Empty Spirits

Album: Greetings From California (2014)
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Songfacts®:

  • The Madden Brothers close their Greetings From California album with this track, which they penned with Ross Golan (Lady Antebellum's "Compass"). "Benji and I wanted the last song on the album and Side two to be more of a singer-songwriter-y type of a track," Joel Madden explained to Artist Direct. "We wanted to end the record with a very vulnerable, non-confronting simple moment."
  • Joel Madden explained the song's meaning: "At first listen, it's about a relationship," he said. "When the relationship's gone, why does that song, which was so special, become such a painful piece that you don't love it anymore? You actually resent it, and you don't' want to hear it. It brings up all kinds of emotions. Sometimes you hear it, and you're happy. Other times you hear it, and you're sad. It's all because of this playlist you made in your relationship. It was an important playlist in the beginning of the relationship. I've had the experience in a good way. My brother has had it in a bad way."

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