You Can’t Put Your Arms Round a Memory
Johnny Thunders Lyrics
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All the smart boys know why,
It doesn't mean I didn't try,
I just never know why.
Feel so cold and all alone,
Cause baby, you're not at home.
And when I'm home
Big deal, I'm still alone.
Feel so restless, I am,
Beat my head against a pole
Try to knock some sense,
down in my bones.
And even though they don't show,
The scars aren't so old
And when they go,
They let you know
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
You're just a bastard kid,
And you got no name
Cause you're living with me,
We're one and the same
And even though they dont show,
They scars aren't so old
And when they go,
They let you know
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't tr
The lyrics to Johnny Thunders' song "You Can't Put Your Arms Round a Memory" are a reflection of the feelings of loneliness and hopelessness that he experienced in his life. The song starts with the idea that it doesn't pay to try, referencing the fact that the singer's attempts to find love and companionship are in vain. The next lines state that although he tried, he just never knows why things didn't work out. The loneliness that he feels when he is at home is so palpable that it feels cold and isolating.
The second stanza depicts the singer's inner restlessness and frustration as he beats his head against a pole, trying to knock some sense into his bones. The scars he carries with him are not visible to the naked eye, but they are not so old that they don't impact his life anymore. However, when they do eventually heal, they let him know that he can't put his arms around a memory.
The chorus of the song reinforces the message that there are some things in life that you just can't hold onto, no matter how hard you try. The song ends with the repeated assertion that you can't put your arms around a memory, followed by the instruction not to try.
Line by Line Meaning
It doesn't pay to try,
There's no point in trying,
All the smart boys know why,
Those who are wise understand why trying is futile,
It doesn't mean I didn't try,
I made an effort, despite the odds,
I just never know why.
I'll never understand why things turned out the way they did.
Feel so cold and all alone,
I'm overwhelmed by loneliness and isolation,
Cause baby, you're not at home.
You're not here to keep me warm and comforted.
And when I'm home
But even when I'm at home,
Big deal, I'm still alone.
I'm still alone and feeling empty.
Feel so restless, I am,
I'm consumed by anxiousness and discomfort,
Beat my head against a pole
I'm so desperately trying to make sense of things that I'm willing to injure myself,
Try to knock some sense,
I'm attempting to find some sort of clarity in this chaos,
down in my bones.
I'm searching for answers deep within myself.
And even though they don't show,
Although my past traumas may not be readily visible,
The scars aren't so old
They're still fresh and painful,
And when they go,
But eventually, when these scars begin to heal,
They let you know
They still have a lasting impact.
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't physically grasp onto a memory to make it go away,
Don't try, don't try
Trying to erase or ignore painful memories is futile.
You're just a bastard kid,
You are an illegitimate child,
And you got no name
You don't have a legitimate identity,
Cause you're livin' with me,
Because we share the same difficult upbringing,
We're one and the same
We are essentially the same person.
You can't put your arms around a memory
Trying to physically hold onto past memories is impossible,
Don't try, don't try
It's a fruitless endeavor.
You can't put your arms around a memory
Memories remain intangible no matter how hard you try to grasp them,
You can't put your arms around a memory
Holding onto the past only causes pain and disappointment,
Don't try, don't try
It's time to move on and let go.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: John Genzale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@4f52
It doesn't pay to try,
All the smart boys know why,
It doesn't mean I didn't try,
I just never know why.
Feel so cold and all alone,
Cause baby, you're not at home.
And when I'm home
Big deal, I'm still alone.
Feel so restless, I am,
Beat my head against a pole
Try to knock some sense,
Down in my bones.
And even though they don't show,
The scars aren't so old
And when they go,
They let you know
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
You're just a bastard kid,
And you got no name
Cause you're living with me,
We're one and the same
And even though they don't show,
They scars aren't so old
And when they go,
They let you know
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
@TomAndrews91
Whoever came up with the track list for The Sopranos deserves a lot of praise. The show has introduced me to so many fantastic songs like this one. When I hear this I think of Tony and the rest of the crew standing outside Satriale's.
@robertgillen979
I've heard Micheal Imperioli had alot to do with the songs picked for the show.
@bensims7501
Too right Tom. The sopranos introduced me to load a tunes I should have heard of us didn't all different genres too.
@blistabliss
Haha I already loved this song but thats why I'm back here! What a great soundtrack.
@dabbs041
Woke up this morning
@shrodingerscat4191
Here, here brother!
@mocksock69
johnny thunders is painfully underrated, he was so talented.
@RiskGrave
"It doesn't pay to try, all the smart boys know why. Doesn't mean I didn't try, I just never know why." Johnny pretty much just summed up my last 23 years with that lyric...RIP <3
@karljesaitis3656
Me too brother
@RiskGrave
@@karljesaitis3656 I’m 33 now. Trying is paying off. Keep trying, brother🙏