Significance of the Forgotten Arm?

Aimee Mann

The name of Aimee Mann's upcoming concept album will be The Forgotten Arm according to Reuters News Service. The album set in the 70's has mystified a lot of Aimee's fans with the title. What does it mean? Is it a weapon left behind? Is it a missing limb that one hasn't noticed? So, I have been pouring over the lyrics of the two songs on her new Live at St. Ann's Warehouse cd, trying to decipher how the lyrics fit together as a theme and how they apply to the album's title. In some ways I wish there was a lyric sheet, but then again I think the hunt may draw me into the song greater. The two new songs from the live album are Going Through the Motions and The King of the Jail House. Another song, That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart appeared during the funeral scene in Jersey Girl and will be on the album as well.

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS

Somethin' isn't right
I don't know how I know
But baby it's despite
Your dog and pony show
I can hear it coming
You're only goin' through the motions, baby
With your engines humming
You're only goin' through the motions, baby
Going through the motions, baby
I feel like I'm in jail
With you and Mr. Hyde
A guy who leaves a trail
About a mile wide
So it starts already
You're just goin' through the motions, baby
You can throw confetti
It's just a goin' through the motions, baby
Going through the motions, baby
We'll have a big parade
For every day that you stay clean
But when the trumpets fade
You'll go under like a submarine
You won't see it coming
You can't see it coming
You can have a [?]
A fair and [?] foe(?)
But baby I'm afraid
I'll never see you well
Or foresee the tally
And you're just goin' through the motions, baby
To a different alley
comes from where we play the motions, baby
Goin' through the motions, baby
Goin' through the motions, baby
Goin' through the motions, baby

KING OF THE JAILHOUSE

The King of the Jailhouse
and the Queen of the Road
Think sharing the burden
Will lighten the load
So they pack up their troubles
In an old Cadillac
(That's?) her in the mirror
(a)sleep in the back
Baby, there's something wrong with me
Baby, there's something wrong with me
And there is something wrong with me
ANd I can't see
That I can't see
And I don't get the answers
at the end of the test
So you can't simply stand there
and hope for the best
wake me up at the border
When we reach Mexico
I'll tell you a secret
I don't even know
Baby, there's something wrong with me
Baby, there's something wrong with me
baby, there's something wrong with me
That I can't see
That I can't see
(Bridge)
(Baby?)I don't want to turn around
and go back there to you
I think you lost something
I don't know when I need to
Baby, there's something wrong with me
Baby, there's something wrong with me
Baby, there's something wrong with me
That I can't see
That I can't see
That I can't see

THAT'S HOW I KNEW THIS STORY WOULD BREAK MY HEART

I drew a picture of you
You and your anchor tattoo
And saw the face that I knew
Covered in shame
You drew the bird that was here
The kind of sweet chanticleer
But with a terrible fear
That the cage couldn't tame
That's how I knew the story would break my heart
When you're older
That's how I knew the story would break my heart
This could be a partial part of the song that was used in Jersey Girl. All lyrics were transcribed to the best of my and other fans' ears. You can watch King of the Jailhouse and see if you can decipher what the forgotten arm may be. My guess is that it has a Bonny and Clyde type theme.