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.
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.