He makes his own dreams, his own paradise
But paradise is just a false alarm
And no ones really sadder than, the man with the golden arm

He buys every thrill and pays any price
And thinks he's having fun and what's the hon'
He's following the devil's plan, the man with the golden arm

What is that strange desire that sets his soul afire?
The hopeless need for it, that makes it plead for it?
The walls are closing in, the room begins to spin
There's no escape and there's no friend
How did it start? When will it end?

The ending is clear and not very nice
A nameless grave behind some prison farm
There is no history sadder than, the man with the golden arm

But there's a chance that he, can shake the misery
That if he's strong enough and fights it long enough
The ones who do are rare, but with some hope and prayer
The nightmare's done and so's the end
You find the Sun and walk among men

And gone are the dreams, the fools paradise
The heaven that was just a false alarm, and no one's really gladder than
The man with the golden arm, oh