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The Empty Bullring Lyrics
Disappears through a window,
Out of my mind,
Trying to keep him at home.
Out into Rome,
In the early hours,
Leaving me here,
Like Tamlaine in her Tower.
You are going
To the empty bullring,
Taking your red cloak
To regain something.
Oh, you rolling matador,
Kill in your eyes
For the toro
That shut the door
To glory and gore.
The throw of the rose--
It's all you lived for,
But you've lost it all.
Your red streak,
On the plot where many feet,
Left it incomplete,
But you kept the meaning.
You feel him charge again,
And you feel him cut you down
Right on the spot,
Where you thought,
You were ground for good.
These flights of fantasy,
Make your wounds more sore,
But you've every right,
To even grab at the last straw.
Oh, Lord...
Oh, you rolling matador,
Kill in your eyes
For the toro
That shut the door
To glory and gore.
The throw of the rose--
It's all you lived for,
But you've lost it all.
Out of my mind,
Trying to keep him at home.
Out into Rome,
In the early hours,
Leaving me here,
Like Tamlaine in her Tower.
To the empty bullring,
Taking your red cloak
To regain something.
Kill in your eyes
For the toro
That shut the door
To glory and gore.
The throw of the rose--
It's all you lived for,
But you've lost it all.
On the plot where many feet,
Left it incomplete,
But you kept the meaning.
You feel him charge again,
And you feel him cut you down
Right on the spot,
Where you thought,
You were ground for good.
Make your wounds more sore,
But you've every right,
To even grab at the last straw.
Oh, Lord...
Kill in your eyes
For the toro
That shut the door
To glory and gore.
The throw of the rose--
It's all you lived for,
But you've lost it all.
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I can't believe no one commented on this song yet! It's my favorite b-side and Kate's best in my opinion. To me, The Empty Bullring is about a man and a woman, the man seems to have pride issues. He lives his woman to go prove that he has pride and he's strong. But the woman does not care about this at all, all she wants is for him to be home and safe. I see examples of this in 'You are going to the empty bullring" usually, a sport to prove how without fear a man has, "Taking your red cloak, to regain something" he wishes to regain his dignity and pride. But that's just my interpretation.
Or it could simply be about a bull fighter trying to prove to the world he is strong, fearless and wise.
It's possible that the matador was injured sexually, and can no longer "perform" - why he escapes at night (and she's going out of her mind trying to keep him at home). "The throw of the rose is all you lived for, but you've lost it all." Regardless, it's a very sensitively observed song about loving someone who struggles obsessively with past demons ...
I'd only add that there's a LOT going on here for such a short song - someone could make a movie from this little 2 1/2 minute tune!
I really don't understand the line 'Out into Rome'. Bullfighting is the lone pastime of Spain, not Italy. Could this be "Out and to roam in the early hours..."