Vacant

Dream Theater

Hey you, hey you
I'm right here
Conscience fading
Can't get through

Oh Lord
Helpless
Confused
Head swayed,
Eyes glazed,
And mine teared

She's losing control
What can I do?
Her vacant eyes
Black holes
Am I losing you?


Lyrics submitted by Idan, edited by Octavarium64

Vacant Lyrics as written by John Ro Myung John Myung

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Vacant song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentActually, it probably is a prequel to Disappear, off of 6DOIT. I think it's about James' mother dying of Alzheimer's.
    Vozzyon October 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is beautiful. It can be a very general song (about losing someone or something similar), but specifically these lyrics seem to be about a person slowly losing their partner/family member to Alzheimer's... excellent lyrics by JLB, though as far as I know it's not about a personal experience...
    IdiotequeDanceon April 20, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is a very beautiful song. I love the lyrics and the instruments (especially, that heart melting violin-like inst). I almost cried the first time I heard it.
    psaffireon December 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song can't be a prequel to "Disappear" because 6DOIT came out before "Train of Thought" that "Vacant" appears on. And "Disappear" is about a man losing his wife.
    kristaps_kon January 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis may be one of DT's shorter songs, but it still gets a big thing across, and it still brings tears to my eyes. Beautiful.
    BlueFusion6851on March 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentKris, just because it was written after Disppear, doesn't mean it can't be a prequel, even if they're based on real events.

    Great song, very similar to Disappear, I can see why people make the connection. This song definitely seems like it's about someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
    o210non March 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentpsaffire, the violin-like instrument you speak of is a cello.
    MisterBeagleon June 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is SO great. The lyrics are so good man.. James can be a great lyric writer just like JM but they do not write often unfortunately. I think this song can't be seen apart from Stream of Consciousness, just like Wait for Sleep and Learning to Live.
    Sietsevon September 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWell, this song is obviously linked to the following track, Stream of Consciousness. It has the same theme, and I think of Vacant as a sort of intro to SoC.

    This is just my interpretation: In Vacant, a man is sitting beside his wife' hospital bed, wanting to reach her in a coma (possibly drug-induced) or something. He's unable to evoke any sort of reaction, and is wondering if she can even think at all. Then SoC starts, and I view it as a look into the coma patient's thoughts: a wildly insane dream. I picture a simply effed-up, drug-trip-like thing.

    I know that seems very far-fetched, but it seems like a cool explanation and satisfies me.
    psychomonkey62on May 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI see this song as simply someone drifting more and more out of reality and someone who loves them having to watch it and knowing that they can't do anything about it. It's a very sad song, but god it is so beautiful
    Emmagawshon June 01, 2008   Link

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