Hollow Man – English Lyrics

• By: R.E.M.
• Album: Accelerate

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in R.E.M.'s "Hollow Man," a powerful alternative rock track that offers a rich tapestry for language learners. Through its evocative lyrics, you can explore themes of introspection and self-identity, encountering vocabulary related to emotional states and existential questioning. The song's dynamic structure, transitioning from a soft melody to a more energetic chorus, provides varied listening comprehension practice, making it a special piece for understanding both the English language and R.E.M.'s artistic depth.

[English]

I've been lost inside my head

Echoes fall off me

I took the prize last night for complicatedness

For saying things I didn't mean and don't believe

Believe in me, believe in nothing

Corner me, and make me something

I've become the hollow man

Have I become the hollow man I see?

Mmm, I see this echoing

You have placed your trust in me

I went upside down

I emptied out the room in thirty seconds flat

I can't believe you held your ground

Believe in me, believe in nothing

Corner me, and make me something

I've become the hollow man

Have I become the hollow man I see?

I'm overwhelmed, I'm on repeat

I'm emptied out, I'm incomplete

You trusted me, I want to show you

I don't want to be the hollow man

Believe in me, believe in nothing

Corner me, and make me something

I've become the hollow man

Have I become the hollow man I see?

I see

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hollow /ˈhɒləʊ/ B2	adjective - Having a hole or empty space inside; without real value or sincerity.
man /mæn/ A1	noun - An adult male human being; a person.
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - To accept something as true; to have faith or confidence in.
trust /trʌst/ B1	noun - Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. verb - To have confidence in; to believe in the reliability of.
lost /lɒst/ A2	adjective - Unable to find one's way; no longer possessed or found; confused or uncertain. verb - (Past participle of 'lose') To no longer have; to fail to win.
echo /ˈekəʊ/ B1	noun - A sound caused by reflection of sound waves; a close parallel or repetition. verb - (Of a sound) be repeated or reflected; (of a feeling or idea) be reminiscent of or repeat.
complicatedness /ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪdnəs/ C1	noun - The state or quality of being complicated; complexity.
mean /miːn/ A2	verb - To intend to convey, indicate, or refer to (something specified); to signify.
become /bɪˈkʌm/ A2	verb - To come to be; to grow, change, or develop into.
empty /ˈempti/ B1	adjective - Containing nothing; not filled or occupied; feeling hollow or meaningless. verb - To remove the contents of (something).
overwhelmed /ˌəʊvəˈwelmd/ B2	adjective - Having too much to deal with; overcome by a strong feeling.
incomplete /ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt/ B1	adjective - Not finished; not having all the necessary parts.
corner /ˈkɔːnə(r)/ B2	verb - To force (a person or animal) into a position from which there is no easy escape. noun - A place or angle where two or more sides or edges meet.
ground /ɡraʊnd/ B2	noun - The solid surface of the earth; a position or opinion maintained against opposition (as in 'hold one's ground').
prize /praɪz/ B1	noun - An award given to the winner of a competition or in recognition of an outstanding achievement.
repeat /rɪˈpiːt/ B1	noun - The act of doing or saying something again; a television or radio programme that has been shown or broadcast before. verb - To say or do something again.

Key Grammar Structures

• I've been lost inside my head

  ➔ Present perfect continuous (have/has + been + past participle)

  ➔ "I've been" shows the present perfect continuous, indicating a state that started in the past and continues now.

• I took the prize last night for complicatedness

  ➔ Simple past tense (verb + -ed / irregular form)

  ➔ "took" is the simple past form of "take", used for a completed action in the past.

• For saying things I didn't mean and don't believe

  ➔ Gerund phrase as object (for + gerund) + mixed tenses in subordinate clause

  ➔ "For saying" uses the gerund "saying" after the preposition "for". The clause "I didn't mean and don't believe" mixes past simple (didn't mean) and present simple (don't believe).

• Believe in me, believe in nothing

  ➔ Imperative mood (base verb) used for commands or advice

  ➔ "Believe" is in the imperative form, directly addressing the listener to do something.

• I've become the hollow man

  ➔ Present perfect (have/has + past participle) indicating a change of state

  ➔ "I've become" uses the present perfect to show that the transformation into "the hollow man" has occurred up to now.

• Have I become the hollow man I see?

  ➔ Inverted yes‑no question in the present perfect

  ➔ "Have I become" places the auxiliary "have" before the subject "I" to form a present perfect question.

• You have placed your trust in me

  ➔ Present perfect with object pronoun (have + past participle)

  ➔ "have placed" is the present perfect form showing that the action of placing trust happened before now and has relevance now.

• I can't believe you held the ground

  ➔ Modal verb + negative contraction + past simple in subordinate clause

  ➔ "can't" is the contraction of "cannot" (modal + negative). The verb "believe" stays in base form, while "held" is past simple showing the action happened earlier.

• I'm overwhelmed, I'm on repeat

  ➔ Present continuous (be + verb‑ing) expressing a temporary state

  ➔ "I'm" = "I am" + "overwhelmed" (adjective) and "on repeat" both use the present continuous to describe a feeling that is happening now.