Stretch Arm Strong is a Hardcore-influenced punk rock band from South Carol… Read Full Bio ↴Stretch Arm Strong is a Hardcore-influenced punk rock band from South Carolina, U.S.A. that were the flagship band for We Put Out Records. They're perhaps best known for their 2005 tune "The Sound of Names Dropping" as well as their tongue-in-cheek cover of the dance tune "Get This Party Started", released in 2002. Formed by former members of strait up, were active from about 1992 to about 2010. Several of the band members were outspoken Christians, but they prefer not to be classified as a 'Christian rock' act.

After their freshman release on Uprising Records, 'Compassion Fills the Void', they released three albums for Solid State Records in 1999, 2001, and 2003 respectively. In addition, they set forth on several U.S. and European tours in the early to mid-00s. Gaining momentum, they found some widespread notice for their spunky cover of "Get This Party Started" as a part of the 'Punk Goes Pop' album series.

Stretch Arm Strong then signed to We Put Out Records, a label on East West (itself a branch of the Warner Music Group), having fulfilled their deal with Solid State. Their next LP, 'Free At Last', was recorded in April-May 2005 with James Paul Wisner (producer of albums by Further Seems Forever and Underoath) and released in fall of the same year. Facing various difficulties, the band wound down their live performances and called it quits in 2010. In 2022 they reformed.

Reach Out
Stretch Arm Strong Lyrics

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Reach out
Like a mountain I can't climb
Like a river I can't cross
I beat my head against the wall
The obstacles before me are so tall
I'm trying to reach you
I'm trying to reach out
I'm trying to reach out

Wanting to be with you
Will I measure up?
What am I supposed to do?
I've never felt this way
These are my darkest days
I feel so far away
Away!
A life of perfection
Constant reflection of what I'll never be
Smothered by your love
Safe in your embrace
Unending devotion
The memory of your face now I know
Now I know me
So, I'm reaching out and I'm hold on

And I'm trying things I had left behind
Reach out

Overall Meaning

In the song "Reach Out" by Stretch Arm Strong, the lyrics explore the feeling of wanting to connect with someone on a deeper level but feeling like there are barriers preventing that connection. The imagery of a mountain that can't be climbed and a river that can't be crossed represent the obstacles that the singer feels are standing in their way. They feel like they are beating their head against a wall and that the obstacles are too tall to overcome. Despite this, the singer is determined to reach out and be with the person they are addressing in the song. They question whether they will measure up and wonder what they are supposed to do, expressing feelings of vulnerability and uncertainty. The overall message of the song is the importance of reaching out and making connections, even when it feels difficult or impossible.

Line by Line Meaning

Reach out
I want to connect with you, but I'm struggling

Like a mountain I can't climb
There are obstacles in my way that seem insurmountable

Like a river I can't cross
The gap between us feels too wide to bridge

I beat my head against the wall
I'm frustrated and trying everything to overcome these barriers

The obstacles before me are so tall
The challenges in my way are overwhelming

I'm trying to reach you
I want to connect with you, but I'm struggling

I'm trying to reach out
I'm doing my best to make a connection

Wanting to be with you
I desire a close relationship with you

Will I measure up?
I'm questioning whether I'm good enough for you

What am I supposed to do?
I feel lost and unsure of how to proceed

I've never felt this way
This situation is new and overwhelming to me