There is a cat in the window of the house of my lover
Where she sleeps there alone now or perhaps with another
But I try not to think about that, I try not to think at all
I get cocaine from this girl I met and my brother buys me alcohol
And I stay up all night walking through these houses I have grown to hate
And my parents ask if I'm all right, I say, "I've just been staying up too late"
I need to sleep
I need to do something to get this awful weight up off my chest
And keep her pretty ghost from chasing me
You say there are spaces open and wide
You say there are days longer than nights
And I could be happy if only I'd try, but I don't try
I don't try
And you speak of a fever that burns you inside
As you explain to your mother how you have wanted to die
So she kisses your fingers and says, "My darling, but why?
When there is so much more, there is so much more
Do you know there are spaces open and wide?
Believe me, there are days longer than nights
And you will be happy the minute you try
So won't you try?
Won't you try?"


Lyrics submitted by bright eyes burn me, edited by mirrorsfev

The Joy in Forgetting/The Joy in Acceptance song meanings
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34 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    its on insound tour ep.

    i couldn't find it either, and when i did, i made a profile on songmeanings just to tell you.

    opeaceon March 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is so beautiful. I think its pretty obviously about hope and recovery after a broken heart (on top of other things going on). Conor has a really great way of putting a glimmer of hope in even the most depressing songs.

    'There is so much more'...Just that line alone is great.

    bright.eyed.girlon March 26, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    God I love this song. Never gets old.

    SoCoRocks14on April 08, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i can just envision a mom and a son sitting on his bed. with him telling her about his suicide contemplations and his no longer love for life. its so beautiful yet so tragic. either way, a great song.

    oh,and_theblues.on May 18, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is another one of his songs that makes me cry. Its a personal favorite, especially the lines: "Do you know there are spaces open and wide. Believe me, there are days longer than nights. And you will be happy the minute you try. So won't you try?" That's something I try to remember. It gives me a little hope that everything will be okay if I believe it...I just love this song.

    Violet Auroraon February 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    does anyone know where i can get this?

    rockstrNdisguiseon February 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is soo right my parent ask me whats wrong all the time i just dont anwser and walk away

    blackliston March 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song, like many other Bright Eyes songs, can describe exactly how I feel...In words that I could never have written...Amazing. There is some hope in this one, about recovery...

    UninvitingMirrorson July 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    So you say there are spaces open and wide, believe me, there's days longer than nights. And you will be happy the minute you try, but you don't try, no you don't try. And you speak of a fever that burns you inside, as you explain to your mother how you've wanted to die. So she kisses your fingers, says "My darling, but why?" When there's so much more, there is so much more.

    Depression and therapy..

    story of my life.

    maemion March 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ever notice how he talks about "you will be happy if you only try" alot in his songs? very very clever.

    misskittyon March 24, 2006   Link

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