Their live performances, generally at smaller venues, showcase their use of three-part harmony and southern rock feel, and are admired for being intense, energetic, and soulful. The Avetts have been picking up steam opening for Dave Matthews Band and playing SXSW and Newport Folk Festival.
Go to Sleep
The Avett Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wipe the blood from you face and your hands
Forgive yourself if you think that you can
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
Twenty-one days lost at sea I fought
For twenty-two years non-stop I've talked
Through the desert, pissed drunk, and confused I walked
Lay back, lay back, go to sleep my man
Wipe the blood from you face and your hands
Forgive yourself if you think that you can
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
Well the wind and the trees are ganging up on me
They sing my funeral song in harmony
Well I just want to walk home on the drunk I need
But they keep singing and singing and singing to me
La, La, La, La, La, La (I hear them singing)
La, La, La, La, La, La (Singing for me)
La, La, La, La, La, La (Oh!)
Well I wish things were different, true, and deep
But everything that's so shallow is everything about me
If only I could just take all my money and leave
I hope the people on the ground will understand
I hope the people out there will understand
Lay back, lay back, go to sleep my man
Wipe the blood from you face and your hands
Forgive yourself if you think that you can
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
La, La
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
La, La
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
In the song "Go To Sleep" by The Avett Brothers, the lyrics describe a person who is tired, defeated, and just wants to sleep. The verses describe the hardships and struggles that this person has gone through, such as being lost at sea for 21 days, talking non-stop for 22 years, and walking through the desert drunk and confused. The chorus then tells the person to lay back, go to sleep, and forgive themselves for anything they may think they have done wrong. The final verses describe the weight of the world the person feels, with the wind and trees singing their funeral song in harmony, and the person wishing they could just take their money and leave. However, they hope that the people around them will understand and they can finally find peace in sleep.
The song's lyrics have a melancholic and introspective tone that focuses on the struggle of carrying the weight of the world on one's shoulders. The repetition of the chorus and the La's in the end give the song an almost lullaby-like quality that reflects the message of the song - to let go and find peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay back, lay back, go to sleep my man
Relax and let go of your worries, rest and get some sleep
Wipe the blood from you face and your hands
Cleanse yourself of any guilt or shame you feel for past mistakes
Forgive yourself if you think that you can
Release self-blame and negative self-talk, try to find inner peace
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
Find solace in sleep, surrender to a peaceful state of mind
Twenty-one days lost at sea I fought
I faced an intense, life-threatening experience and managed to survive
For twenty-two years non-stop I've talked
I've been living a long, talkative life, always expressing myself
Through the desert, pissed drunk, and confused I walked
I wandered aimlessly through tough times, feeling lost and unsure
I spit a tooth in the palm of my hand
I suffered a physical injury or trauma that cost me something vital
Well the wind and the trees are ganging up on me
I feel overwhelmed by the elements, fighting against an unknown force
They sing my funeral song in harmony
The world feels dark and oppressive, like it's forcing me towards an inevitable end
Well I just want to walk home on the drunk I need
I yearn for an escape or release, something to ease the pain
But they keep singing and singing and singing to me
The negative thoughts and emotions persist, keeping me from finding peace
Well I wish things were different, true, and deep
I long for a different kind of life or reality, something more meaningful and fulfilling
But everything that's so shallow is everything about me
I feel like I've lost sight of my values and character, becoming superficial and hollow
If only I could just take all my money and leave
I fantasize about a fresh start, leaving everything behind to start anew
I hope the people on the ground will understand
I want to be understood and accepted by the people around me
Lay back, lay back, go to sleep my man
Relax and let go of your worries, rest and get some sleep
La, La
Repetitive vocalization, conveying a sense of rhythm and melody
Go to sleep, go to sleep my man
Find solace in sleep, surrender to a peaceful state of mind
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Robert Crawford, Scott Avett, Timothy Avett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind