▁of ▁Life " ▁was ▁a ▁number ▁two ▁hit ▁for ▁the ▁band ▁in ▁the ▁UK ▁in ▁early ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁and ▁a ▁number ▁seven ▁hit ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁later ▁that ▁year . ▁The ▁song ▁was ▁nearly ▁left ▁off ▁the ▁album , ▁but ▁was ▁included ▁after ▁the ▁band ▁out - v oted ▁producer ▁Neil ▁Dorf s man . ▁ ▁On ▁the ▁second ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁album , ▁three ▁songs ▁(" R ide ▁Ac ross ▁the ▁River ", ▁" The ▁Man ' s ▁To o ▁Str ong " ▁and ▁" Bro thers ▁in ▁Ar ms ") ▁are ▁lyr ically ▁focused ▁on ▁militar ism . ▁" R ide ▁Ac ross ▁the ▁River " ▁uses ▁imm ers ive ▁Latin ▁American ▁imag ery , ▁accompanied ▁by ▁synth es ized ▁pan ▁fl ute , ▁a ▁reg ga e - infl uen ced ▁drum ▁part ▁and ▁eer ie ▁background ▁no ises . ▁" The ▁Man ' s ▁To o ▁Str ong " ▁dep ict s ▁the ▁character ▁of ▁an ▁ancient ▁soldier ▁( or ▁war ▁criminal ) ▁and ▁his ▁fear ▁of ▁showing ▁feelings ▁as ▁a ▁weak ness . ▁" Bro thers ▁in ▁Ar ms " ▁de als ▁with ▁the ▁sens eless ness ▁of ▁war . ▁ ▁Art work ▁The ▁guitar ▁featured ▁on ▁the ▁front ▁of ▁the ▁album ▁cover ▁is ▁Mark ▁Kn opf ler ' s ▁ 1 9 3 7 ▁ 1 4 - f ret ▁National ▁Style ▁" O " ▁Res on ator . ▁The ▁Style ▁" O " ▁line ▁of ▁gu it ars ▁was ▁introduced ▁in ▁