Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys is clearly a man who likes to keep busy, han… Read Full Bio ↴Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys is clearly a man who likes to keep busy, handling plenty of production assignments and backing like-minded artists during his downtime from the band, and in 2015, after the Black Keys took some time off after drummer Patrick Carney suffered a shoulder injury, Auerbach decided to make productive use of the hiatus by launching a new side project. The Arcs were formed by Auerbach and Leon Michaels, a multi-instrumentalist who was part of the studio crew on Auerbach's production projects for Dr. John and Lana Del Rey. Telling the press "I just wanted to do my thing and get extra weird," Auerbach headed into the studio with Michaels and a handful of friends and colleagues, including Nick Movshon, Homer Steinweiss, Richard Swift, and Kenny Vaughan. The Arcs made their debut with a 7" vinyl single released to independent music stores to commemorate the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao title fight in May 2015. A-side "Stay in My Corner" and the flip "Tomato Can" were songs inspired by Auerbach's passion for boxing, and "Stay in My Corner" also appeared on the Arcs' debut album, Yours, Dreamily, which was recorded in a handful of freewheeling sessions lasting less than two weeks. Yours, Dreamily appeared on Nonesuch Records in September 2015.

Biography by Mark Deming

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My Mind
The Arcs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Good morning, children, welcome to school)

I heard I lost my self-control
But everything I did just went and turned to gold
I love the pictures on the wall
Reminding me of what I lost to get it all

Outta my mind
But I made it
Outta my mind
I'm faded
Outta my mind
The ones I love have left my side
Outta my mind
But I made it, yeah

I'm old enough to know the game
But pushing buttons now is all that keeps me sane
What about tomorrow night?
Maybe we can take too much and start a fight

Outta my mind
But I made it
Outta my mind
I'm faded
Outta my mind
The ones I love have left my side
Outta my mind
But I made it, yeah

Somebody help me now
Because I'll come around
If you don't, I'll sit down

Outta my mind
But I made it
Outta my mind
I'm faded
Outta my mind
The ones I love have left my side
Outta my mind
But I made it, yeah

Overall Meaning

The song "Outta My Mind" by The Arcs is an anthem for those who have lost control but somehow managed to make it through. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the singer's state of mind, as if he's reminding himself of where he is and how he survived it. The opening line of the song juxtaposes a teacherly greeting with a confession of lost self-control, hinting at the tension between the norms of society and the singer's departure from them. The subsequent lines describe the ambiguity of success, where everything turned to gold despite the loss of something the pictures on the wall represent.

The verses detail the ways the singer tries to cope with his reality, despite knowing how the game is played. He speaks about the present moment and the possibility of finding relief through too much of something, even if it leads to a brawl the next night. The repetition of the chorus helps to establish a sense of consistency within the songs, despite the singer's apparent loss of control. In the end, the singer implores someone to help him, but he's willing to sit down instead of making the situation worse.

Line by Line Meaning

I heard I lost my self-control
I have been told that I no longer have control over my actions

But everything I did just went and turned to gold
Despite my loss of control, all of my decisions have turned out to be successful

I love the pictures on the wall
The images on my wall hold a special place in my heart

Reminding me of what I lost to get it all
These pictures serve to remind me of the things and people who were sacrificed to get me where I am now

Outta my mind
I have lost my sanity

But I made it
Despite my mental instability, I have still managed to succeed

I'm faded
My mind is clouded due to the various substances I've consumed

The ones I love have left my side
Those who are important to me have abandoned me

I'm old enough to know the game
I am experienced enough to understand how things work

But pushing buttons now is all that keeps me sane
Engaging in risky behaviors is the only thing that is keeping me mentally stable

What about tomorrow night?
What are we going to do tomorrow night?

Maybe we can take too much and start a fight
Perhaps we can consume too much of a substance and instigate a confrontation

Somebody help me now
I am in need of assistance at this moment

Because I'll come around
If someone helps me, I will eventually recover

If you don't, I'll sit down
If no one helps me, I will remain in my current state

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Dan Auerbach, Homer Steinweiss, Leon Michels, Nick Movshon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind