I'd arrest you if I had handcuffs
I'd arrest you if I had the time
I'd throw you down in the back seat
As if you'd committed a terrible crime

I'd break in a town's worth of houses
And rob whole families blind
I'd do it to you like you do it to me
If you knew you would get away fine

I'd drown all these crying babies
If I knew that their mothers wouldn't cry
I'd hold them down and I'd squeeze real soft
To let a piece of myself die

It's hard to be the better man
When you forget you're trying
It's hard to be the better man

I'd arrest you if I had handcuffs
I'd arrest you if I had time
I'd wait for you outside the courtroom
Taunting when all your appeals were declined

I'd drive my car off of a bridge
If I knew that you weren't inside
With a pedal to the floor who could ask for more
A fantastic way to kill some time

And you could lay on your back and be beaten
You could put up your fists and fight
You could try and be way up
Way up, way up, way up
Way up, way up, way up

It's hard be the better man
When you forget you're trying
It's hard to be the better man
When you're still lying

It's hard to be the better man
When you forget you're trying
It's hard to be the better man
When you're still lying, you're still lying


Lyrics submitted by prayingmantis84, edited by toadling17, contraddiction

Handcuffs Lyrics as written by Vincent Accardi

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Handcuffs song meanings
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  • +3
    General Comment

    Yeah, this song does reveal a very dark aspect of the God/Devil debate. But quite frankly, i think there are many clues relating this debate to another person. Be it female or male, it's too obvious that Jesse/Vinny has included someone else IN the activities they wish to partake in (thus the constant "YOU") I dont think its meant to be spiritual, as if the YOU is god OR the devil, but rather an exploration of the devil/god debate THROUGH maybe a relationship (again, not saying girl per say, could be friendship)

    Also, I love Brand New's last two albums, and I know i'll get REAMED by all you guys for saying this, but Jesse isn't a nice guy. He's actually conceited and kind've a dick. I am from LI (as I'm sure some of you are) and know plenty of people who know him and have known him. Also, he's not really a good singer at all. BUT he knows how to write music that works with his vocal strengths. If you listen to the album, you'll notice Jesse sings in a very simple range for most of it, and when he DOES stray, there's layers upon layers of him over himself. He can't really sing in tune, and so to make it more full (after tuning the notes in the studio which weakens their value) he sings so many layers. Again, I know you'll all go FUCK OFF AUTODAFE and shit but whatever. Just one man's opinion. I am NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM BRAND NEW OR JESSE. The Mars Volta are stuck up and pretentious and they're my favorite band. Brand new's last two albums are gold, mainly because Jesse knows what he's capable of and he doesnt try to force himself into other things.

    theautodafeon April 18, 2007   Link

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