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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 favorite dress
And 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
And leave the rest at arm's length
Keep your naked flesh under your favorite dress
And 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
And leave the rest at arm's length
Steer clear of the grasp, girl -- run, run, away
And leave the rest at arm's length
Just roll over boy and don't make me do this
And leave the rest at arm's length
I am armed to the teeth and i'm heavy set
And leave the rest at arm's length
I'm not ready to see you this happy
And leave the rest at arm's length
I'm 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 favorite dress
And 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
And leave the rest at arm's length
Keep your naked flesh under your favorite dress
And 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
And leave the rest at arm's length
Steer clear of the grasp, girl -- run, run, away
And leave the rest at arm's length
Just roll over boy and don't make me do this
And leave the rest at arm's length
I am armed to the teeth and i'm heavy set
And leave the rest at arm's length
I'm not ready to see you this happy
And leave the rest at arm's length
I'm still in love with you, can't admit it yet
Lyrics submitted by calvins_hobbies, edited by smallwonderrobot, brisingr47
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still has feelings for her
imagines her in other dudes arms
imagines smashing dude and taking girl back
"you don't need these now that you've found another pair"- his physical arms, she doesn't need to be held by him anymore because she has someone new
"leave the rest at arm's length"- distance
"I am armed with the past, and the will, and a brick"- these are his weapons
This is one of my favorite songs ever! Amazing band!
I just noticed something else clever..."so i'll stick to my guns, but from now on it's war"- guns- another term for arms, and also he'll hold to his convictions. I don't know if Scott does this intentionally, but either way I find it genius!
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.
Maybe she cheated, or mistreated him in other ways and his sense of self esteem will not let that person back into his life - no matter how strong his feelings are, I would say that the trust is gone - he hates it, but he can't change it.
He's stuck between a rock and a hard place. He doesn't want her back for what she's done but he also wishes that things were different and they were still together. Maybe he can forgive but can't forget. He still sees her as his girlfriend, and the new man in her life is stepping on his 'territory.'
He can't win, and the only way he can get over it is to keep everything at arms length. He still wants to kill him though, right in front of his ex - but I don't think he intends to go through with it - I take the song as one of those letters that are never sent. He wants her to know his thoughts, he wants HIM to know too, but instead he's keeping his distance and living in silent anguish, the only comfort being his fantasy about beating her boyfriend to death with a brick.
- He's not ready for her to be intimate with another man yet. He wants her to wait, or to not do it at all.