I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
We've never been into honesty
So promise me you'll let me know
When you're lying
She wants to be an eagle
When she's high she can fly
No matter what she was trying
She'll be the perfect woman
Then she'll change suddenly
You wanna cry from the feeling
She's got a heart of gold but
Every now and again she'll turn to gray
And you know she gives me
An olive then an arrow in the back
She leaves me breathless
Then she kicks me while I'm down
She leaves me hoping
That my love won't show
Cause I know she'll give me
An olive and an arrow
She doesn't like to worry
But she's afraid of everything
That's going on around her
I'm just another photo
That made its way on her page
Somehow I stayed but it won't be long
An olive (yeah yeah) and an arrow in the back
She leaves me breathless
Then she'll kick me while I'm down, oh oh
She leaves me hoping
That my love won't show
Cause I know she'll give me
An olive and an arrow
You leave me hopin'
And prayin' that my love will show
Cause I know you'll give me
And olive and an arrow
Oh yeah yeah
Oh oh
Yeah
So promise me you'll let me know
When you're lying
She wants to be an eagle
When she's high she can fly
No matter what she was trying
She'll be the perfect woman
Then she'll change suddenly
You wanna cry from the feeling
She's got a heart of gold but
Every now and again she'll turn to gray
And you know she gives me
An olive then an arrow in the back
She leaves me breathless
Then she kicks me while I'm down
She leaves me hoping
That my love won't show
Cause I know she'll give me
An olive and an arrow
She doesn't like to worry
But she's afraid of everything
That's going on around her
I'm just another photo
That made its way on her page
Somehow I stayed but it won't be long
An olive (yeah yeah) and an arrow in the back
She leaves me breathless
Then she'll kick me while I'm down, oh oh
She leaves me hoping
That my love won't show
Cause I know she'll give me
An olive and an arrow
You leave me hopin'
And prayin' that my love will show
Cause I know you'll give me
And olive and an arrow
Oh yeah yeah
Oh oh
Yeah
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
Olive & an Arrow Lyrics as written by Nicholas Jonas
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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definitely my favorite off the album. it's about a girl that he absolutely loves, and who will be nice to him one second and then hurt him the next. I think it might be because she's too afraid to stay "chained down" to anyone - hence, her wanting to be an eagle and the fact that "she doesn't like to worry but she's afraid of everything that's going on around her." So she'll flirt with guys but won't get with any of them ("I'm just another photo that made its way on her page"). And he really loves her, but he doesn't want her to know because she'll just hurt him even more knowing that.
Yes, I agree with xothefancykid. It's about how he's so desperately in love with a girl, but he doesn't want her to know that he'd do anything for her because she'd take advantage of it. And it sounds like to me that he's afraid of her and she's afraid of herself, and although he wants to help her, she just pushes him away and treats him poorly. All of this is breaking his heart, and he knows that he means less to her than what she means to him.
This is my favourite on the album. Why do you think it's called Olive & An Arrow? My only thoughts were that olives/olive branches are supposed to represent peace and the arrow is the "arrow in the back".
The Great Seal of the United States has an eagle on it who holds an olive branch in one foot and an arrow in the other, representing peace and war. It's kind of funny how he puts in those political lyrics here and there, as his band's name is Nick Jonas & 'The Administration'.<br /> <br /> The arrow is supposed to be the 'arrow in the back' kind of thing, though, so it is basically what you said.
Aw, I love his political references but I'm not from the USA so I've never really paid much attention to the Great Seal before! I love politics, so I love that that's the subject tying the whole album together.
that's most likely it because I've heard, I'm pretty sure from that mini-series "Living the Dream" they had on Disney, that he was really into politics and his nick-name was Mr. President.
Love this song and its meaning, I agree with both xothefancykid and luckyyou13. It is obvious that he is in love with the girl "She leaves me hopin' That my love won't show" even though he is trying really hard not to be, he is saying that he doesn't want his love to show because he is afraid of being hurt. As the olive and the Arrow represent Peace and War it is obvious these two people have conflicting issues. However with the opening line "We've never been into honesty So promise me you'll let me know When you're lying" maybe the girl in this song is also scared of getting hurt so she will put up her guard "She'll be the perfect woman Then she'll change" It's like she is letting him in but they have maybe had a past and both been hurt by each other so she will retreat "suddenly You wanna cry from the feeling" and this leaves him feeling frustrated and one of only a few men in her life "I'm just another photo That made its way on her page". I agree that he thinks the girl doesn't care as much about him as he does her but overall you can see that the other person in the story is also scared and maybe they are giving him an arrow because that is their way of trying not to show their love because like him they don't want to end up heartbroken.
Yes, I completely agree.
I think it is about a girl who likes him but "everything that is going on around her" makes her worry and she doesnt know if it's worth messing up her life to give it a try because they keep hurting eachother and if they "arent into honesty" how can they? she is the perfect woman than she changes probably because shes afraid of disturbing everything around her. so it is easiest to hurt him rather than everyone else.
i also agree with gildedbutterfly, xothefancykid and luckyyou13. in fact, i agree with kristenb, too. i think that he is desperately in love with a girl who leads him on then blows him off and she's probably caught up in her own personal problems and she's afraid to let herself fall in love or maybe she feels she can't.... well yeah
"She leaves me hopin' That my love won't show 'Cause I know she'll give me An olive and an arrow"
This one is for sure one song my family and I can relate to. See,the thing with Nick's songs, he uses medaphors so the song can have 2 or more meanings to it. He might be using a girl as an example, but really it can be about people/life in general. With these lines he is trying to say that he needs to becareful of who he shows his love or kindness to in fear he will be lied to and used, and then hurt by that person once all is said and done. It just pretty much says right there in that verse to becareful who you trust or who you show your love to as far as people in general. My family once decided after a personal experience, and I quote: "We just need to becareful of showing people our caring nature's." As we will help any one, but many times have been hurt in the end by those people. And that is sad because it is very hard to trust anyone in this world anymore, and I think that is what Nick is trying to get at! This song is truly amazing! <3
Nick jonas is truly amazing, i realte to every one of his songs, and i always feel like the girl hes singing about is me lol.. because thats how i am :(
An olive and an arrow is refering to the eagle of the United Sttates, which holds an olive branch symblozing peace and an arrow symblozing war. I think it's saying that everything will be going great and then she'll do something to change and mess up everything.
I agree with your interpretation and to further elaborate I think that it can also be seen that maybe this girl is a bit bipolar. That she can show him love and in the same instant can treat him like scum of the earth. To me it seems like they are walking on the thin ice of an already fragile relationship
This song is written about Miley.