Houseful Of Nothing

(album: Octopus - 1995)

Talking to your lover
On a non-existent phone
(Houseful of nothing)
The joyous conversation
Of a creature quite alone
(Houseful of nothing)
The whir of passing traffic
The sighing of the breeze
(Houseful of nothing)
The awareness of a culture
That is fading by degrees
(Houseful of nothing)

A hint of a shadow
Or a picture by the door
(Houseful of nothing)
The creak of a staircase
Or the flexing of the floor
(Houseful of nothing)
The light spreading even
Neither glaring nor too dark
(Houseful of nothing)
All finishes are blended
Leaving surface with no mark
(Houseful of nothing)

One time in a lifetime
Understand just what you own
No one owns the sunshine
And possession is a stone
One time in a lifetime
Try to glimpse just who you are
All that learning, all those ages
Have you really come so far

The traces of a perfume
Half-remembered from the past
(Houseful of nothing)
The ringing of a catchphrase
From a cherished telecast
(Houseful of nothing)
Nothing in the corner
Nothing on the wall
(Houseful of nothing)
It makes you laugh to think
That there were ever things at all
(Houseful of nothing)

One time in a lifetime
Will you use the things you know
Will your passing make a difference
Will you foster, will you sow
One time in a lifetime
Make a list of all you own
And when you are gone
What will it do for you
Baby

(Hey)
You took my family
Give it back
(Give it back)
You took the heart of me
Give it back
(Give it back)
You took my dignity
Give it back
(Give it back)
Remember society
(Bring it back, bring it back)
Bring it back
Sense of community
(Bring it back, bring it back)
Bring it back
Lost opportunity
(Bring it back, bring it back)
Bring it back
Mercy and charity
(Bring it back
Bring it, bring it, bring it)
Bring it back

One time in a lifetime
Understand just what you own
No one owns the sunshine
And possession is a stone
One time
(Remember society)
In a lifetime
(Bring it back)
Try to glimpse just who you are
All that learning
(Sense of community)
All those ages
(Bring it back)
Have you really come so far

(Lost opportunity
Bring it back
Mercy and charity
Bring it back)

One time in a lifetime
Try to glimpse just who you are
All that learning, all those ages
Have you really come so far
(Bring it, bring it, bring it
Bring it back
Bring it back)
One time in a lifetime
(Mercy and charity
Bring it back).