music & lyrics by jon schaffer emptiness, consuming me head in hands, i can hardly speak looking for solitude lost in humanity true knowledge leads to suffering a constant quest, an endless dream searching for inner peace hidden so deep in me chorus don’t wanna be a hollow man ain’t gonna be the hollow man sadness comes knocking constantly filling up my eyes for all to see peace will come someday i pray that it finds a way darkness caressing my mind and soul my spirits rejecting, i’m feeling whole emptiness goes away fills with the light of day chorus don’t wanna be a hollow man ain’t gonna be the hollow man bridge i rise up like the phoenix from the ashes of an older way with wisdom gained, i turn away i turn away hollow man find yourself some other prey chorus