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Live and Die
The Avett Brothers Lyrics


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All it'll take is just one moment and
You can say goodbye to how we had it planned
Fear like a habit, run like a rabbit, out and away
Through the screen door to the unknown

And I want to love you and more
I want to find you and more
Where do you reside when you hide?
How can I find ya?

'Cause I want to send you and more
I want to tempt you and more
Can you tell that I am alive?
Let me prove it

You and I, we're the same
Live and die, we're the same
Hear my voice, know my name
You and I, we're the same

Live like a pharaoh
Sing like a sparrow anyway
Even if there is no land or love in sight
We bloom like roses, lead like Moses, out and away
Through the bitter crowd to the daylight

And I want to love you and more
I want to find you and more
Can you tell that I am alive?
Let me prove it to ya

You and I, we're the same
Live and die, we're the same
You rejoice, I complain
But you and I, we're the same
Live and die, we're the same
You and I, we're the same
Hear my voice, know my name
You and I, we're the same

I want to love you and more
I want to find you and more
Where do you reside when you hide?
How can I find ya?

'Cause I wanna save you and more
I wanna tempt you and more
Can you tell that I am alive?
Let me prove it

You and I, we're the same
Live and die, we're the same
You rejoice, I complain
But you and I, we're the same
Live and die, we're the same
You and I, we're the same
Hear my voice, know my name
You and I
You and I

Overall Meaning

The Avett Brothers's song Live and Die is a beautiful love song that acknowledges how quickly life can change and how precious and fleeting those moments with the people we love can be. The opening lines of the song set a foreboding tone, suggesting that at any moment, our plans can be disrupted and our lives can change in an instant. The song urges the listener not to let fear control their lives and to embrace the uncertainty that comes with living.


In the verses, the singer is expressing their desire for their love interest, acknowledging that they may be hard to find or even hiding. They want to love and tempt their love interest, but they need to be convinced that they are alive and real. The chorus echoes the sentiment that we are all the same, living and dying, and regardless of our differences or the complaints we have with each other, we all want to love and be loved. They want their love to hear their voice and know their name because ultimately they want to be recognized and remembered by the people they care about.


The bridge encourages listeners to live like a pharaoh, in other words, to embrace life and themselves to the fullest, and even if there is no land or love present, to find a way to bloom like a rose.


Overall, the song is a beautiful reminder of how precious life is and the importance of valuing and loving the people in our lives. The Avett Brothers masterfully weave poetic language with melodies that make the message all the more impactful.


Line by Line Meaning

All it'll take is just one moment and
It only takes a single moment to change our plans and direction in life.


You can say goodbye to how we had it planned
We can let go of the past and embrace something new.


Fear like a habit, run like a rabbit, out and away
Fear keeps us from being our true selves, but we can overcome it by running away from it.


Through the screen door to the unknown
We can enter the unknown and discover new possibilities.


And I want to love you and more
I desire to love you even more.


I want to find you and more
I seek to know you better and understand you more.


Where do you reside when you hide?
Where do you go when you are afraid or vulnerable?


How can I find ya?
How can I reach you and help you when you need me most?


'Cause I want to send you and more
I want to give you everything that I have and more.


I want to tempt you and more
I want to challenge you and inspire you to reach your full potential.


Can you tell that I am alive?
Can you sense my energy and passion for life?


Let me prove it
Let me show you through my actions and words.


You and I, we're the same
We are all human beings and share common experiences.


Live and die, we're the same
We all face the same fate of mortality.


Hear my voice, know my name
Listen to me and recognize my presence in this world.


Live like a pharaoh
Live life to the fullest as if you were a powerful ancient king.


Sing like a sparrow anyway
Sing and make music regardless of the circumstances.


Even if there is no land or love in sight
Even if we are lost and alone, we can still find joy and beauty.


We bloom like roses, lead like Moses, out and away
We can flourish like flowers and lead like great leaders.


Through the bitter crowd to the daylight
We can overcome challenges and obstacles to find success and happiness.


'Cause I wanna save you and more
I want to protect you and keep you safe from harm.


You rejoice, I complain
We all experience different emotions and react differently to situations.


But you and I, we're the same
Despite our differences, we are all connected as human beings.


Hear my voice, know my name
Pay attention to me and connect with me on a personal level.


You and I
Together, we can face life's challenges and conquer them.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Robert Crawford, Scott Avett, Timothy Avett

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@paisleylaura4221

They are great people and deserve so much more than most of the bands out there for they have real talent. When I was 9, just a few months after my dad died I got to go backstage and meet them. They asked what my favorite song of theirs was and I said "the song that you say rabbit in." (Live and Die) and they actually changed a song they were going to play at the concert so they could sing "Live and Die" at the concert. After I left backstage to watch the concert, they dedicated the song to me. I will forever remember and I love these guys so much!!

@anthonylewis9256

Cool story

@peggygibbons479

That is the most beautiful story!!

@marygarza4116

Cool

@allanjasonmburu2186

weird flex but okay

@joanamalta

that's such a beautiful story!

10 More Replies...

@iammumawaldi

Several years ago my boyfriend saw The Avett Brothers at Firefly. He innocently came to me and said, "You MUST hear this band." And showed me this video. Me, who adores the banjo, this type of music, and men who look like this.
Clearly, he was not thinking ahead. My obsession cannot be stopped. He created a monster.

@peggygibbons479

SAME! :) But it was my daughter.

@paulaschubach1625

Me too, but it was my husband probably 10-11 years ago. I am so obsessed with them too! I am 62 years old and think they are so cute!!

@ericab4021

This is exactly what happened to me. He just didn't think it through hahaha. <3

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