We all come up empty now and then. No matter what your running or gym schedule says, some days your body just can’t make it happen. If you make things–no matter whether it’s stories, paintings, or muffins–there will be times when the spirit is willing but the ideas just aren’t coming. Interpersonal interactions aren’t immune: Now and then we just can’t fake a smile, patience, or enthusiasm.

This is one of those things that makes many of our jobs feel dehumanizing. We all know that some days we come up empty, but there’s no room for that when you’re expected to grind it out no matter what. “Suck it up, sit down, and answer that phone, Kevin. Everybody feels that way all the time. What makes you so special, princess?”

Or something like that. Anyway, empty songs:

“Armed With An Empty Gun,” Dream Syndicate.

“An Empty Cup (and a Broken Date),” Buddy Holly.

“Empty Hands,” Lenny Kravitz.

“Empty Sheet of Paper,” Tweaker.

“Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound,” The Mars Volta.

“The Empty World,” The Cure.

“Just Out of Reach (of My Two Empty Arms),” Solomon Burke.

“This House Is Empty Now,” Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach.

There you have it: Eight songs to fill the empty spaces. What did I miss? I’m listening.