R.E.M. – Hollow Man

I've been lost inside my head
Echoes fall on me
I took the priceless night for complicated mess
Persuading things I didn't mean and don't believe

[Chorus]
Believe in me
Believe in nothing
Corner me
And make me something
I've become the hollow man, I
I've become the hollow man I see

Oh, I see this echoing
You have placed your trust in me
I went upside down
I emptied up the room
Thirty seconds left
I can't believe you held your ground

[Chorus]

I'm overwhelmed
I'm on repeat
I'm emptied out
I'm incomplete
You trusted me
I want to show you
I don't want to be the hollow man

[Chorus]

I see


Lyrics submitted by kierra

"Hollow Man" as written by Mike Mills Peter Buck

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Hollow Man song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentI'm starting to think this is autobiographical (no, really) and that Stipe is apologizing that REM sort of lost their way on UP, Reveal and Around The Sun and that he was hollow because he couldn't find much to say recently that was meaningful or true to himself ("for saying things I didn't mean and don't believe"). And he's thanking fans for sticking with them despite this: "you had placed your trust in me, I went upside down", "I can't believe you held your ground", "you trusted me, I want to show you", etc.
    And "I emptied out the room in 30 seconds flat" reflects REM's popularity dropping.
    But then again, it could just be to 1 person in his life instead of all of us.
    caliban10on February 16, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI really love this song off of Accelerate. The new cd is great, I love it, I'm so glad they decided to make another studio album.
    Poisonedbeautyon May 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Commentgreat song, love the stick figure guy in the video. They had that on the backdrop during their show (the entire light show was amazing!)
    Mindbreaker4228on June 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think it's about someone who got caught up with themselves so much that they didn't care about others, and said some things they regret saying. And now someone who wants to change them. ("I can't believe you held your ground.)
    Iana2643on July 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment"Echoes fall off me" might refer to the narrator repeating himself, or to the narrator being just like everybody else, sharing their opinions and just echoing their actions.
    Low Feedbackon July 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentA song for all the people who wake up one day, look in the mirror and see that life as simply passed them by....Have I become the hollow man I see?
    Have you lived your live on repeat, each day following the other, the same? Get up, go to work, go home, go to bed, get up...
    tmcd35on August 22, 2008   Link

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