Too Short Arms
Mott Lyrics
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Last night I woke up on a subway train
Travelling round and round all night
My head was hurting and my clothes were torn
It must have been a hell of a fight
And you know it doesn't feel so funny
And they've taken all your stuff and your money
And you wonder was it something you said
Yes I know I ain't exactly
A clean livin' boy
Sometimes it just ain't fair
When I get home to you
After all I've been through
You'll only scream and shout
Cause your money's run out
I don't care
If you go to work
I don't care
If you stay at home
But if you go downtown
That you're pulling around
Why don't you leave me alone
You said to me that I'm wasting my life
I've played it just like your fool
You're no give and no talk
I guess it won't get too far
It ain't done me no harm
It don't follow me at all
You said to me that I've been wasting your time
Your gonna find another man
I've had all I can take
Won't you give us a break
I'm sick and tired of people trying to tell me what I am
I don't care
If I go to heaven
I don't care
If I stay in hell
Cause I know that I'm doing
What I really wanna do
And you know that I'm doing it well
Yes I know I didn't love my mamma
I got everything wrong at school
All the touble I had from my dear old dad
Tonight you sit tight I'm gonna give it to you
I don't care
If you go to work
I don't care
If you stay at home
But if you go downtown
That you're pulling around
Why don't you leave me alone
I don't care
I got too short arms
I don't care
I don't care
I got too long hands
I don't care
I don't care
I got too bald head
I don't care
The song "Too Short Arms" by Mott opens with the singer waking up on a subway train, realizing that he has been in a fight, and his clothes are torn. He contemplates the possibility that it was something he said that provoked the fight. The overall tone of the song reflects a sense of disillusionment and defiance with the world, and the societal values that others impose.
The lyrics of the chorus contrast the singer's indifference to certain things with his discontent for others. He doesn't care if his partner goes to work or stays at home, but he does care if she goes downtown and messes around. He dismisses people who tell him what he is and what he should be doing, and declares that he will do what he wants, regardless of whether it leads him to heaven or hell.
The verse about the singer's familial relationships adds a layer of complexity to the song. He didn't love his mother and got everything wrong at school, and he experienced trouble with his father. By stating that he will "give it to" his partner, perhaps he is subconsciously venting his frustration with his family onto his closest relationship. Overall, "Too Short Arms" portrays a character who is at odds with societal norms, relationships, and even himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I woke up on a subway train
I found myself on a train while trying to sleep last night
Travelling round and round all night
The train was circling without a destination all night
My head was hurting and my clothes were torn
I woke up with a headache and my clothes were damaged
It must have been a hell of a fight
I must have been in a serious fight
And you know it doesn't feel so funny
It's not funny at all
When you're waking up at half past eight
Waking up late isn't pleasant after such an experience
And they've taken all your stuff and your money
My belongings and my money were stolen
And you wonder was it something you said
I'm questioning if I'm responsible for what happened
Yes I know I ain't exactly
I'm well aware that I'm not
A clean livin' boy
Leading a decent life isn't my thing
Sometimes it just ain't fair
Life can be unfair at times
When I get home to you
When I return to you
After all I've been through
Despite the experiences I've had
You'll only scream and shout
You'll just get mad and yell
Cause your money's run out
Because you're out of money
I don't care
I'm not bothered
If you go to work
It doesn't matter if you work
I don't care
I'm indifferent to
If you stay at home
I don't mind if you stay home
But if you go downtown
But if you go to town
That you're pulling around
That you're flirting with someone else
Why don't you leave me alone
Please stop bothering me
You said to me that I'm wasting my life
You think I'm wasting my life, you told me that
I've played it just like your fool
I've been acting foolishly like you said
You're no give and no talk
You don't communicate enough
I guess it won't get too far
I don't think our relationship is going to last
It ain't done me no harm
It hasn't affected me negatively
It don't follow me at all
It's not a concern for me
You said to me that I've been wasting your time
You told me that I've been wasting your time
Your gonna find another man
You're going to replace me with someone else
I've had all I can take
I've reached my limit
Won't you give us a break
Let's take a break from each other
I'm sick and tired of people trying to tell me what I am
I'm exhausted from being told who I am
I don't care
It's not a concern
If I go to heaven
It doesn't matter if I go to heaven
I don't care
I'm indifferent to
If I stay in hell
I don't mind staying in hell
Cause I know that I'm doing
Because I am certain that I'm doing
What I really wanna do
What I want to do
And you know that I'm doing it well
You know I'm doing it skillfully
Yes I know I didn't love my mamma
I know that I didn't love my mother
I got everything wrong at school
I failed at everything during my school years
All the touble I had from my dear old dad
My dad has caused me a lot of trouble
Tonight you sit tight I'm gonna give it to you
You better wait and see because I'm going to do something
I don't care
I'm indifferent
If you go to work
It doesn't concern me if you go to work
I don't care
It doesn't matter to me
If you stay at home
I don't mind if you stay at home
But if you go downtown
But if you go to town
That you're pulling around
That you're flirting with someone else
Why don't you leave me alone
Please stop bothering me
I don't care
It doesn't matter to me
I got too short arms
I have short arms, but I don't care
I don't care
I'm indifferent to it
I got too long hands
My hands are too long, but it doesn't bother me
I don't care
It's not a concern
I got too bald head
My head is bald, but it doesn't matter to me
Contributed by Bella A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.