"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Good arms versus bad arms will win hands down, down
They are built to hold and fit, look how far they go around
You don't need these now that you've found another pair
And the difference is astounding, I should expect, except
Leave the rest at arm's length
Keep your naked flesh under your favourite dress
Leave the rest at arm's length
When they reach out, don't touch them, don't touch them
I decided this decision some six months ago
So I'll stick to my guns, but from now on it's war
I am armed with the past, and the will, and a brick
I might not want you back, but I want to kill him
Leave the rest at arm's length
Keep your naked flesh under your favourite dress
Leave the rest at arm's length
When they reach out, don't touch them, don't touch them
And leave the rest at arm's length
Don't brush with him, he might have diseases
Leave the rest at arm's length
Steer clear of the grasp, girl, run, run away
Leave the rest at arm's length
Just roll over, boy, and don't make me do this
Leave the rest at arm's length
I am armed to the teeth and I'm heavy-set
Leave the rest at arm's length
I'm not ready to see you this happy
Leave the rest at arm's length
I am still in love with you, can't admit it yet
They are built to hold and fit, look how far they go around
You don't need these now that you've found another pair
And the difference is astounding, I should expect, except
Leave the rest at arm's length
Keep your naked flesh under your favourite dress
Leave the rest at arm's length
When they reach out, don't touch them, don't touch them
I decided this decision some six months ago
So I'll stick to my guns, but from now on it's war
I am armed with the past, and the will, and a brick
I might not want you back, but I want to kill him
Leave the rest at arm's length
Keep your naked flesh under your favourite dress
Leave the rest at arm's length
When they reach out, don't touch them, don't touch them
And leave the rest at arm's length
Don't brush with him, he might have diseases
Leave the rest at arm's length
Steer clear of the grasp, girl, run, run away
Leave the rest at arm's length
Just roll over, boy, and don't make me do this
Leave the rest at arm's length
I am armed to the teeth and I'm heavy-set
Leave the rest at arm's length
I'm not ready to see you this happy
Leave the rest at arm's length
I am still in love with you, can't admit it yet
Lyrics submitted by calvins_hobbies, edited by smallwonderrobot, brisingr47
Good Arms vs. Bad Arms Lyrics as written by Scott John Hutchison Grant David Hutchison
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is a great song and there are some great comments already, but I thought I'd toss in my two cents. I think Good Arms vs. Bad Arms refers in part to his two natures, the side of him that wants his ex-love back (back in his arms' embrace), and the side that wants to grab the guy she's with and beat him senseless. And so the song is about wrestling with those two opposite emotions, the little good angel on one shoulder and the little devil on the other. These hands can give love or they can give pain, and he don't know which one he wants more.
The repeating "arms" motif recurs again when he expresses the need to keep both of them "at arm's length," or far enough way that something becomes not immediately reachable. He doesn't want to get to close. For his ex, it's because he remembers her flesh too clearly, because seeing her brings up too many painful memories. He still wants her and he can't have her. He wants to touch her but he cannot. And the reason he has to keep her man away is because he's afraid he might "kill" the guy, or at least beat him senseless.
The middle of the song swells with rage. The arms are now munitions. War is declared. The path of anger seems the clearer one. He doesn't know if he wants her back, but he does know that he hates him. Is that the solution then?
The final act is the confrontation. The first time he actually has to walk up to the two of them and smile. Can he keep his cool or is something going to give? It's a flash of images. Him beating the guy, telling him to roll over and not fight back. Him looking at his ex, seeing her happy and hating it. Realizing that he still loves her. All the while still keeping everything at arms length. He hasn't given in yet. He's still keeping his cool. But he's right there on the edge, about to snap.
And then the song ends, and we still don't know which half of his nature won out. Did he confess his love? Start a brawl? Just turn and walk away? That's the mystery.
Great explanation, thanks for that. The complexity of Scott's lyrics always amazes me, such a great song writer.