When the vapour hits the air
When the button feels your touch
It's fall just like you sense
It'll fall just like you sense

Into some forgotten sea
Where the envy and the hate
Swim around in figure eights
Swim around in figure eights

We descend so easily
And give it up for short-term memory
Fight your nature if you can
And hope for heaven where we land

All the arms around you now
Could they ever catch you then?
First you tell me not to fret
Then you frighten me again
Can't you listen to the least?
Can't you do with any less?
I was only getting dressed
Now I'm getting disaffected and
You're the brother and the beast
You're the friend I knew the best
Can't you listen to the past?
Can't you let this sickness pass?

It'll fall just like you said (x4)


Lyrics submitted by _ellie, edited by OKRadiohead97

All The Arms Around You Now song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is really good, but i don't understand why halloween, alaska's never been heard of bcuz they have a couple good songs. this song is from the end of the first episode of the oc, during the second season. it's really good, but i have no clue what it means..i just like it

    fixyouon August 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think it has to do with someone who keeps making things worse and creating problems. when this person pushes the button, it all falls into a sea of envy and hate - this person is filled with jealousy and hatred. people will try to support this person but it isn't enough. she's not consistent (i say she just because) - "first you tell me not to fret, then you frighten me again" - she tells him not to worry but still gives him cause to worry. i think she has a depression problem "can't you let the sickness pass?" and she won't let go of it. because of this, "it'll fall, just like you said."

    suchprettywordson September 04, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    my mate keeps telling me that this is a good song. From the OC right?

    smooth_annon May 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    have NO clu wht its about really, kind of has some meaning in my head, but i cnt explain?! i just love it tho. bloody wicked

    xsunshinexon June 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I've always struggled with the meaning behind it, too. I'm sure it's there, but the lyrics are just too vague and ambiguous for myself to really find a true meaning out of it.

    In a way, I agree with suchprettywords. I've always interpretted the song as, to put it simply, cynicism. It seemed to be that he is talking about how humans are always doing something wrong: creating problems and ignoring them, or going around in circles in an attempt to address the issues without resolving them (swim around in figue eights). I personally believe they're talking about the environmental problems we are creating, and how we're basically destroying our earth. The hints can be found throughout the song, I don't think I need to point them out to you.

    But yes, that's just my interpretation. Like I said above, the lyrics are far too vague for there to be an obvious, set meaning.

    spentcigaretteon December 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's about a person who has become so sensitized to what the world everything going on around him that he realizes that even the vapour makes a difference and that the world is like a touch screen that responds to even the lightest tap, because they've finally realized what the world is and how even the best friend can betray and hurt, despite what another's perceptions are. It's like, the brother and the beast, because sometimes those who are closest hurt you the most and anything they do can hurt despite best intentions. It's really a sad song, but very, very happy in the same way. It's like a coming of age thing. I always associate it with Catcher in the Rye or MacBeth.

    That's at least my interpretation of it.

    Danu3on April 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think is about a person who brings up dying to another person.

    "All the arms around you now Could they ever catch you then"

    I think this is talking about death. Can anything help you when you are dead and your eternity is being judged. The narrator doesn't want to think about this. I don't know really.

    johnielsen08on April 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Alright, I'm taking a whole different spin to this song meaning. I believe it pertains to war & government.

    I'll go verse by verse.

    "When the vapour hits the air When the button feels your touch It's fall just like you sense It'll fall just like you sense"

    1. In the opening of the song it's setting the actual occurrences of war... the dropping of bombs & people dying, etc.

    "Into some forgotten space Where the envy and the hate Swim around in figure eights Swim around in figure eights"

    1. I want to point out the "figure eights" first off. The figure eight is also the sign for infinite. It's talking about once you have forgotten what has happened in the past you're going to repeat it. It forever becomes an on-going process.

    "We descend so easily Give it up for short-term memory Fight your nature if you can And hope for heaven where we land"

    1. I believe in this verse it's correlating how religion has a major influence on war. We fight our wars for our morals, morals are directly correlated with the religions we surround ourselves with. It's also again bringing up how we forget our past & succumb to resolving issues by war. We are not progressing, we are digressing.

    "All the arms around you now Could they ever catch you then First they tell me not to fret Then you frighten me again"

    1. Again, referring to religion & how we think it will save us... even in a desperate time of violence when people are dying. It questions if it is really a legitimate thing to hide behind & if it will really redeem us in the end. It's the thought of an individual thinking they will be saved, but then doubting their faith.

    "Can't you listen to the least Can't you do with any less I was only getting dressed Now im gettin disaffected and"

    1. This is about an individual being dissatisfied with the government to the point they will no longer support their decisions.

    "You're the brother and the beast You're the friend i knew the best Can't you listen to the past Can't you let the singles pass"

    1. The first line pertains to being allies to some countries & being enemies with others. It is trying to tell us to take a better look at our past & why our wars were not only started but resolved as well. If we take a look into our past we can prevent war in the future.
    rebel_yellowon April 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is clearly about drug addiction.

    usernameeeeeeeeeeon January 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i'm pretty sure it's "can't you listen to the past? can't you let the sickness pass?"

    -Amz-on July 11, 2010   Link

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