asleep, lonely
At the moment of our greatest compassion
Arms that would embrace
Raised in supplication to toppled altars
Where have the eyes gone?
One finds no eyes here
In this empire of dying suns
In this vacant kingdom
This scattered realm of all fallen empires
In this final assembly
We stumble together and are silent
Collected on the shores
Of the river of disturbance, the barren men
And for one moment the eyes reappear
As the eternal Son moving broken stone
In the land of shadow [this land of death's shadow]
{The last wish of the straw men, empty men}
The dying wish of an empty man, the hollow man
The song was intended to contain quotes from T. S. Eliot's poem, "The Hollow Men," but permission could not be obtained from the copyright holder. As a result, the work was paraphrased quite closely, as the comparision below shows:
| Part | Hollow Man (Terry Scott Taylor) | The Hollow Men (T. S. Eliot) |
|---|---|---|
| A | We are the empty men, we are the masked men Resting together, cavity, stuffed with straw |
We are the hollow men We are the stuffed men Leaning together Headpiece filled with straw. Alas! |
| B | Figure, without shape, shadow, without nuance Impotent power, the empty man Movement, without action All who have gone with true vision To death's higher dwelling, may recall us here Not as damned, destructive ghosts But only as the empty men Simply as the masked men |
Shape without form, shade without colour, Paralysed force, gesture without motion Those who have crossed | With direct eyes, to death's other kingdom | Remember us--if at all-- not as lost | Violent souls, but only As the hollow men The stuffed men. |
| C | This is the lost land This is the desert land Here the graven images are built Here is the place where they will attain The entreaty of a lost soul's desire Beneath the glimmer of a dying sun Can it be so in death's second domain? No longer asleep, lonely At the moment of our greatest compassion Arms that would embrace Raised in supplication to toppled altars |
This is the dead land This is cactus land Here the stone images | Are raised, here they receive The supplication of a dead man's hand Under the twinkle of a fading star Is it like this | In death's other kingdom? Waking alone At the hour when we are | Trembling with tenderness Lips that would kiss Form prayers to broken stone |
| D | Where have the eyes gone? One finds no eyes here In this empire of dying suns In this vacant kingdom This scattered realm of fallen empires In this final assembly We stumble together and are silent Collected on the shores Of the river of disturbance, the barren men |
The eyes are not here There are no eyes here In this valley of dying stars In this hollow valley This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms In this last of meeting places We grope together | And avoid speech Gathered on this beach of the tumid river |
| E | And for one moment the eyes reappear As the eternal Son moving broken stone |
Sightless, unless | The eyes reappear As the perpetual star | Multifoliate rose |
| F | In the land of shadow The last wish of the straw men, empty men |
Of death's twilight kingdom The hope only | Of empty men. |
Mall all over the worldMoving into the age of leisure
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the worldHow come you're sad, how come you cry
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the worldMannequin left!
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the world
Moving into the age of leisure
Where east meets west in a maze of pleasure
And why do we feel we can live forever?
Cos they've piped in music of religious nature...
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the world
Mall all over the world
Girls with cars
Girls with cameras
Girls on game shows
Girls behind glass
Who are the real girls?
What's happened?
Who are the real girls?
Who are the real girls?
Who are the real girls?
Who are the real girls?
What's happening, what's happening
What's happening to women?
Who's on the seat of election
This casting couch of moral rejection
Men, muscle-bound without affection
Those who exercise subtle seduction
Girls in ads
Girls with big wigs
Girls incognito
Girls on display
Who makes the sacrifice?
Who pays the price?
They live the cheap life
Low budget still life
What makes a real life?
Who are the real girls?
What's happened to virtue?
What's happening to people?
Some females, they don't see heaven
And he-men deflect their vision
Angels grieve their indecision
God escapes their imagination
Girls—what are the statistics?
Girls—one out of two?
Girls—one out of ten?
Girls—is she one in a million?
Who is the real girl?
Who are the real girls?
Who is the real girl?
