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
Add your thoughts

34 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:Pronouns....change from "I" to "you" (much before it's his mother speaking). That might be a key to separating the song into it's components of "forgetting" and "acceptance."
    Not only do they separate the song in two, but it seems like as the song gets more honest/straightforward, the speaker has to distance himself from the subject by changing to the second person. Alternatively, as the subject gets more general/widely applicable, it changes, as if he is talking to his audience and appealing to their common experience.
    Flagged bluesquashon January 30, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with what everyone has said. This song destroys and rebuilds me each time I listen. It has an important message too - that happiness is a conscious effort - at least in the beginning.
    Flag shutitoffon June 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is by far one of my favorite Bright Eyes songs, I stumbled upon it by chance and I am so thankful I did. It's amazing, everything about it from the lyrics to the melody and background music, is so poignant and beautiful and raw and real.
    Flag iamamountaineeron March 24, 2008   Link
  • +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.
    Flag opeaceon March 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:what album/ep is this on? i can't find it anywhere!
    Flag flippant thoughtson February 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Even though the song does have something to do with a broken relationship (hence the first two lines), I think it's about a lot more than that. First off, the beginning is talking about how the guy suspects and probably knows that his girl is cheating on him, so he falls into a depression. As time goes on, he falls into an even deeper depression and starts to look for anything that can help him through his sadness (alcohol from his brother and cocaine from this girl he met. probably a dealer or a friend). This only worsens his sadness to the point of him being suicidal. He finally tells someone (his mother) what's wrong, and she tells him that if he wants to get out of this depression and move on, he will have to try. He can't just bury it deep inside or have a cheap fix by using harmful substances. He has to try to move on and try to get free from what is causing him pain. If only you try, you will be happy. But the problem is, he won't try. He doesn't have the will or strength to try.

    It's such a sad song. I love how it changes from all this noise mashing and instruments playing to just a piano. The music in this song is just astonishing!
    Flag DreamScenarioon February 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:good drinking song.
    Flag wtfyourfaceon December 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Has anybody connected the title The Joy in Forgetting / The Joy in Acceptance to the song structure? Like the joy in forgetting is the heavy messy running from the beginning to about 2:03 when the piano kicks in, and the piano and conor is the joy in acceptance?
    Flag lateweeknightson November 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:call me emo.....but i cant help crying when i listen too this. i've said this about tonnes of his other songs, but it hits a nerve. theres so much emotion in his voice. its very very intense.
    Flag a-perfect-sonneton October 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is so... lovely.

    The beginning i think is just him realizing he's got a problem and is unhappy, maybe because of a broken heart or just addiction that is taking over.

    The Ending almost seems like a different song, it's alot softer with just him and the piano. It is really sad, but beautiful.
    Flag MeaghanMisspelledon September 29, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain