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

Living The Dream
The Arcs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you were mine
I'd give you all the world
If you were mine
I'd take you higher girl
But you got me waiting
Ooh, you're so cold
It kills me time
Ooh and time is all we need

But god knows I've tried, I've tried
To get you close to me

But tonight when my eyes are closing
You'll be with me

[Chorus:]
Just let me be
And let me believe, you're mine
Cause there's nothin' wrong here
I'm just livin'
Livin' in a dream

Without a sign
You brought me to my knees
Without a sign,
I crossed the line
I beg for sleep

But tonight when my eyes are closin'
You will be with me

[Chorus]

Just let me be
And let me believe, you're mine
Just let me be
And let me believe, you're mine
Cause there's nothin' wrong here

I'm just livin'
Livin' in a dream

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Arcs's song Living The Dream can be interpreted as a lamentation of unrequited love. The singer of the song expresses his willingness to give all he has to the object of his affection, but she remains emotionally distant, and this emotional coldness is killing him slowly. He tries to get her closer to him, but to no avail. The singer is resigned to the fact that he cannot have her, but at night, when he is alone, he dreams of her.

The singer seems to be grappling with the consequences of being vulnerable and open with his emotions. He is hoping that she will reciprocate his feelings, but alas, she remains out of reach. The chorus of the song seems to be an attempt at finding solace and coming to terms with his feelings. He acknowledges that he is living in a dream, and while it may not be one of concrete reality, at least it provides him with something to hold onto.

Overall, the song Living The Dream is a poignant expression of the ways in which unrequited love can be both beautiful and painful. It is not just about the joys of being in love but also about the difficulties that come with the territory.

Line by Line Meaning

If you were mine
If I had the privilege to call you mine

I'd give you all the world
I'd offer you everything within my power

If you were mine
If you were mine, if only in some parallel universe

I'd take you higher girl
I'd elevate you and nurture you

But you got me waiting
But you make me wait, anticipating what's uncertain

Ooh, you're so cold
You're distant and unresponsive

It kills me time
It makes the time feel unbearable

Ooh and time is all we need
All that's required is time for us to grow closer

But god knows I've tried, I've tried
I've put in my best effort to bridge the gap between us

To get you close to me
To win your affection and bring you nearer to me

But tonight when my eyes are closing
But when I drift away to sleep tonight

You'll be with me
You'll be in my thoughts and dreams

Just let me be
Just allow me to feel content in this moment

And let me believe, you're mine
Let me hold onto the idea that you belong to me

Cause there's nothin' wrong here
Because everything seems fine and perfect in this moment

I'm just livin'
I'm just experiencing

Livin' in a dream
Living in a fantasy, wishing for something that may not exist

Without a sign
Without any indication or warning

You brought me to my knees
You caused me to feel overwhelmed and helpless

Without a sign,
Without reason or explanation

I crossed the line
I went beyond my limits and acted recklessly

I beg for sleep
I desperately long for rest

Just let me be
Just allow me to feel content in this moment

And let me believe, you're mine
Let me continue to believe that I have some chance of being with you

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLIE SEXTON, DOYLE BRAMHALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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