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Within This Empty Space Lyrics by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt

Philemon (Original Cast Recording)

1975

ALL:
Within this empty space
There is nothing we cannot do
We can seek to create
Something great
From the past
Or search for something new
Within this empty space
There are secrets to be revealed
There are things that we know
In our bones to be so
And emotions we long to feel
Flesh, flesh
If we wish it there are pleasures of the flesh
Just as much as we desire
Clowns, clowns
Being human, well of course there will be clowns
And if laughter makes us tire
Tears, tears
In the end there will be bitterness and tears
And the purifying fire
MEN:
The purifying fire
WOMEN:
The purifying fire
ALL:
Within this empty space
There are worlds to be opened wide
Come along, come with me
Unafraid, you will see
We will find ourselves inside!
WOMEN:
From the horrors of hell
MEN:
From the horrors of hell
WOMEN:
To a state of grace
MEN:
To a state of grace
WOMEN:
All are here, waiting here
MEN:
All are here, waiting here
ALL:
Within this empty space!
ALL except COCKIAN (variously, spoken):
This man is Cockian
A clown
He lived in Antioch
A distant capital of Rome
His stage, a wooden platform in the middle of the street
His song, a simple one
(in unison)
Example:
COCKIAN (sung):
Oh gimme a good digestion and something to digest
If you provide some bread and wine, it needn't be the best
Just keep the people eating, there'll never be unrest
Gimme a clown to laugh at, a lady who's undressed
Oh gimme a good digestion and something to digest
ALL except COCKIAN (variously, spoken):
Observe him closely
He is dead
He has been dead for almost seventeen hundred years
His bones lie buried beneath the sands of what is now called western Turkey
His painted clown-white flesh has slid away and vanished
Rejoined the elements that gave it birth
His jester bells are silent
His comic phalluses forgotten
His jokes are blown like pollen through the empty skulls of those who one time watched him
(each in turn)
All dead
All dead
All dead
All dead
All dead
Whatever truth there is
Whatever quick perception
Whatever ability there is to feel
To leap across the precipice of time
All this exists
Within ourselves
(Sung)
Within this empty space
There are worlds to be opened wide
Come along, come with me
Unafraid, you will see
We will find ourselves inside!
WOMEN:
From the horrors of hell
MEN:
From the horrors of hell
WOMEN:
To a state of grace
MEN:
To a state of grace
WOMEN:
All are here, waiting here
MEN:
All are here, waiting here
Within this empty space
Within this empty space
Within this empty space
Within this empty space
Within this empty space...
Credits
Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt

Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt

About “Within This Empty Space” by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt

Read the complete lyrics to "Within This Empty Space" by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt from the album "Philemon (Original Cast Recording)" in 1975. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop, Musicals.

"Within This Empty Space" is performed by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. from the album "Philemon (Original Cast Recording)" in 1975 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Within This Empty Space", explore more songs by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Within This Empty Space" is credited to Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Within This Empty Space" appears on "Philemon (Original Cast Recording)" in 1975.

Visit the Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt artist page at /artist/tom-jones-and-harvey-schmidt for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.