I am sick with wanting
And it's evil and it's daunting
How I let everything I cherish lay to waste
I am lost in greed, this time it's definitely me
I point fingers but there's no one there to blame

I need for something
Not let me break it down again
I need for something
But not more medicine

I am sick with wanting
And it's evil how it's got me
And everyday is worse than the one before
The more I have the more I think
I'm almost where I need to be
If only I could get a little more

I need for something
Now let me break it down again
I need for something
But not more medicine

Something has me (something has me)
Oh something has me (something has me)
Acting like someone I don't wanna be
Something has me (something has me)
Oh something has me (something has me)
Acting like someone I know isn't me
Ill with want and poisoned by this ugly greed

Temporary is my time
Ain't nothin' on this world that's mine
Except the will I found to carry on
Free is not your right to choose
It's answering what's asked of you
To give the love you find until it's gone

I need for something
Now let me break it down again
I need for something
But not more medicine

Something has me (something has me)
Oh something has me (something has me)
Acting like someone I don't wanna be
Something has me (something has me)
Oh something has me (something has me)
Acting like someone I know isn't me
Ill with want and poisoned by this ugly greed
Ill with want and poisoned by this ugly greed
Ill with want and poisoned by this ugly greed

Overall Meaning

The Avett Brothers’ song Ill With Want is a powerful and poignant reflection on the corrupting nature of human desire. The song is a lamentation about the singer's overwhelming need for more, more time, more possessions, more accolades, more of everything. Despite being plagued by an almost insatiable appetite, the singer remains fully aware of how destructive his desires have become. He feels sick with wanting, and he recognizes the evil and daunting nature of his desire, recognizing how easily he lets everything he cherishes lay to waste.

The singer is trapped in a vicious cycle of greed, acknowledging that the more he has, the more he thinks he needs to have. And as his desire continues to grow, his sense of self becomes more and more distorted. He feels like he's almost where he needs to be, but he's not sure where that is, and he's almost certain that even if he does get there, he'll want more.

In the end, the singer recognizes the fleeting nature of human existence and how nothing in this world is truly his except his will to carry on. He understands that freedom is not the right to choose, but rather, it's the obligation to answer what's asked of him, to give the love he finds until it's gone. However, despite this realization, he remains ill with want and poisoned by his ugly greed.

Overall, the song beautifully captures the internal struggle and pain of a person grappling with the pervasive nature of desire and the destructive impact of greed. It's an insightful commentary on the difficulty of finding contentment in a world where we're constantly bombarded with messages of what we should want, what we should aspire to, and what we should seek.

Line by Line Meaning

I am sick with wanting
I am consumed by my desires and it is making me physically and emotionally ill.

And it's evil and it's daunting
These overwhelming desires are harmful and intimidating.

How I let everything I cherish lay to waste
I have neglected the things that are truly important to me in pursuit of my wants.

I am lost in greed, this time it's definitely me
I am completely consumed by my own greed and there is no one else to blame.

I point fingers but there's no one there to blame
I am trying to deflect responsibility for my actions, but the fault lies solely with me.

I need for something
I am always searching for something to fulfill my desires.

Not let me break it down again
I don't want to fall back into the cycle of constantly needing more and more.

But not more medicine
I don't want to rely on material possessions or substances to make me feel better.

And everyday is worse than the one before
My addiction to wanting more has continued to escalate and each day makes it harder to break free.

The more I have the more I think
Even when I obtain what I want, it only fuels my desire for more.

I'm almost where I need to be
I feel like I am close to achieving some sort of satisfaction, though I know deep down it is unattainable.

If only I could get a little more
I continue to believe that just a little bit more will finally satisfy me, though I know it is not true.

Something has me (something has me)
I am aware that I am not acting like myself and something is controlling me.

Acting like someone I don't wanna be
My desire for more has caused me to act in ways that are not in line with my true values and beliefs.

Acting like someone I know isn't me
I am aware that my actions are not in line with who I truly am as a person.

Ill with want and poisoned by this ugly greed
My unrelenting desire for more has made me sick and is poisoning my life.

Temporary is my time
I know that my time on this Earth is limited and I don't want to waste it on chasing insatiable desires.

Ain't nothin' on this world that's mine
I understand that material possessions are not truly mine and will not bring me lasting happiness.

Except the will I found to carry on
The only thing I truly possess is my own willpower and determination to keep going.

Free is not your right to choose
True freedom is not about getting to do whatever you want, but about fulfilling your responsibilities and obligations to others.

It's answering what's asked of you
It is about doing what is right and fulfilling your duties to others.

To give the love you find until it's gone
True freedom is about giving love to others and cherishing it while you can.

Ill with want and poisoned by this ugly greed
Once again emphasizing the harmful effects that my endless desire for more is having on my life.

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