Empty Spaces

Momentarily in the present, Pink has discovered his wife is cheating on him and becomes sullen (although this outcome is not a total shock when seeing that Pink hardly ever paid attention to his wife). In this song, Pink asks his wife, in his mind, what they shall do now. The most important line in the short song is the last one: "How should I complete the wall?" This shows us that Pink's wall is on the verge of being finished, and once it is complete, Pink will be totally separated from the real world. The empty spaces referred to in the song are not only the space between he and his wife but also the few remaining holes in Pink's wall yet to be filled in. Originally, "Empty Spaces" was supposed to appear before "Another Brick In The Wall part III". In this position, "Spaces"'s meaning is reinforced because Pink is asking what he should use to fill the remaining gaps, and then ABITW3 kicks in, answering Pink's question. The answer is that everyone can be used: "All in all it was all just bricks in the wall/ All in all you were all just bricks in the wall."

If you play "Empty Spaces" backwards, you're in for a surprise. You will here Roger Waters say "Congratulations. You have just discovered the secret message. Send your answer to Old Pink in care of the funny farm." And then a second person says: "Roger, Carolyn is on the phone." A little Waters humor or more symbolism? You guessed it, more symbolism. "Empty Spaces" is a transitional song. It marks one of the times in which Pink loses touch with reality and his sanity. According to the backwards message, Old Pink is now at an insane asylum (within his mind) which means that the new Pink is taking over. The Carolyn that is mentioned in the background is Roger's wife. Roger has often said that if it had not been for Carolyn, he would have ended up insane like Pink.

I personally like the alternate version of the lyrics that is taken off of "The Wall" movie.

What shall we use to fill the empty spaces where waves of hunger roam. Shall we set out across this sea of faces in search of more and more applause?

This song appears on the album, but not in the movie. "What Shall We Do Now?" sounds like this song in the beginning, but in a different key, and is in the movie, but not on the album, although the lyrics are included.

This is what he says "Congratulations. You have just discovered the secret message. Please send your answer to old pink, care of the funny farm, Chalfont" And if you look up Chalfont you get this. http://www.littlechalfont.org.uk/

On a part of this song where there is a slight mumbling sound, played backwards says in their normal voices "Congratulations, You have just discovered the secret message. Please send your answer to old Pink. Care of the funny farm

woa teis is weird you guys musn't read...theres like 3 people before it who have wrote"Congratulations,, you have just discovered the secret message, please send your answer to old pink, care of the funny farm, Chalfont."...everybody must know this by heart know...

what shall we use to fill the empty spaces where waves of hungar roar shall we set out across this sea of faces in search of more and more and more applause shall we buy a new guitar, shall we buy a more powerful car, shall we work straight though the night, shall we get into fights, leave the lights on, drop bombs,do tours of the east,contract disease,bury bones ,breakup homes,send flowers by phone,go to shrinks,give up meat,rarely sleep,keep people as pets,race dogs, train rats,fill the attic with cash,bury treasure,store up leasure,but never relax at all with our backs to the wall

thats the entire empty spaces on the wall what it means to me is that all people do is buy more and more,or make stupid choices,to fillup there problems,like pink,his wife just cheated on him so whats he do now kick the guys ass,buy new shit,whatever it does it still does not solve his problem or makes any happy

never relax at all with our backs to the wall cause hes got his back to the problem

mostly to some it up what to do for pink to fill the spaces between him and his wife but it does tend to travel off the subject especialy in the movie

I just have one question about the message in the song. how do you play it backwards? Do you need the record or what?

If you visit the above site where you can here it backwards, it tells you how. Here is the site again:

http://www3.telus.net/jefmil/stairwaybackwards.htm

It will direct you to a site with a link. Take the link (it should be green, I think), and you can here the song backwards. It also tells you how this guy did it, without the record.