Who are the real girls?
I want to know who are the real girls?
[repeat ad infinitum]
Contestant:
Well, I know what I want, I know what I need
I want a miracle, I know what I need
I know what I want, I know what I need, give me a
Johnny Jacobs: (A new car!)
I'm one of the King's kids (he wants a blessing)
I'm one of the King's kids (we want a blessing)
I do deserve the best (keep on confessing)
The very, very, very, very, very, very best (na na na na na)
I'm one of the King's kids
I deserve the best, I want a
Johnny Jacobs: (A new car!)
Oh, rock on Jerry!
One time for Jerry!
Contestant: Well, make it a convertible
Game Show Girl: (Be more specific)
Contestant: I want a red convertible
Game Show Girl: (Can you be more specific)
Contestant: Mag-wheels and tinted glass
Game Show Girl: (Uh-huh)
Contestant: Radio and air-co
Game Show Girl: (Oooh-yeah)
Contestant: I know what I need, I know what I need, I need a
Johnny Jacobs: (A new station wagon!)
I'm one of the King's kids
I'm one of the King's kids
I do deserve the best
The very, the very, the very, very best
I know what I want, I know what I need, I need a
new, new, new, new, new, new, new
I need a new car, I need a new car
I need a new car, Hey man, I need that new car
I know what I want, I know what I need
And now here's Johnny Jacobs to tell me all about it!
Do big boys cry, do they come down
From their place on high, to the dirty ground?
Well, what do I do, I'm a big boy, too
(Cry) They claim fault now and then (big boys)
(Cry) In speeches on humility (big boys)
(Cry) But do they step down from the stage? (big boys)
(Cry) Go forward, (big boys) confess to the crime
Weep with the victim?
Do big boys cry, are they a step beyond
Shouting 'bout right, but living wrong?
Well, what do I say, I'm just that way
(Cry) There's got to be a break down (big boys)
(Cry) A healing in the tears (big boys)
(Cry) There's got to be a phone call (big boys)
(Cry) Break habits (big boys) Break habits
One has to apologize, even to the little guys
(Cry) They claim fault now and then (big boys)
(Cry) In speeches of humility (big boys)
(Cry) But do they step down from the stage (big boys)
(Cry) Go forward (big boys), (big boys) confess to the crime
Weep with the victim?
Do big boys cry, Do they come down
From their place on high, to the dirty ground?
Well, What do I do, I'm a bog boy, too
Dedication: To the children and their parents.
Youth with a machine
He needs to know how to handle it all
Youth with a machine
Show him the exits
Among the metal parts
Consign him soft spots
(Targets of the heart)
He needs you now, he needs you now
Now more than ever
Youth with a machine
Blinding his eyes are laser lights flashing
Youth with a machine
How many years
Amid the tape and steel?
Record him this message
Say, "Love is real"
He needs you now, he needs you now
He needs you now, now more than ever
Youth with a machine
Wild grid of noise chants "Life is negation"
Youth with machine
He's drowning in echo
Amid the stained glass towers
Dead the innocent?
Gone the hour?
He needs you now, he needs you now
He needs you now, now more than ever
Youth with a machine
[repeat]
My double's sitting in another world
My double's laughing in the heavenly places
I am his double here, I can expect
We'll be together when time is no more
That's not so strange
You've got one, too
Behind your eyes
Killing you
(Behind your eyes killing me)
I'm always failing to connect the dots
Do I, Don't I get the picture?
