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Empty Hearts Lyrics

save all of your light for those
who can't sleep at night
and they can't even sing to their shadows
they ride into town
and they throw the shots down
and they save the last round for the windows
singing

don't let me into this year with an empty heart, with an empty heart

i'm inside with my friends
we build fires and pretend
that the night could just bend on forever
while outside in the frost
are the wolves and the lost
and we sing to the dogs or whoever

don't let me into this year with an empty heart, with an empty heart

there's a friend that I have
and for her I'll go back
you see all these empties that I'm holding
they're too much for a man
empty arms, empty hands
and she'll know me by the sound of my hoping

don't let me into this year with an empty heart, with an empty heart
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Cover art for Empty Hearts lyrics by Josh Ritter

I like these lines "you see all these empties that I'm holding they're too much for a man empty arms, empty hands"

I think of empty bottles and cans (and just clap your hands! haha)

I like it though, he writes very manly songs. I think this part kind of means that a man needs something to do, but I guess also someone to hold.

I love this song, this whole album really!

My Interpretation
Cover art for Empty Hearts lyrics by Josh Ritter

It's about New Year's Eve. Some people are going out drinking (they ride into town, they throw the shots down), the narrator is inside with his friends etc, but he's still drinking because he's lonely (empties that I'm holding) and longing after someone.

And he's saying "Don't let me into this year with an empty heart". It's a New Year's Eve prayer. Very obviously.

Song Meaning
Cover art for Empty Hearts lyrics by Josh Ritter

Obviously about being single. Josh sort of mentioned that during the NC show this past week.

Cover art for Empty Hearts lyrics by Josh Ritter

I find it interesting that he says and we sing "to the dogs or whoever," especially when he never actually uses that phrase in the song To the Dogs or Whoever

Cover art for Empty Hearts lyrics by Josh Ritter

Another great Ritter song. I love how it's about an Empty Heart and not a Broken Heart, since they are very different and Broken hearts are such a cliche'. It's also cool how the first tracks name is here.

 
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