Now that the furniture’s returning to its goodwill home
Dishes and last week’s paper, rumors and elections,
crosswords, our un-ending wars
the black in fingers smeared the (????)
now that the last month’s rent is scheming with the damage deposit
take this moment to decide (sun in an empty room)
we were meant to if we tried (sun in an empty room)
felt around for far too much (sun in an empty room)
things that accidentally touch (sun in an empty room)

the hands that we nearly hold with pennies for the gst
the shoulders we lean our shoulders into on the subway, mutter an apology
the shins that we kick beneath the table, that reflexive cry
the faces we meet one awkward beat too long and terrified
know the things we need to say (sun in an empty room)
we’ve said already anyways (sun in an empty room)
parallelograms of light (sun in an empty room)
rooms that we repainted white (sun in an empty room)

sun in an empty room
sun in an empty room
sun in an empty room
sun in an empty room
sun in an empty room
sun in an empty room
sun in an empty room
sun in an empty room

take eight minutes and divide (sun in an empty room)
by ninety million lonely miles (sun in an empty room)
watch the shadow cross the floor (sun in an empty room)
we don’t live here anymore (sun in an empty room)



Lyrics submitted by leahleahleahleah

Track duration: 04:00


Sun in an Empty Room song meanings
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  • 0
    Lyric Correction:Now that the furniture's returning to its Goodwill home
    Dishes and last week's paper, rumors and elections,
    crosswords, and an ending war
    the black in our fingers smear the their prints on every door pulled shut
    now that the last month's rent is scheming with the damage deposit
    take this moment to decide (sun in an empty room)
    if we meant it, if we tried (sun in an empty room)
    or felt around for far too much (sun in an empty room)
    from things that accidentally touched (sun in an empty room)

    the hands that we nearly hold with pennies for the GST
    the shoulders we lean our shoulders into on the subway, mutter an apology
    the shins that we kick beneath the table, that reflexive cry
    the faces we meet one awkward beat too long and terrified
    know the things we need to say (sun in an empty room)
    and said already anyway (sun in an empty room)
    by parallelograms of light (sun in an empty room)
    on walls that we repainted white (sun in an empty room)

    sun in an empty room
    sun in an empty room
    sun in an empty room
    sun in an empty room
    sun in an empty room
    sun in an empty room
    sun in an empty room
    sun in an empty room

    take eight minutes and divide (sun in an empty room)
    by ninety million lonely miles (sun in an empty room)
    watch a shadow cross the floor (sun in an empty room)
    we don't live here anymore (sun in an empty room)
    Flag steev1durgeon November 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:take this moment to decide (sun in an empty room)
    we were meant to if we tried (sun in an empty room)
    felt around for far too much (sun in an empty room)
    things that accidentally touch (sun in an empty room)

    This song is beautiful. I'm listening it at about 10 in the morning in our living room, first sunny day all week. It reminds me of falling in love with someone, and rushing in. But after, debating whenever you had ever really loved them as much as you thought you did at the time. Awman. At first it was making me feel happy and upbeat, hehe now feeling pretty messed up :P ahwell.

    Oh, and on, 'hands that accidentally touch' ever had a moment when you were walking with someone, you liked but couldn't admit it and then brushed hands (held hands, touched) and neither of you can look at the other person, just holding hands and pretending to be oblivious. :D
    Flag HEYBeenTryingToMEETyouon August 09, 2010   Link
  • +1
    Lyric Correction:Now that the furniture's returning to its goodwill home,
    With dishes in last week's paper,
    Rumors and elections,
    Crosswords, an unending war-
    That blacken our fingers, smear their prints on every door pulled shut;
    Now that the last month's rent is scheming with the damage deposit

    Take this moment to decide (sun in an empty room)
    If we meant it, if we tried (sun in an empty room)
    Or felt around for far too much (sun in an empty room)
    From things that accidentally touched (sun in an empty room)

    Hands that we nearly hold with pennies for the GST,
    The shoulders we lean our shoulders into on the subway, mutter an apology,
    The shins that we kick beneath the table, that reflexive cry,
    The faces we meet one awkward beat too long and terrify,

