What do you sing when the song’s been sung?
Who do you fight when the war is won?
What do you write when the book is done?
What do you sing when the song’s been sung?
How do you pray until you find your prayer?
How can you care so much you just don’t care?
How do you feel until the feeling comes?
Until you love yourself
How can you love someone?
Here I am, a hollow man
Telling stories ’bout the promise of a promised land
Feel like a cheap bouquet of flowers and a one-man band
With my heart in hand, the hollow man
How does it work when the words don’t come?
It’s like pulling the trigger on an empty gun
You can’t make it rain staring at the sun
So you work at your work
Until the work gets done
Here I am, a hollow man
Telling stories ’bout the promise of a promised land
Feel like a holy roller’s rosary on a one-night stand
With my heart in hand, the hollow man
I’m a blank page, clean slate
At night, I’ll give my soul away
When nothing’s left, I’ll give you a smile
I got these chords that won’t wait
I’m much too vain to masturbate
No sacrificing substance for style
Awe, anyway, ha, I got you to smile
What do you see that your eyes don’t see?
And what do you dream now that you’ve sold your dreams?
And what do you sing when the song’s been sung?
What do you sing when the song’s been sung?
Here I am, the hollow man
Selling stories ’bout the promise of a promised land
I feel like a cheap bouquet of flowers and a one-man band
I’m just a holy roller’s rosary on a one-night stand
With my heart in hand
I am the hollow man
Exploring the Emptiness in “Hollow Man”
“Hollow Man” by Bon Jovi delves into the struggles of self-identity and vulnerability. The lyrics ask soul-searching questions—what do you do when everything meaningful feels spent or empty? The repetition of existential queries reflects a search for purpose and authenticity in a world that often feels superficial. The singer describes himself as a “hollow man,” exposed and searching, feeling like an imposter even while trying to offer something genuine. The song’s metaphors—cheap flowers, a one-man band, a holy roller’s rosary—underscore feelings of inadequacy and the tension between appearance and substance. Ultimately, “Hollow Man” resonates with anyone who has felt lost or disconnected, yet still yearns for connection and meaning.
Song Credits
- Artist: Bon Jovi
- Songwriters: Jon Bon Jovi, John Shanks, Billy Falcon
- Release Year: 2024
- Label: Island Records