Biography by Mark Deming
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The Arcs Lyrics
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Where Johnny took quite the beating
Picking up the pieces of a broken shell
The shell
Stumblin' down dead end streets
With every soul sucker he meets
Living like a king by the gates of hell
Of hell
The more he comes, the more he goes
The less he learns, the more he knows
He had your heart, but it never shows
The more he comes, the more he goes
Bones in the ball and bathroom
The kids from the back of the classroom
Each one a monster of might
Of might
Finer things so you can live better
Loafers and a cashmere sweater
Everyone's a worker in the diamond mines
The mines
The more he comes, the more he goes
The less he learns, the more he knows
He had your heart, but it never shows
The more he comes, the more he goes
The more he comes, the more he goes
The less he learns, the more he knows
He had your heart, but it never shows
The more he comes, the more he goes
The Arcs's song Come Go is a powerful commentary on the destructive nature of greed and the pursuit of material wealth. The first stanza begins with the singer taking a "fast train to Eden," where he is met with violence and chaos. He is then shown "picking up the pieces of a broken shell," alluding to the idea that he may have previously been broken himself. The singer then wanders down "dead end streets" and is confronted with "soul suckers," individuals who are solely interested in their own gain and will do anything to achieve it. Despite living like a "king," he is ultimately living at the gates of hell.
The second verse focuses on the negative consequences of the pursuit of wealth. The singer is surrounded by "monsters of might," or individuals who have achieved power and wealth through unethical means. They are represented through the metaphorical imagery of "bones in the ball and bathroom." However, the singer is promised "finer things" to help him "live better" and is convinced that he, too, can achieve success. The final line, "everyone's a worker in the diamond mines," suggests that in the pursuit of wealth, everyone is ultimately reduced to a pawn of those in power.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the idea that "the more he comes, the more he goes." This can be interpreted in several ways, but it ultimately suggests that the singer is stuck in a never-ending cycle of pursuing wealth and power without ever truly achieving it. He learns little from his experiences but gains a superficial knowledge that helps him continue in his pursuit. The line "he had your heart, but it never shows" suggests that despite the singer's promises and attempts at success, he remains empty and unfulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
Took a fast train to Eden
He went on a journey searching for paradise.
Where Johnny took quite the beating
He faced some hard challenges along the way.
Picking up the pieces of a broken shell
He's trying to recover and rebuild himself after being broken down.
Stumblin' down dead end streets
He's lost and struggling to find a way forward.
With every soul sucker he meets
He's surrounded by people who drain his vitality and spirit.
Living like a king by the gates of hell
Despite the difficulty, he's still holding on and trying to find happiness.
Bones in the ball and bathroom
Surrounded by decay and deterioration, even in places where he should find relief.
The kids from the back of the classroom
Feeling like an outsider, surrounded by those who don't understand his experiences.
Each one a monster of might
Feeling overshadowed and intimidated by those around him.
Finer things so you can live better
The promise of material wealth as a way to find happiness and fulfillment.
Loafers and a cashmere sweater
The superficial trappings of wealth and status as a substitute for true happiness.
Everyone's a worker in the diamond mines
Feeling like everyone is trapped in a difficult, monotonous existence.
The more he comes, the more he goes
He's searching for something, but can't seem to find it.
The less he learns, the more he knows
Despite his struggles, he's gaining wisdom and insight into the world around him.
He had your heart, but it never shows
Even though he cares deeply, he struggles to express it or connect with others emotionally.
The more he comes, the more he goes
Despite his best efforts, he can't seem to find what he's looking for.
The less he learns, the more he knows
Despite the struggle, he's still gaining valuable experience and understanding.
He had your heart, but it never shows
Despite his deep feelings, he has a hard time expressing or connecting emotionally with others.
The more he comes, the more he goes
He's still searching, but it feels like a never-ending cycle.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dan Auerbach, Leon Michels
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Hunter West
Dan has literally never made a bad album. Even his artists at Easy Eye Sound are amazing... Every single one... Probably the most important figure for rock n Roll and blues and just good music in general from my generation.. He's a living legend.
Hayden Bridges
Dropout boogie ruined this comment. Big love for him tho
M Slice
He hasn't made one bad song between his solo stuff, The Black Keys, The Arcs, or Blakroc. He's amazing. The Arcs might be the best stuff. I saw them 4 times, and it was pretty sick. Also, their studio albums are dope. The Keys still take the cake, though. Lastly, the album Locked Down by Dr.John was produced by Dan(he also shreds a little). Dan is the best.
Lo Lo
yes
nr4dd
Amen. Wish their were 12 of this guy. So talented that he'll never get it all out
Gabriel Avelar Mattar
Freaking legend.
buddha4242
Blues, Funk, Soul, what else do you need for greatness? This seriously was one of the best NPR videos I have ever watched.
BestNorthwestDrunkinPodcast
Underrated band
RholyGaming
buddha4242 apparently you also need mariachi lol
npxmnpxm
Um, does everyone recognize how insanely great this is or is it just me?