    Know that the things we need to say (sun in an empty room)
    Have been said already anyway (sun in an empty room)
    By parallelograms of light (sun in an empty room)
    On walls that we repainted white (sun in an empty room)

    Sun in an empty room
    Sun in an empty room
    Sun in an empty room
    Sun in an empty room
    Sun in an empty room
    Sun in an empty room
    Sun in an empty room
    Sun in an empty room

    So take eight minutes and divide (sun in an empty room)
    By ninety million lonely miles (sun in an empty room)
    And watch a shadow cross the floor (sun in an empty room)
    We don't live here anymore (sun in an empty room)
    Flag etoilenoire2191on June 23, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Have you guys seen the video for this:

    youtube.com/…

    The video offers a very interesting perspective of the song, when the old bald guy goes into a house, while thumbing money in an envelope and looks around at the sun in an empty room. That, combined with the references to the decay of the North End made me think that we see the song through the bald guys perspective, and the song he's singing is sort of a general lament for the loss of the North End.
    Flag jcaputaon November 05, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The funny thing is that the lyrics to all weakerthans songs are on their website, and the lyrics here have several mistakes in them. These are the official lyrics:
    Now that the furniture's returning to its Goodwill home, with dishes in last week's papers—rumours and elections, crosswords, an unending war—that blacken our fingers, smear their prints on every door pulled shut. Now that the last month's rent is scheming with the damage deposit, take this moment to decide if we meant it, if we tried, or felt around for far too much from things that accidentally touched. The hands that we nearly hold with pennies for the GST, the shoulders we lean our shoulders into on the subway, mutter an apology. The shins that we kick beneath the table, that reflexive cry. The faces we meet one awkward beat too long and terrify, know that the things we need to say have been said already anyway, by parallelograms of light on walls that we repainted white. So take eight minutes and divide by ninety million lonely miles, and watch a shadow cross the floor. We don't live here anymore.
    Flag Haberdon March 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:YES I agree harshfury. I always liked that imagery.
    And when he's talking about the "rumours, an election, cross-words, an unending war" it's about the contents of the newspaper.

    Love this man's songwriting!
    Flag illuminatedon January 22, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I skipped a few posts. So will say "sorry" if I am echoing another's comments. BUT; I always thought it said "dishes in last week's paper...". Everybody else seems to think if is "and" rather than "in". Also, I think other people may be reading too much into the following line about prints on the door pulled shut.

    To me it is saying packing up their dishes in last week's paper (as to not break them when moving). And their prints are smeared on the doors due to the ink smudges on their hands from handling the newpaper.
    Flag harshfuryon October 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is definitely about both a break up and a move. They are breaking up and both moving out.

    "take this moment to decide if we meant it if we tried or felt around for far too much from things that accidentally touched"

    that seems to me like a line about trying to decide whether it was fate that brought them together or if it had been just an accident.

    the 2nd verse is about their last days or weeks together, and the awkwardness and loneliness of a failing relationship, where two people who once were so close are now almost as distant as strangers. Almost holding hands by instinct but not quite, leaning against each other but only by accident, looking at each other a little too long but not wanting to speak, etc. It's all things you do when your relationship is over, perhaps just waiting for the lease to be up before you can move on.

    Sun in an empty room is the end product of the relationship and all that's left when it's over.

    The image of the painting really does go well with the song. Thanks to those who pointed that out.
    Flag natedoggsdon September 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Just to expand on that, Night Windows is also an Edward Hopper painting :)
    Flag mr-numbon October 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is inspired by an edward hopper painting (there's a reference to hopper in the song hospital vespers off reconstruction site). Hopper often claimed he loved to paint shadows and the reflection of sunlight on buildings. Check google images for a picture of the painting of the same name as this song - some of the references, such as those to parralelograms (sic) make more sense. Hopper liked to convey the loneliness and impersonal sense of urban scenes, and this song has remained true to the feeling of the painting. Samson is a welcome anomaly in modern music! Love it!
    Flag shittypon October 26, 2007   Link

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