Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American si… Read Full Bio ↴Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and musician. His music is often (perhaps inappropriately) placed under the genre of "alt-country". Oldham has recorded under many names, including Palace, Palace Music, Palace Brothers, and Bonnie Billy. He often plays and records with other musicians, including David Pajo and his brothers Ned and Paul Oldham, but is generally the chief creator of the music. He has also been involved in musical projects and bands such as Amalgamated Sons of Rest, The Anomoanon, The Boxhead Ensemble, Tortoise, and The Sundowners as well as releasing his first solo album in 1993. Oldham has said that the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy moniker has many references. These include 'Bonnie' Prince Charlie, an 18th century Jacobite; Billy the Kid, the 19th century American outlaw also known as William Bonney; and the American singer Nat King Cole. He has also appeared in several films, such as the 1987 film Matewan and most recently in Old Joy (released in late 2006). He is also the photographer of the cover image of the slint album Spiderland.

Heart's Arms
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

With care from you, I get addicted to
 A man helpless and silent.

  How can I cry to you? 
You'd see my caring ability just tumble.  

Why don't you write me anymore?
 Have you found something as good just next door?

  I open this awful machine to nothing 
where once your intimacies came pounding.  

Why don't you write me anymore? 
What did you bind my heart's arms for?

  I hope you find glory in some new heart's arms story
 and can close doors on mine for sure.

Overall Meaning

The song Heart's Arms by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is a melancholic piece depicting the heartbreak and addiction that one can feel after being consumed by love. The opening line "With care from you, I get addicted to a man helpless and silent" portrays how helpless the singer is when they receive care and attention from their lover. They become addicted to it, and it becomes impossible for them to stay away from them.

Further, the lyrics "How can I cry to you? You'd see my caring ability just tumble" show the singer's vulnerability and fear of losing their ability to care for their lover. The line "Why don't you write me anymore? Have you found something as good just next door?" suggests that the singer's lover has moved on to someone else or is no longer interested in them.

The phrase "What did you bind my heart's arms for?" shows that the singer feels trapped and unable to move on from their love, even though their lover has already left. The song ends on a bittersweet note with the singer hoping that their lover finds happiness with someone else and can finally close the doors on their past relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

With care from you, I get addicted to A man helpless and silent.
I become dependent on your attention and care, to the point where I am unable to function without it.

How can I cry to you? You'd see my caring ability just tumble.
I am hesitant to show my vulnerability to you because I fear that it will cause you to lose respect for me.

Why don't you write me anymore? Have you found something as good just next door?
I am feeling neglected and wondering if you have moved on to someone else who is more desirable than me.

I open this awful machine to nothing where once your intimacies came pounding.
I check my messages and there is nothing there from you, even though there used to be frequent and affectionate messages from you.

What did you bind my heart's arms for?
I am questioning why you have emotionally attached yourself to me and what your intentions are.

I hope you find glory in some new heart's arms story and can close doors on mine for sure.
I don't want to hold onto false hope that we will reunite, and I hope that you can find happiness with someone else so that I can move on too.

Contributed by Layla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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