This is a great song and there are some great comments already, but I thought I'd toss in my two cents. I think Good Arms vs. Bad Arms refers in part to his two natures, the side of him that wants his ex-love back (back in his arms' embrace), and the side that wants to grab the guy she's with and beat him senseless. And so the song is about wrestling with those two opposite emotions, the little good angel on one shoulder and the little devil on the other. These hands can give love or they can give pain, and he don't know which one he wants more.
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.
This is a great song and there are some great comments already, but I thought I'd toss in my two cents. I think Good Arms vs. Bad Arms refers in part to his two natures, the side of him that wants his ex-love back (back in his arms' embrace), and the side that wants to grab the guy she's with and beat him senseless. And so the song is about wrestling with those two opposite emotions, the little good angel on one shoulder and the little devil on the other. These hands can give love or they can give pain, and he don't know which one he wants more.
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.
Great explanation, thanks for that. The complexity of Scott's lyrics always amazes me, such a great song writer.
Great explanation, thanks for that. The complexity of Scott's lyrics always amazes me, such a great song writer.