You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory
Encyclopedia
"You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory" is a song
released in 1978 by ex-New York Dolls
member Johnny Thunders
. The title was taken from a line in the "Better Living Through TV" episode of the sitcom The Honeymooners
, and was written for his close friend Fabienne Shine
.
Considered by many his signature song
, the ballad
is said to be about Thunders’ heroin addiction
. However, according to Nina Antonia
's biography, Johnny Thunders...In Cold Blood
, the song was written before he was even a member of the New York Dolls, and years before he had ever tried heroin.
Peter Perrett
, from the English New Wave
band The Only Ones
, supplied guitar and backing vocals.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
released in 1978 by ex-New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
member Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
. The title was taken from a line in the "Better Living Through TV" episode of the sitcom The Honeymooners
The Honeymooners
The Honeymooners is an American situation comedy television show, based on a recurring 1951–'55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Jackie Gleason, and filmed before a live...
, and was written for his close friend Fabienne Shine
Fabienne Shine
Fabienne Shine is a French model, musician and actor, born in Tunis, North Africa and raised in Paris.Nico first inspired Fabienne to begin singing, playing guitar and composing. She then met Johnny Thunders of the New York Dolls in Paris. She jammed with Thunders and followed him to New York City....
.
Considered by many his signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
, the ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
is said to be about Thunders’ heroin addiction
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
. However, according to Nina Antonia
Nina Antonia
Nina Antonia is an English music journalist and author. She has written articles and books about punk-rock era recording artists, including Johnny Thunders and Peter Perrett and has contributed to Mojo and Spiral Scratch magazines, written liner notes for The Stooges live recording Studio Sessions...
's biography, Johnny Thunders...In Cold Blood
Johnny Thunders...In Cold Blood
Johnny Thunders: In Cold Blood is the authorised biography of American singer and guitarist Johnny Thunders....
, the song was written before he was even a member of the New York Dolls, and years before he had ever tried heroin.
Peter Perrett
Peter Perrett
Peter Perrett is an English singer-songwriter. He fronts the recently re-formed 1970s English band, The Only Ones. Perrett lives in Forest Hill, South East London. The Only Ones often described as New Wave were noted for their musicianship during the Punk period...
, from the English New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band The Only Ones
The Only Ones
The Only Ones are an English rock band. They were initially active in the late 1970s and were associated with punk rock, yet straddled the musical territory in between punk, power pop and hard rock, with noticeable influences from psychedelia...
, supplied guitar and backing vocals.
Covers
- Guns N' RosesGuns N' RosesGuns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
covered the song on their album, "The Spaghetti Incident?""The Spaghetti Incident?""The Spaghetti Incident?" is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Guns N' Roses. The album is unique for the band, consisting entirely of cover versions, mostly of punk and glam rock songs of the late 1970s and early 1980s....
. All the instruments on this version were performed by Duff McKaganDuff McKaganMichael Andrew "Duff" McKagan is an American musician and writer. He is best known for his twelve-year tenure as the bassist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
. - Manic Street PreachersManic Street PreachersManic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
singer James Dean BradfieldJames Dean BradfieldJames Dean Bradfield is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.- Early life :...
played an edited version on the 2004 Lifeblood tour as intro to "Cardiff Afterlife," dedicating the song to the band’s missing lyricist Richey Edwards.Also did an acoustic version on BBC's Radio 2 Music Club, 2008 - Giant SandGiant SandGiant Sand is an American rock band, based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The name is shortened from the original Giant Sandworms, a reference to the creatures in the Dune books. Overseen by singer-songwriter Howe Gelb, its membership has shifted over the years—at times with each album...
covered the song on the album Ballad of a Thin Line Man (1986). - The Sand Rubies recorded the song for their 1998 reunion album Return of the Living Dead.
