Risen from the ashes of Seth and Scott's former rock band Nemo, The Avett Brothers combine old-time country, bluegrass, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, honky tonk and ragtime to produce a sound described by The Washington Post as "post civil-war modern rock", or by other reviewers as "grungegrass".
The group themselves eschews labels, feeling that "none would do the music the justice. It's simply left up to each person to extract his or her own account from the Avetts' music."
Their live performances showcase their use of three-part harmony and southern rock feel, and are admired for being intense, energetic, and soulful.
The band are currently signed to Ramseur Records,based in Concord, NC. Other artists on the label include The Everybodyfields, Bombadil, and Martin Stephenson.
Shame
Avett Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My reasons for us fallin' out
Of love I want to fall back in
My life is different now I swear
I know now what it means to care
About somebody other than myself
They were untender and untrue
I'd like to see those things undo
So if you could find it in your heart
To give a man a second start
I promise things won't end the same
Shame, boatloads of shame
Day after day, more of the same
Blame, please lift it off
Please take it off, please make it stop
Okay so I have read the mail
The stories people often tell
About us that we never knew
But their existence will float away
And just like every word they say
And we will hold hands as they fade
Shame, boatloads of shame
Day after day, more of the same
Blame, please lift it off
Please take it off, please make it stop
I felt so sure of everything
My love to you so well received
And I just strutted around your town
Knowing I didn't let you down
The truth be known, the truth be told
My heart was always fairly cold
Posing to be as warm as yours
My way of getting in your world
But now I'm out and I've had time
To look around and think
And sink into another world
That's filled with guilt and overwhelming
Shame, boatloads of shame
Day after day, more of the same
Blame, please lift it off
Please take it off, please make it stop
And everyone they have a heart
And when they break and fall apart
They need somebody's helping hand
I used to say just let 'em fall
It wouldn't bother me at all
I couldn't help them now I can
The Avett Brothers' song "Shame" is an emotionally raw and honest expression of regret and a desire for redemption. The opening lines acknowledge the singer's admission of fault and take responsibility for their actions that led to the end of their relationship. The singer recognizes the impact that their behavior had on their partner and acknowledges the hurt that they caused.
The second verse shows a change in the singer's perspective, stating that they have learned the true meaning of caring about someone other than themselves. The singer takes accountability for the hurtful things they said and wishes they could undo them. They express a desire for a second chance and promise to do better.
The chorus emphasizes the weight of the shame and blame that the singer feels, day after day. They plead for it to be lifted so that they can move forward and make things right.
The third verse reveals that the singer was once confident in their love for their partner, but they now realize that they were never truly connected, just posing as if they were. The lyrics suggest that the singer has confronted their own shortcomings, and the guilt and shame that have resulted from their actions have caused them to view the world differently.
Overall, "Shame" is a powerful and introspective song that showcases the Avett Brothers' talent for poignant storytelling and emotional sincerity.
Line by Line Meaning
Okay so I was wrong about
I admit that I was wrong and I had misunderstood the cause of our separation
My reasons for us fallin' out
I had some reasons that I believed to be causing our separation
Of love I want to fall back in
I want to rekindle our love and get back together
My life is different now I swear
I have changed and I am not the same person I once was
I know now what it means to care
I have come to understand what it means to truly care about someone
About somebody other than myself
I have learned to think beyond my own desires and consider the needs of others
I know the things I said to you
I acknowledge the hurtful things that I said to you in the past
They were untender and untrue
I realize that my words were harsh and dishonest
I'd like to see those things undo
I wish that I could undo the damage that I caused with my words
So if you could find it in your heart
I am asking for forgiveness and hoping that you can find it in your heart to give me a second chance
To give a man a second start
I am asking for a fresh start to our relationship
I promise things won't end the same
I assure you that things will be different this time and I won't repeat my mistakes
Shame, boatloads of shame
I am feeling a deep sense of shame and guilt for the pain that I have caused
Day after day, more of the same
My guilt and shame are constant and overwhelming
Blame, please lift it off
I am asking for the weight of blame that I carry to be lifted off my shoulders
Please take it off, please make it stop
I am pleading for relief from the pain and suffering that I am experiencing
Okay so I have read the mail
I have become aware of the rumors and gossip that are circulating about us
The stories people often tell
People are talking about us and making up stories that we are unaware of
About us that we never knew
We are unaware of the rumors and stories that are being spread about us
But their existence will float away
The rumors and stories will eventually disappear and lose their power
And just like every word they say
The rumors and stories are not to be taken seriously, they will fade away like every other word
And we will hold hands as they fade
We will move on and leave the rumors and stories behind us, hold on to each other, and forge ahead
I felt so sure of everything
I was overly confident and convinced of my own righteousness
My love to you so well received
