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.
Signs
Avett Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tellin' me I should not hang around
There's a sign in the window
Tellin' me I've got to go
I see the signs everyday
In your face and in the way that you act
And it's not that that hurts my pride
The side that won't let down
The side that won't let go
I didn't mean for me to see
The things I see in you and me
But now I know that we can live together
The way I want to live free forever
The Avett Brothers's song Signs is about the challenges of being in a relationship where friends and the environment influence the couple's decision-making. The lyrics describe how the singer feels restricted by others and is being urged to leave by external forces, indicated by the sign in the window. The singer recognizes the signs but is not ready to let go, and it's not explicitly stated if the signs he's seeing are from his partner or from his social circle. However, he acknowledges that there's a part of his partner that won't let down and won't let go, representing an internal struggle within the relationship. The singer explains that he didn't mean for himself to see the flaws in the relationship, but now that he is aware, he wants to live free forever and maintain the relationship.
As usual, the Avett Brothers's music resonates because of its openness and authenticity. The song conveys the struggle to leave a relationship, the pressure from friends, and the desire for independence. The song's lyrics are versatile, and listeners could relate to the meaning in diverse ways.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the place and your friends that got me down
Your location and your companions are the reasons why I feel low
Tellin' me I should not hang around
Your acquaintances are urging me to leave and never come back
There's a sign in the window
A signal is displayed in the pane
Tellin' me I've got to go
It indicates that I have to depart
I see the signs everyday
I observe the hints every single day
In your face and in the way that you act
They are apparent in your facial expressions and your demeanor
And it's not that that hurts my pride
The signs aren't really causing my ego any damage
But now I see the other side of you
Nevertheless, I've now discovered an aspect of you that is hidden
The side that won't let down
The side that is persistent in its attitude
The side that won't let go
The side that is unwilling to give up
I didn't mean for me to see
I didn't intend for myself to witness
The things I see in you and me
The characteristics I observe in both of us
But now I know that we can live together
But now I understand that we could coexist harmoniously
The way I want to live free forever
The way I want to exist in liberty indefinitely
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DILLON PACE, MANDI FAYE PERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind