Salina
The Avett Brothers Lyrics
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Could you add some somewhere to me
Ah Kansas, I'm kneeling, ah Kansas, please
Cleveland, I ain't never felt nothing so strong
Been believin' the words to my songs
Ohio, I'm leaving, Ohio, I'm gone
From town to town and state to state
There's people everywhere that try to capture us
We stole the cash and left our names
And almost slipped in Indianapolis
The rain it fell, the story went on
The rain it fell, and we got gone
Poughkeepsie, hang up the telephone
I won't answer your phone calls no more
New York, quit calling, New York, leave me be
I'm changing the plans that I've been setting on
I'm scared by the way that my life's getting gone
Carolina, one day I'll, someday I'll come home
Carolina, one day I'll, someday I'll come
Home, home
The lyrics to The Avett Brothers’s song Salina are full of raw emotion and longing. The opening line, “Salina, I’m as nowhere as I can be,” sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is lost and searching for meaning in his life. He pleads with Salina, Kansas, to “add some somewhere” to him, as if she has the power to give him direction and purpose. The repetition of “ah Kansas, I’m kneeling, ah Kansas please” emphasizes his desperation.
In the second verse, the singer describes his experience in Cleveland, where he has finally found something to believe in - the words to his songs. But even this is not enough to anchor him, and he decides to leave Ohio altogether. The imagery of rain falling and the story continuing emphasizes the unstoppable momentum of his life.
The third verse is full of frustration and anger. The singer is tired of people trying to “capture” him and is running away from his problems. He begs Poughkeepsie and New York to leave him alone, and he acknowledges that he is scared by the direction his life is heading in. But despite all of this, he still longs to go back home to Carolina someday.
Overall, Salina is a powerful exploration of the universal human experience of feeling lost and searching for a sense of purpose and meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Salina, I'm as nowhere as I can be
I feel lost and aimless in Salina
Could you add some somewhere to me
Can you give me a sense of direction or purpose?
Ah Kansas, I'm kneeling, ah Kansas, please
I am pleading for guidance in Kansas
Cleveland, I ain't never felt nothing so strong
I have never felt such a powerful emotion as I do in Cleveland
Been believin' the words to my songs
I have been holding onto my beliefs and the things I stand for
Ohio, I'm leaving, Ohio, I'm gone
I am leaving Ohio behind
From town to town and state to state
I have been traveling all over the place
There's people everywhere that try to capture us
There are those who are chasing after us
We stole the cash and left our names
We took the money and ran, leaving no trace of our identities
And almost slipped in Indianapolis
We almost got caught in Indianapolis
The rain it fell, the story went on
Despite the rain, the adventure continued
The rain it fell, and we got gone
We left while it was still raining
Poughkeepsie, hang up the telephone
Stop trying to contact me, Poughkeepsie
I won't answer your phone calls no more
I am refusing to communicate with you
New York, quit calling, New York, leave me be
New York, please stop bothering me
I'm changing the plans that I've been setting on
I am altering the goals that I have been working towards
I'm scared by the way that my life's getting gone
I am fearful of the path my life is taking
Carolina, one day I'll, someday I'll come home
I will return to Carolina one day
Carolina, one day I'll, someday I'll come
I am committed to going back to Carolina
Home, home
Home is where I long to be
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Robert Crawford, Scott Avett, Timothy Avett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind