I think all of the "I"s in this song refer to FOB as a whole.
"I am an arms dealer fitting you with weapons in the form of words
And (don't really care which side wins)
As long as the room keeps singing that's just the business I'm in"
This is basically saying that FOB is making different types of songs AND THEY KNOW IT.
It also means that they don't give a f*ck about who wins the fight over whether it's a change for the better or it's selling out. They just care about the music and if it sounds good, not about who listens to it. I'M NOT SAYING THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR FANS;
I'm simply saying that as long as someone (be they rock fans, be they pop fans) is enjoying their music and they themselves like it, FOB is fine (and making money).
"This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race"
This could have more than one meaning. It may mean that FOB and their music are not a "scene" (uh, like one and only one style to be, ie. hip hop, emo, punk, etc.), they're just a band that's trying to make it all the way.
And then again, it may mean that the "scene" that FOB is already representing is now full of phonies and they are all trying to be the, uh, "scene"est. If that makes any sense.
That line could mean a lot more, but I like these two the most. They both seem to fit in at different places in the song, so maybe it's both ideas fused.
"I'm not a shoulder to cry on, but I digress"
This means that FOB is not the one to go and bitch and moan to about their 'drastic change'. The "but I digress part" just means, but I'm geeting off topic.
You should know that. :/
And if you still don't understand, here's an example. Say I was talking about bananas:
A banana is a fruit. A banana is yellow. The sun is also yellow, but I digress.
XD
"I wrote the gospel on giving up (and LOOKED pretty sinking)
But the real bombshells have already sunk (prima donnas of the gutter)"
The lyrics are wrong.
This means just what it says; FOB wrote the gospel on giving up and they got a lot of fans for it, but they never really "sunk". They're saying that the people that really gave up and the ones that were really, and I'm defining bombshell, explosive and wild have already "sunk", or hit their all time low. FOB is saying that these people are the Queen Btches of the, for lack of better words, depressed teenage crowd.
An example most should know is Jeffree Star. NO, I am NOT saying that FOB and J have anything to do with each other!!! I'm just saying that J* is (or dubs himself the) the leader of 'mannequins' and cross dressers and such.
"At night we're painting your trash gold, while you sleep
Crashing not like hips or cars, NO more like p-p-p-parties"
(Ahem, wrong again)
I think this means that now their in the spotlight so more people know about their, uh, "scene" (which I think they referred to as trash). And that while they said they were all for doing one thing, they were doing another.
Or it could mean that they're now going to polish up pop, so it gains some depth and meaning.
"Bandwagon's full, please catch another"
I think this means that they are tired of all of the phonies FOB fans that only like them because it's cool right now. This goes with my second idea about the part of the song that its title came from.
"All the boys who the dance floor didn't love, and all the girls whose lips couldn't move fast enough, sing until your lungs give out"
This...this is a bit vague. Who knows what the girls' lips couldn't move fast enough for?
Not me. But I can guess. :]
This line may mean that all of the people that didn't automatically side with one scene, and all the ones that haven't become the center of attention in their scene of choice, the ones that are on the outside looking in can see that THIS AIN'T A SCENE, IT'S A GODDAMN ARMS RACE!
"This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
(Now You)"
When he says "Now You" he points to a character from the "A Little Less Sixteen Candles..." video. Then the character lip synchs "this ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race". This matches up with my first idea about that part.
"I'm the leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate"
I skipped this part until now for a reason. This, to me, says:
We, Fall Out Boy, started this crowd, and we did it by saying al lot of things that only sounded pretty.
I personally think this song is wonderful, from the beginning to the end.
(I think it's kinda funny how a lot of people say that don't like the beginning and in the video, FOB was being made fun of until the "I'm the leading man" jazz started, haha. That seems like something a band that listens to its fans would do. :])
(I also like how in the very end of the video, they're preforming for their "scene", and saying the part about lying and then he dives into the crowd. Great symbolism.)
I think all of the "I"s in this song refer to FOB as a whole.
"I am an arms dealer fitting you with weapons in the form of words And (don't really care which side wins) As long as the room keeps singing that's just the business I'm in"
This is basically saying that FOB is making different types of songs AND THEY KNOW IT.
It also means that they don't give a f*ck about who wins the fight over whether it's a change for the better or it's selling out. They just care about the music and if it sounds good, not about who listens to it. I'M NOT SAYING THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR FANS;
I'm simply saying that as long as someone (be they rock fans, be they pop fans) is enjoying their music and they themselves like it, FOB is fine (and making money).
"This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race"
This could have more than one meaning. It may mean that FOB and their music are not a "scene" (uh, like one and only one style to be, ie. hip hop, emo, punk, etc.), they're just a band that's trying to make it all the way.
And then again, it may mean that the "scene" that FOB is already representing is now full of phonies and they are all trying to be the, uh, "scene"est. If that makes any sense.
That line could mean a lot more, but I like these two the most. They both seem to fit in at different places in the song, so maybe it's both ideas fused.
"I'm not a shoulder to cry on, but I digress"
This means that FOB is not the one to go and bitch and moan to about their 'drastic change'. The "but I digress part" just means, but I'm geeting off topic. You should know that. :/ And if you still don't understand, here's an example. Say I was talking about bananas:
A banana is a fruit. A banana is yellow. The sun is also yellow, but I digress. XD
"I wrote the gospel on giving up (and LOOKED pretty sinking) But the real bombshells have already sunk (prima donnas of the gutter)"
The lyrics are wrong. This means just what it says; FOB wrote the gospel on giving up and they got a lot of fans for it, but they never really "sunk". They're saying that the people that really gave up and the ones that were really, and I'm defining bombshell, explosive and wild have already "sunk", or hit their all time low. FOB is saying that these people are the Queen Btches of the, for lack of better words, depressed teenage crowd. An example most should know is Jeffree Star. NO, I am NOT saying that FOB and J have anything to do with each other!!! I'm just saying that J* is (or dubs himself the) the leader of 'mannequins' and cross dressers and such.
"At night we're painting your trash gold, while you sleep Crashing not like hips or cars, NO more like p-p-p-parties"
(Ahem, wrong again) I think this means that now their in the spotlight so more people know about their, uh, "scene" (which I think they referred to as trash). And that while they said they were all for doing one thing, they were doing another. Or it could mean that they're now going to polish up pop, so it gains some depth and meaning.
"Bandwagon's full, please catch another"
I think this means that they are tired of all of the phonies FOB fans that only like them because it's cool right now. This goes with my second idea about the part of the song that its title came from.
"All the boys who the dance floor didn't love, and all the girls whose lips couldn't move fast enough, sing until your lungs give out"
This...this is a bit vague. Who knows what the girls' lips couldn't move fast enough for? Not me. But I can guess. :] This line may mean that all of the people that didn't automatically side with one scene, and all the ones that haven't become the center of attention in their scene of choice, the ones that are on the outside looking in can see that THIS AIN'T A SCENE, IT'S A GODDAMN ARMS RACE!
"This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race (Now You)"
When he says "Now You" he points to a character from the "A Little Less Sixteen Candles..." video. Then the character lip synchs "this ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race". This matches up with my first idea about that part.
"I'm the leading man And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate"
I skipped this part until now for a reason. This, to me, says:
We, Fall Out Boy, started this crowd, and we did it by saying al lot of things that only sounded pretty.
I personally think this song is wonderful, from the beginning to the end.
(I think it's kinda funny how a lot of people say that don't like the beginning and in the video, FOB was being made fun of until the "I'm the leading man" jazz started, haha. That seems like something a band that listens to its fans would do. :])
(I also like how in the very end of the video, they're preforming for their "scene", and saying the part about lying and then he dives into the crowd. Great symbolism.)