Come on, come on let's have a song
The morning sun is soon to come
We don't have time to linger on

There comes a time, there comes a
time
To make it right when I was wrong
And someday girl we'll get along.

Goodbye to all your plans
You can listen to me now
Your head is bent out of shape
But your feet are on the ground
But all in all, the ceiling's coming down

I take my time to face the day
It's good to hear you talk this way
So we'll keep this up as friends
this time
Nothing's wrong
I'll stand up as I'll shake your hand
We'll be alright

Then I'll do it all again

That man he is a fraud
But nobody gives a damn
and then all and all, they'll all be weighing in

Can I sleep on your floor tonight
Give me some time to set this right
Where's your head
There's nothing for you here
Nothing's wrong
Take a look around and you'll see it clear

Come on come on let's get things done
The morning sun has come and
gone
Get up, get out and move along
There comes a time, there comes a time
To make it right when I was
wrong
And someday girl we'll get along
And someday girl we'll get along


Lyrics submitted by ophelia219, edited by karritevoyager

Bows + Arrows Lyrics as written by Matthew Frederick Barrick James Hamilton Leithauser

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

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Bows + Arrows song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    This song represents the willingness to wipe the slate clean. As I mentioned in another post, this whole album has taken us through the course of a rocky relationship: the anger, hurt, pain, regret, the foolishness, jealousy, revenge, redemption, and in this particular song forgiveness.

    They've been through the worst and now realize that there's nothing left to do but to finally listen to one another and make amends....and perhaps start over.

    Great song.

    ophelia219on January 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Ophelia219,

    I agree 100%. Both Walkmen albums are quasi-concept albums in that they seem to follow the path of human nature and how we handle life and its relationships. This song is just as you said in my eyes, its about 2 people too in love to throw eachother away. However, there is and has been issuses throughout their relationship (the album) and now its time to address them.

    I take the entire first two verses as their being unsure about what or how to do it. The way he sings that song, in the very frail and quietly mumbled tone, represents thta in my eyes. Then, at one point, he puffs his chest, wipes his eyes and bears it all.

    "Goodbye to all YOUR PLANS...you can listen to ME now" is the line that changes it all. it is also the most powerfull line in the entire album.

    Love this band. Love this song.

    danny_Horneyon March 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I almost never write in about a song and I certianly don't write in unless I have something Insightful to say but in this case I don't care. This song blows my mind. Its the sound of pain and I love it.

    SomethingCleveron March 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Like everyone else on here, I think this song is about a post-break up. But I think it's about the girl being the bigger of the two and he's promising to be an adult about all of this (I'll stand up as I shake your hand) and to get along with her but is probably being childish (this man is a fraud). At some point, he winds up asking to sleep at her place, on the floor, and then she kicks him out the next morning (the morning sun has come and gone). He finally realises his behavior is immature and promises to her, in his mind, that he'll correct all of his wrong-doings toward her and "someday, girl, we'll get along".

    grassh0pperuniton September 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To me this always seemed like a good song to get drunk to and hang your head low and muse over how things went wrong...

    ripelivejamon October 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The title of this song/album is probably reference to William Shakespeare's Hamlet's soliloquy

    To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them?...

    Slings are bows. This ties in the tragic interpersonal-relationships theme of this album.

    ersatzbutpithyon May 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think the album's a perfect representation of late fall to winter. it starts at thanksgiving/christmastime and ends on valentines day (hence bows and arrows). could be talking out of my ass but i do like the seasonal aspect ;)

    ripelivejamon June 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the part where he says, "and I'll do it all again!" floors me. it is is like a line created after adrenaline procreates with determination.

    falseauthenticon August 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    One small but important line correction. I hear:

    There comes a time, there comes a time To make it right when all is wrong

    He is accepting that they both made mistakes, and he is past trying to assign blame.

    karritevoyageron September 04, 2020   Link

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