- Ronnie SpectorRonnie SpectorVeronica Yvette "Ronnie" Spector is an American rock and roll and popular music vocalist, and was the lead singer of the 1960s hit-making girl group, The Ronettes, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She is known as the "original bad girl of rock and roll."-Personal...
, of The RonettesThe RonettesThe Ronettes were a 1960s girl group from New York City, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett ; her older sister, Estelle Bennett; and their cousin Nedra Talley...
, recorded the song on her 1999 She Talks to Rainbows EP featuring Joey RamoneJoey RamoneJoey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
. - Johnny Thunders' friend Michael MonroeMichael MonroeMatti Antero Kristian Fagerholm , best known by his stage name, Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician, and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the vocalist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, and has served as the frontman for all-star side projects, such as Demolition 23...
, of Hanoi RocksHanoi RocksHanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
, covered the song on his debut solo album, Nights Are So LongNights Are So LongNights Are So Long is Michael Monroe's first post-Hanoi Rocks solo album released in 1987. The album was released on Hanoi Rocks' manager's own record label "Yahoo!"...
(1987). - Nikki SuddenNikki SuddenNikki Sudden was a prolific English singer-songwriter and guitarist. He co-founded the post-punk band Swell Maps with his brother Epic Soundtracks while attending Solihull School in Solihull.-Career:...
was known for covering the song live. - The BruisersThe BruisersThe Bruisers were pioneers of the American streetpunk/oi! movement, formed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1988. The original lineup included: Al Barr , Scotty Davies , Jeff Morris and Rodger Shosa...
covered the song on their 2001 Better Days. - Mouth frequently performs the song in concert. In August 2009, the band recorded a version for their album, "Beggarman Songs" but it was left off of the final release for unknown reasons.
- The Mighty Wah! recorded a version of the song in 1983.
- Mondo GeneratorMondo GeneratorMondo Generator is an American metal/punk hybrid band founded in 1997 by Nick Oliveri. The name of the band originated when Brant Bjork spray-painted the words on the side of Oliveri's Sunn amplifier. Mondo means "world" in Italian...
frontman Nick OliveriNick OliveriNick Steven Oliveri is an American musician from Palm Desert, California. He plays bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and is a vocalist...
recorded a solo version of the song for the bands' Australian Tour EP 2008Australian Tour EP 2008Australian Tour EP 2008 is a 6-track EP from Mondo Generator containing a mix of studio, acoustic, and live material. It was released to coincide with their first Australian tour in August 2008... - BlondieBlondie (band)Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
performed a cover during their "Endangered Species Tour". They added it to the setlist on the New York concert as part of a homage of their early friend bands. - Green DayGreen DayGreen Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
frontman Billie Joe ArmstrongBillie Joe ArmstrongBillie Joe Armstrong is an American rock musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, main songwriter and lead guitarist for the American punk rock band Green Day...
and former Replacements bassist Tommy StinsonTommy StinsonThomas "Tommy" Eugene Stinson is an American musician best known for his work as the bassist for The Replacements and Guns N' Roses as well as the post-Replacements groups Bash & Pop, where he performed guitar duties, and Perfect...
joined Jesse MalinJesse MalinJesse Malin is a rock musician. He has played with Heart Attack and D Generation. He is currently a solo recording artist.-Biography:...
on stage to perform this song at the City Winery in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on February 19, 2011. - Willie DeVille* performed a cover on the 1996 Thunders tribute album "I Only Wrote This Song For You"
Use in pop culture
- The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
featured the song at the end of episode 11, "House ArrestHouse Arrest (The Sopranos episode)"House Arrest" is the twenty-fourth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and was the eleventh of the show's second season. It was written by Terence Winter, directed by Tim Van Patten and originally aired on Sunday March 26, 2000.-Starring:...
," of season two. - The song is played in Martin Scorsese's Bringing Out the DeadBringing Out the DeadBringing Out the Dead is a 1999 drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, and based on the novel by Joe Connelly with the screenplay by Paul Schrader...
(1999).