contrary to many peoples idea of a sort of heroin addiction theme, a "Shot in the arm" can also mean a spot of encouragement or a pep talk. What he may have been thinking is that he needs encouragement, now, to love the woman, even though she has drastically changed from the girl he fell in love with to the restless, more guilty, and nervous woman that she is now. This song always makes me think of "I'm Looking Through You" by the Beatles, which is also about a girl who changed, perhaps this song gave some inspiration to Wilco's "A Shot in the Arm?"
contrary to many peoples idea of a sort of heroin addiction theme, a "Shot in the arm" can also mean a spot of encouragement or a pep talk. What he may have been thinking is that he needs encouragement, now, to love the woman, even though she has drastically changed from the girl he fell in love with to the restless, more guilty, and nervous woman that she is now. This song always makes me think of "I'm Looking Through You" by the Beatles, which is also about a girl who changed, perhaps this song gave some inspiration to Wilco's "A Shot in the Arm?"