i think the golden arm is an allusion the 1949 book "the man with the golden arm," its about poverty during the great depression, which is similar to the other 2 books alluded to in the song, "The Adventures of Augie March" by Saul Bellow is about poverty in chicago i think during depression, "Timbuktu" by Paul Auster is about a homeless guy but is more modern than the other two and tells the story from the perspective of a dog (which explains the whole "the soul of a dog line." there are probably more allusions in the song too that would help at explaining the meaning.
also fionn explains the line about the doc leaf "Can you explain the line "good company and grief sit like a doc leaf sits beside a stinging nettle": from put a penny in the slot? what is a doc leaf?
fionn. A doc leaf is a weed that usually grows near stinging nettles although not always. It is quite a big leaf and if you get stung by a nettle and you rub this on the sting it takes the pain away. Although this may not be scientifically proven it still works and would be a good thing to use when there is nothing else."
i think the golden arm is an allusion the 1949 book "the man with the golden arm," its about poverty during the great depression, which is similar to the other 2 books alluded to in the song, "The Adventures of Augie March" by Saul Bellow is about poverty in chicago i think during depression, "Timbuktu" by Paul Auster is about a homeless guy but is more modern than the other two and tells the story from the perspective of a dog (which explains the whole "the soul of a dog line." there are probably more allusions in the song too that would help at explaining the meaning.
also fionn explains the line about the doc leaf "Can you explain the line "good company and grief sit like a doc leaf sits beside a stinging nettle": from put a penny in the slot? what is a doc leaf?
fionn. A doc leaf is a weed that usually grows near stinging nettles although not always. It is quite a big leaf and if you get stung by a nettle and you rub this on the sting it takes the pain away. Although this may not be scientifically proven it still works and would be a good thing to use when there is nothing else."