{This much is true}
I'm his injustice sometimes
I am his wrong
It will be all right again when
Christ rules over
See the ghost
I tell you he's here
Deep and dark
Filled with fear (behind my eyes full of fear)
Even so, (come quickly come)
Even so, (come quickly come)
Even so, (come quickly come)
Watch now as the two turn in to one
(eins zwei eins)
You don't see me, (come quickly come)
As well as I do, (come quickly come)
I don't see myself, I don't see you
Watch now as the one speaks now as two
My double's sitting in another world
My double's laughing in the heavenly places
I am his double here, I can expect
We'll be together when time is no more
I am his double here (It's not so strange) (eins, zwei, eins) [repeat]
My double's sitting in another world [repeat]
Distance and direction, resistance and dissection
Assistance and perfection, insistence and inspection
Two of me, two of you, two of us, two by two
The double life we live
Distance and direction run straight ahead
To your better world (to your better world)
We're putting on our make-up. But we never make-up
We're the beauty and the beast, we're dead men telling tales
Sleeping through our wake-up
Two of me, two of you, two of us, two by two
The double life we live
Distance and direction run straight ahead
To your better world
Who are you? What are you now?
Don't let (this false god) it take you down
Distance and direction, resistance and dissection
Assistance and perfection, insistence and inspection
Two of me, two of you, two of us, two by two
The double life we live
Distance and direction run straight ahead
To your better world (to your better world)
You have gotten much thinner
You're lookin' like a shadow
It's from dwelling on the might-have-beens
Living in a time-warp
To whom am I speaking? Some ghost from the past?
While you think about old glories
You're fading real fast
You take too many trips down memory laneYou play old music
You take too many trips down memory lane
You take another trip down memory lane
You go down there once too often and you're likely to remain
You take too many trips down memory laneIt's another flat testimony (testimony)
You take too many trips down memory lane
You take another trip down memory lane
You go down there once too often and you're likely to remain
You make a list of all your failures
You count all your heartaches
Please sit up straight at the table
And eat your words
Much too weak
I think complaining is a crime
And like the boy who cries wolf , we
We don't believe you anymore, we watch you
Travel back in time to...
You take too many trips down memory lane
You take too many trips down memory lane
You take another trip down memory lane
You go down there once too often and you're likely to remain
You take too many trips down memory lane [repeat]
You hold an image, it provides a common thread
No sense of menace, no feeling of dread
You never worry your pretty little head and
Angels tuck you in tonightThis cartoon world you've created, it's like Disneyland
Angels tuck you in tonight
Angels tuck you in and greet you in the morning light
Angels tuck you in tonightYou've been a wide-eyed innocent
Angels tuck you in tonight
Angels tuck you in and greet you in the morning light
You're too afraid of hurting
Been playing cover-up
Expose yourself to dying
And in this real world, it is your calling
You hold an image, it provides a common thread
No sense of menace, no feeling of dread
You never worry your pretty little head and
Angels tuck you in tonight
[repeat ad infinitum]
Little crosses—I see on my T.V.
Take my money—and give me some of these
Little crosses—with lots of color and sound
I'm in heaven—with all these treasures around
And ever since he bought them he sits and watches
He's got everything now, he really loves those crosses
Little crosses—they're dancing in the street
I'm a sucker—for anything with a beat
Little crosses—they get me to the moon
See me moving—I'm jumping to their tune
And while he is asleep, they come and take him away
They've got a plan for his life and he will do what they say
Little crosses got a hold on me
They're quite attractive and they really sold me
I've got to have them with me all the time
(Little crosses, tiny crosses, itty bitty baby crosses)
These little crosses are a real lifeline
(Burning crosses, earning crosses, never get enough)
Little crosses—It's such a wonderful world
I'm so lucky—I get a little cross with my girl
Little crosses—they make me happy again
Isn't it funny—little crosses may be my best friend
Little crosses—I've got to have my
Little crosses...
Uno, dos, one two tres quatro
Interpretation please
One, two, one, two, three, four
Interpreter:
Autographs for the sick, they want to touch you
Monogrammed polygraph kit, she wants to buy two
She's warning all her children of the horrors of rock'n roll
You're a bonfire lover counting dollars in the afterglow
Phonographs for the deaf, they can't hear you
Gloves for the amputees, they can't cheer you
Down at the stadium they're waiting for the end of the age
You're praying for the healthy...
While the lame never get to the stage
Autographs for the sick, they want to touch you
Monogrammed polygraph kit, she wants to buy two
She's warning all her children of the horrors of rock'n roll
You're a bonfire lover counting dollars in the afterglow
Ha ha ha
dit dit doo
You think I built this for me?
You think I built this for me?
This isn't mine—it's yours, it's really for you
I didn't build it for me
I don't have the time to enjoy it
I'm asked why I don't use the facilities
I don't have the slightest inclination
I won't consider it, I didn't build it for me [Hey!]
You think I built this for me?
You think I built this for me?
This isn't mine—it's yours, it's really for you
I didn't build it for me
There's a plaque in the hall
My name's on the wall
And a statue of my family
It wasn't my decision
It was all in a vision
I didn't build it, I never would have built it
I really didn't build it for me...
You think I built this for me?
You think I built this for me?
This isn't mine—it's yours, it's really for you
I didn't build it for me
One man stood alone
One man did succeed
I'm the man, I'm the one
I didn't build it for me
One man stood alone
Numero uno
I'm the man, I'm the one
I'm the man of the hour!...
You think I built this for me?
You think I built this for me?
This isn't mine—it's yours, it's really for you
I didn't build it for me
I used to say, "Why doesn't somebody do something about this?"
I cried, "Oh, what about this need?"
Then a voice said, "You do something about it"
I said, "Oh woooow you mean me?"...
Slide #1- Here I am, here I am,
driving to the studio with all of our equipment
Slide #2- Here I am, here I am,
singing in the microphone while the tape is rolling
Slide #3- Here I am, here I am,
at the photo session smiling at the camera
Slide #4- There you are, there you are,
getting out your money purchasing the record
Slide #5- Here we are, here we are,
by way of stereo [spoken:] making minimal contact
Is this a substitute, is this me
Well I can't see you and I'm out of your reach
Here I am (crying)
Slide #6- Here I am, here I am,
attending sunday service
(it's crowded so I watch on the T.V. in the foyer)
Slide #7- Here I am, here I am,
going to the altar (could this be you next to me?)
Slide #8- Here I am, here I am,
getting out my money to buy tonight's cassette
Slide #9- There you are, there you are,
getting out your camera taking photos for the bulletin
Slide #10- There you are, there you are,
developing the pictures (is that me there in the crowd?)
You want an autograph, what is your need?
Mine is for you to know that I really bleed (we're crying)
Here we are
Slide #11- Moving about in our own exclusive spheres
Slide #12- We touch not, we are not even near
Slide #13- Here I am, here I am, auhhh
[touch tones, ringing. . .
Machine: Hello, I'm not here. Please leave your name and phone number
and I'll return your call.
Caller: Uh, nevermind. I'll try again later.]
Slide #14- Here I am, here I am, there you are, there you are
Slide #15- Here I am, here I am, there you are, there you are
Slide #16- Here I am, here I am, there you are, there you are
Slide #17- Here I am, here I am, there you are, there you are
Slide #18- Here I am, here I am,
I'm reading a letter that says you like my record
For me, therefore, everything has a double existence
Both in time and when time shall be no more [1]
Vanity, vanity, all is vanity
And darkness is on the face of the deep
Who has failed, mankind or the church?
I have grown weary of my own life
I am weary of those who seek to destroy me
Yet one day the demiurge's workshop will suddenly be stilled [1]
Unimaginable silence
And the form of every single grain will be restored in glory[1]
I was judged for my despair
Because I was unable to understand this [1]
Let thy servant depart;
My Lord and my God [1], having seen thy salvation
I am a hollow man
I am his double here...
[1] From Czeslaw Milosz' "Bells in Winter" reprinted in "The Collected Works":
But my Lord and my God, whom I knew not,
Tore me from the ashes with his lightning. . .(p. 308)
But for me, therefore, everything has a double existence.
Both in time and when time shall be no more. (p. 310)
The demiurge's workshop will suddenly be stilled. Unimaginable silence.
And the form of every single grain will be restored in glory.
I was judged for my despair because I was unable to understand this. (p. 314)