Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys is clearly a man who likes to keep busy, han… Read Full Bio ↴Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys is clearly a man who likes to keep busy, handling plenty of production assignments and backing like-minded artists during his downtime from the band, and in 2015, after the Black Keys took some time off after drummer Patrick Carney suffered a shoulder injury, Auerbach decided to make productive use of the hiatus by launching a new side project. The Arcs were formed by Auerbach and Leon Michaels, a multi-instrumentalist who was part of the studio crew on Auerbach's production projects for Dr. John and Lana Del Rey. Telling the press "I just wanted to do my thing and get extra weird," Auerbach headed into the studio with Michaels and a handful of friends and colleagues, including Nick Movshon, Homer Steinweiss, Richard Swift, and Kenny Vaughan. The Arcs made their debut with a 7" vinyl single released to independent music stores to commemorate the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao title fight in May 2015. A-side "Stay in My Corner" and the flip "Tomato Can" were songs inspired by Auerbach's passion for boxing, and "Stay in My Corner" also appeared on the Arcs' debut album, Yours, Dreamily, which was recorded in a handful of freewheeling sessions lasting less than two weeks. Yours, Dreamily appeared on Nonesuch Records in September 2015.

Biography by Mark Deming

Blessed
The Arcs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Verse 1]
Hold me
But don’t control me
I’m just a traveler here
So have no fear
Don’t you dare obey

[Verse 2]

Branded
Just like we planned it
But it's so fast it fell
Down the deepest well
Night turns into day

[Chorus]
I’ve been blessed and I’ve been burned
Took the test and what I learned
Cause I’m older and I’m wiser
I’ve been blessed and I’ve been burned
By this

[Verse 3]
Fade it
Then fabricate it
They make up stories to
Remind us who
Makes the rules 'round here

[Chorus]
I’ve been blessed and I’ve been burned
Took the test and what I earned
Is I’m older and I’m wiser

I’ve been blessed and I’ve been burned
By this

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Arcs' song "Blessed" express a sense of freedom and resilience in the face of external influences. In the first verse, the singer acknowledges that although they are being held or embraced, they refuse to be controlled. They see themselves as mere travelers passing through, and encourage others not to fear their independence or autonomy. They assertively demand not to be obedient to anyone's commands.

In the second verse, the lyrics delve into the idea of being branded or labeled, possibly by society or people's expectations. The notion of it being planned implies that the singer has participated in this process willingly. However, the speed at which these labels are given is so rapid that they fall down the deepest well, suggesting a sense of being overwhelmed or drowned by these labels. Despite this, the lyrics suggest that day always follows night, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and the hope for a fresh start.

The chorus suggests that the singer has experienced both blessings and hardships, referring to being burned. The tests they have taken speak to the challenges they have faced, and the lyrics imply that they have gained wisdom and maturity as a result. The repetition of being blessed and being burned emphasizes the contrasting experiences that have contributed to their growth.

Moving on to the third verse, the lyrics address the concept of manipulation and fabrication. There is a suggestion that stories are made up to remind us who holds power and establishes rules in society. The lyrics, possibly criticizing those in authority, imply that these stories are used to shape reality and maintain control.

The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the message that the singer has both been blessed and burned by the experiences they have encountered. It further emphasizes that their journey has led them to become older and wiser. The lyrics suggest that the blessings and burns they have experienced have shaped their perspective and understanding of the world. Overall, "Blessed" portrays the singer's resilience and growth in the face of challenging circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

Hold me
Embrace me

But don’t control me
However, don't try to manipulate or dominate me

I’m just a traveler here
I'm merely a visitor in this world

So have no fear
Therefore, there's no need to be afraid

Don’t you dare obey
Do not submit obediently

Branded
Labeled

Just like we planned it
Exactly as we intended

But it's so fast it fell
However, it collapsed quickly

Down the deepest well
Into the depths of despair

Night turns into day
The darkness transforms into light

I’ve been blessed and I’ve been burned
I have experienced both fortunate and painful moments

Took the test and what I learned
After facing challenges, I gained valuable knowledge

Cause I’m older and I’m wiser
Because I have aged and become more knowledgeable

Fade it
Let it fade away

Then fabricate it
Then create false stories

They make up stories to
They invent narratives in order to

Remind us who
Reinforce the idea of who

Makes the rules 'round here
Has the authority in this place

By this
Through these experiences

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Daniel Auerbach, David Hidalgo, Leon Michels, Richard Swift, DANIEL QUINE AUERBACH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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