Shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall
Mama's in the kitchen, baby and all
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
But you're missing

Coffee cups on the counter, jackets on the chair
Papers on the doorstep, but you're not there
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
But you're missing

Pictures on the nightstand, TV's on in the den
Your house is waiting, your house is waiting
For you to walk in, for you to walk in
But you're missing, you're missing
You're missing when I shut out the lights
You're missing, when I close my eyes
You're missing, when I see the sun rise
You're missing

Children are asking if it's alright
Will you be in our arms tonight?

Morning is morning, the evening falls I got
Too much room in my bed, too many phone calls
How's everything, everything?
Everything, everything
But you're missing, you're missing

God's drifting in heaven, devil's in the mailbox
I got dust on my shoes, nothing but teardrops


Lyrics submitted by deathbear

You're Missing Lyrics as written by Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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You're Missing song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    As this album was Sprinsteen's artistic response to 9-11, I believe this song speaks about the grief of a family losing their father/husband. The lyrics tell of all the regular things that remain the same

    'Shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall Mama's in the kitchen, baby and all'

    despite the loss of the loss of the father, who is the 'you' in "but you're not there." Essentially, the song is an elegy to an unknown, unnamed person who was lost to the attack. Although the general idea of the song makes sense to me, I am lost in regards to the exact meaning of the symbolism in the second last line: it clearly has to do with the afterlife to be experienced by the deceseased, however I am confused as to what a "devil's in the mailbox" means.

    Morgoon April 05, 2006   Link

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