The Arm

This is one of my favorite Islands songs, and I've listened to it probably a gazillion times, so whenever I listened to it or sang along, the events described in the lyrics stopped even registering to me, even though things having to do with a "lifeless carcass" tend to be hard to ignore. I was able to get the chance to REALLY not ignore that kind of thing, though, a few months ago. I was on my way to work, riding my scooter, when someone tried to turn left in front of me when I had the right of way. Needless to say, he hit me; totalled my Vespa, and I hit and then was thrown over his car, then smeared across the road - a lifeless carcass in my very own badass car crash. I also lost 6 pints of blood, as both of my femurs broke in half and were sticking through my legs. The veins definitely made some stains (on my favorite skirt of course) when they burst from my legs, although in my case it was probably the femoral arteries in addition to veins. When I got to the hospital they put me in a coma, and it wasn't clear if I would wake up or not. When I put a CD on with this song on it a few months after I got to leave the hospital, listening to the words gave me a frission. But now I like to think that the person in this song did make it through.

P.S. Always wear your helmet. No matter what. Pretty much the only reason I am still able to enjoy Islands songs. Also, breathe.

I love this song! The vocals are so amazing and they played it sooo well live. At the show I went to they had a 2 or so minute intro to the song so at first no one knew what was coming, and then they burst into The Arm and it was simply amazing! Greatest band ever.

yeah this song is sick. i like creeper more tho (on the myspace)

I think you've got most of it right... the last few lines are definitely the most ambiguous because of the clarity of Nick's dwindling voice amid the outro of the drums and guitar... anyway, some possible edits:

"Need you to even if it's pointless to let your arm's carry you"... it really could be either though, they're pretty similar either way.

"Lord knows I tried to keep you from leaving, oh baby, I tried" - This song seems to be telling a past tense story so I think the lyrics are probably closer to this.

This last one is a bit harder, I think it goes something like this: "you're mine, you're mine, there's no way I lied/it's no wild lie when I told you you were breathing, oh baby I tried, but you just float on by" Definitely not sure about 'float on by' but it's definitely something a little like that.

Anyway, great song, the string duo is a little cheesy in it's addition to this album, but only really when it's being used for ELO-like sweeping arrangements such as are featured in the verses of this song. But it's still an A-grade tune, one of the things I'm always impressed with about Nick is that his songs have so many different movements to them and The Arm is no exception... my favorite one is definitely the 1/8 notes of the piano in the bridge, combined with Nick's amazing vocal delivery. His vocals have just gotten better and better, even if they've sacrificed some of that Built To Spill aesthetic for a more showy, theatrical style- lots of "Ohs!" and "Oooos", even more than before.

That said, I'm very excited for Arm's Way, don't think it will be AS good as Return to the Sea because J'Aime was a better drummer than the guy they replaced him with and Jim Guthrie was a much more interesting lead guitarist as well; but Nick's songwriting is as strong as ever, so undoubtedly it will still be head and shoulders above most of the crap everybody else is coming out with these days.

That said, I'm very excited for Arm's Way, don't think it will be AS good as Return to the Sea because J'Aime was a better drummer than the guy they replaced him with and Jim Guthrie was a much more interesting lead guitarist as well; but Nick's songwriting is as strong as ever, so undoubtedly it will still be head and shoulders above most of the crap everybody else is coming out with these days.

I feel the same way! J'aime is my brother-in-law, so I know my opinion is probably a little biased...but he was SUCH a better drummer. Too bad he got married, I guess....

The Arm is probably my favorite song they ever made, though.

I think it's probably about coming out of denial about someone dying the narrator knows.

Hey, by the way, does anyone know what he's singing in the background during the bridge right before "don't go to sleep"

sam, i think i was wondering the same thing too cuz in the booklet that came with the cd, i dont think it had that part written in the lyrics...hmm but anyway i just love this song so much they played this live at UCLA when i went to see them there

Epic.

it's about somebody who's trying to revive his girlfriend who was in a car crash

at the beginning of the song he believes she can be saved the arm might be his- carrying her or giving her cpr he wants her to breathe in deep and wake up

he loved her, she was always his

he begins to realize he might not be able to save her "maybe I'll try"

he was hoping that she would wake up soon but he was lying to himself "girl, I lie" at the end of the song he realizes he can't save her