This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race
"This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" (also known as "This Ain't a Scene,… Read Full Bio ↴"This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" (also known as "This Ain't a Scene, It's a Goddamn Arms Race") is the first single from pop rock/pop punk band Fall Out Boy's album Infinity on High. It was first played on November 16, 2006, on Indianapolis radio station, 93.1, and leaked onto the Internet soon after. It was officially debuted on November 21 at the American Music Awards and was shipped to radio stations that night (with an impact date of December 5 in the United States). This song was #42 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.

The song is reportedly about lyricist/bassist Pete Wentz's frustration with the ever growing 'emo scene'. As he told Rolling Stone, "There may be other songs on the record that would be bigger radio hits, but this one had the right message." Wentz got the idea for the arms-dealer metaphor from the Lord of War movie.

The website that bassist Pete Wentz promotes, FriendsorEnemies.com, made "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" available to the internet community on November 17, just after its radio debut in Indianapolis.

The single was released as a CD single and also as a 7" blue vinyl and 7" purple vinyl. There is an official remix featuring Kanye West.

The song was released as a downloadable track for the video game Rock Band on May 6, 2008.

This Ain't a Scene It's an Arms Race
Fall Out Boy Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am an arms dealer
Fitting you with weapons in the form of words
And don't really care which side wins
Long as the room keeps singing
That's just the business I'm in

This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
I'm not a shoulder to cry on, but I digress

I'm a leading man and the lies I weave are oh so intricate
Oh so intricate yeah
I'm a leading man and the lies I weave are oh so intricate
Oh so intricate yeah

I wrote the gospel on giving up (you look pretty sinking)
But the real bombshells have already sunk (prima donnas of the gutter)
At night we're painting your trash gold, while you sleep
Crashing not like hips or cars
No, more like p-p-parties

This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
Bandwagon's full, please catch another

I'm a leading man and the lies I weave are oh so intricate
Oh so intricate yeah
I'm a leading man and the lies I weave are oh so intricate
Oh so intricate yeah, whoa oh oh oh whoa oh

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 ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race (now you)
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race (wear out the groove)
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race (sing out loud)
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race (oh, oh)
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race

I'm a leading man and the lies I weave are oh so intricate
Oh so intricate yeah




I'm a leading man and the lies I weave are oh so intricate
Oh so intricate

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fall Out Boy's song "This Ain't A Scene It's An Arms Race" speak to the cutthroat nature of the music industry and its tendency to reduce artistry to competition. The song opens with the singer declaring himself an "arms dealer," providing words as weapons for those in the industry. He notes that he doesn't care which side wins, as long as the "room keeps singing." This blunt acknowledgement of the cynical nature of the business is reinforced by the repeated refrain that "this ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race." The singer sees himself as a leading man, a master of lies and manipulation, weaving a web of intricate falsehoods to stay ahead of the game. He wrote the "gospel" on giving up, but the real "bombshells" have already sunk. Despite this, he and his peers continue to paint the trash of the industry in gold, turning parties into a weaponized tool of their trade.


The lyrics suggest a deep sense of disillusionment with the music industry, as well as an understanding of its inner workings. The singer knows he's not a shoulder to cry on and doesn't care about bandwagons – he's in it for the long haul, and he's going to do whatever it takes to stay on top. The repeated refrain speaks to the feeling of being trapped in a never-ending cycle of competition, where one must constantly be on the lookout for the latest trends and gimmicks to stay relevant.


Line by Line Meaning

I am an arms dealer
I provide you with powerful words rather than weapons


Fitting you with weapons in the form of words
I give you ammunition in the shape of language


And don't really care which side wins
I'm neutral, I won't take any side


Long as the room keeps singing
As long as people are enjoying themselves, it's all good


That's just the business I'm in
That's what I do, it's my job


This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This isn't just a trend, it's a fierce competition for power


I'm not a shoulder to cry on, but I digress
I'm not here to comfort you, but let's not dwell on that


I'm a leading man and the lies I weave are oh so intricate
I'm a charismatic figure and my falsehoods are cleverly crafted


I wrote the gospel on giving up (you look pretty sinking)
I'm an expert at making you feel hopeless and helpless


But the real bombshells have already sunk (prima donnas of the gutter)
The real disasters have happened and they were caused by glamorous but worthless people


At night we're painting your trash gold, while you sleep
Behind your back, we're turning your garbage into something valuable


Crashing not like hips or cars
When we fall, it's not a graceful fall


No, more like p-p-parties
It's more like wild and noisy events


Bandwagon's full, please catch another
Our team is already popular, go find another one to support


All the boys who the dance floor didn't love
For all the boys who never felt loved while dancing


And all the girls whose lips couldn't move fast enough
And for all the girls who couldn't sing fast enough


Sing, until your lungs give out
Sing as loud as you can, until you can't anymore


This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race (now you)
This is not just any scene, it's a competition that you're now a part of


This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race (wear out the groove)
This is not just a trend, it's an intense competition that should grab your attention


This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race (sing out loud)
This is not just a fad, everyone should take part and participate vehemently


This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race (oh, oh)
This is a ruthless competition that will lead to a winner or a loser


I'm a leading man and the lies I weave are oh so intricate
I'm a charismatic leader and I craft fabrications of an incredibly high quality




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew John Hurley, Joseph Mark Trohman, Patrick Martin Stump, Peter Lewis Wentz

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@taylorellis846

3:35 When Patrick slaps away Joe's arm😂😂

@charlie-ll1rm

Taylor Ellis "Aww man I dont get to fuck Patrick tonight"

@mylifeisafuckingcomedy

oh my god I never noticed that

@POPDUNASH

😂😂😂😂

@Rodrox2010

Taylor Ellis a

@FloreMar-yp3iz

Guess it was an arms race

@Phentem2

Patrick is constantly speaking his own language in their early music

@radical9838

"gah" "ar" "dah" "rass" "wowosoaoaoaoagahaahahaahahahahahaaaahhhh"

@rionabrams2398

It's Pete that does it

@christophercambra3754

"Dance, Dance", "This Ain't a Scene...", and "Hold Me Like a Grudge" are now a music video trilogy. They're all also the third song on their respective albums. Coincidence? I THINK NOT.

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