I was under the impression that my affections were well received by you
And I just strutted around your town
I was confident and arrogant, and I flaunted my love around town
Knowing I didn't let you down
I was certain that I was making you happy and fulfilling your needs
The truth be known, the truth be told
In all honesty and frankness, I was not being true to myself or to you
My heart was always fairly cold
I was not being honest about my true feelings, and my heart was never truly warm
Posing to be as warm as yours
I was pretending to be someone I was not, pretending to have the same level of warmth and affection that you had
My way of getting in your world
I was using my false persona to enter into your world and gain your trust and affection
But now I'm out and I've had time
Now that we are separated and I have had time to reflect on my actions
To look around and think
I have had the opportunity to take a hard look at myself and consider my past behaviors
And sink into another world
I have experienced a shift in my reality and find myself in a much darker place
That's filled with guilt and overwhelming
I am now consumed with guilt and I feel completely overwhelmed by the magnitude of my transgressions
And everyone they have a heart
I have come to realize that everyone is capable of feeling and experiencing love
And when they break and fall apart
When their hearts are broken and they hit rock bottom
They need somebody's helping hand
Everyone needs someone to reach out and help them pull themselves back up
I used to say just let 'em fall
I used to believe that people should just suffer the consequences of their actions and failures without any assistance
It wouldn't bother me at all
I was indifferent to the pain and suffering of others
I couldn't help them now I can
I have come to realize that I am capable of helping others and being a source of support
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ROBERT WILLIAM CRAWFORD, SCOTT YANCEY AVETT, TIMOTHY SETH AVETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ellenwalters242
Okay so I was wrong about
My reasons for us fallin' out
Of love, I want to fall back in
My life is different now I swear
I know now what it means to care
About somebody other than myself
I know the things I said to you
They were untender and untrue
I'd like to see those things undo
So if you could find it in your heart
To give a man a second start
I promise things won't end the same
Shame, boatloads of shame
Day after day, more of the same
Blame, please lift it off
Please take it off, please make it stop
Okay so I have read the mail
The stories people often tell
About us that we never knew
But their existence will float away
And just like every word they say
And we will hold hands as they fade
Shame, boatloads of shame
Day after day, more of the same
Blame, please lift it off
Please take it off, please make it stop
I felt so sure of everything
My love to you so well received
And I just strutted 'round your town
Knowing I didn't let you down
The truth be known, the truth be told
My heart was always fairly cold
Posing to be as warm as yours
My way of getting in your world
But now I'm out and I've had time
To look around and think
And sink into another world
That's filled with guilt and overwhelming
Shame, boatloads of shame
Day after day, more of the same
Blame, please lift it off
Please take it off, please make it stop
And everyone they have a heart
And when they break and fall apart
They need somebody's helping hand
I used to say just let 'em fall
It wouldn't bother me at all
I couldn't help then, now I can
@rimmy625
Okay so I was wrong about
My reasons for us fallin' out
Of love, I want to fall back in
My life is different now I swear
I know now what it means to care
About somebody other than myself
I know the things I said to you
They were untender and untrue
I'd like to see those things undo
So if you could find it in your heart
To give a man a second start
I promise things won't end the same
Shame, boatloads of shame
Day after day, more of the same
Blame, please lift it off
Please take it off, please make it stop
Okay so I have read the mail
The stories people often tell
About us that we never knew
But their existence will float away
And just like every word they say
And we will hold hands as they fade
Shame, boatloads of shame
Day after day, more of the same
Blame, please lift it off
Please take it off, please make it stop
I felt so sure of everything
My love to you so well received
And I just strutted 'round your town
Knowing I didn't let you down
The truth be known, the truth be told
My heart was always fairly cold
Posing to be as warm as yours
My way of getting in your world
But now I'm out and I've had time
To look around and think
And sink into another world
That's filled with guilt and overwhelming
Shame, boatloads of shame
Day after day, more of the same
Blame, please lift it off
Please take it off, please make it stop
And everyone they have a heart
And when they break and fall apart
They need somebody's helping hand
I used to say just let 'em fall
It wouldn't bother me at all
I couldn't help then, now I can
@mar-shagazorpazorp6431
One of the many songs by the ever so soulful avett bros that i find myself singing my heart out in tears by the end. Without fail for the last 14 years. Every time. Such beautifully written, folky lil ballads XOXO.
@chickendrop
That 12th fret harmonic in the intro is just perfect. Subtle and beautiful.
@garryfimister6878
Amazing song.Brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it.
@siciliancannoliandanespres6021
same brah, we gotta get our test levels checked tbh
@mmorgansales
BOATLOADS!!!
@WHUFC71
The perfect song from a perfect band.
@pageturner6747
WHUFC71 I'm sorry to say that, but 'if it's the beaches' is already the perfect song. :D but I agree on the 'perfect band' part. ^^
@raywoolley9119
I don't think I've ever heard a group that sounds better, or blends together than these guys!!!!!
@colinfitzgerald1414
Such an amazing album! God bless the Avett brothers!!!
@jpthomas9491
I feel the chorus to this song on a spiritual level.