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.
I Killed Sally's Lover
The Avett Brothers Lyrics
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Somebody get my blade
Sally's been layin' with another man
And he's sleeping in my place
Somebody get my shotgun
Gonna shoot him sure as rain
You can run as fast as you want to boy
I'll kill you just the same
Somebody get my pocket blade
Gonna cut him don't you know
You can try to hide all you want to boy
There ain't nowhere to go
Somebody get my shotgun
Somebody get my blade
Sally's been layin' with another man
And he's sleeping in my place
Now Sally don't go thinkin'
That you got off so clean
I'd kill you too if I had the nerve
But I just ain't that mean
So I go and get my murder tools
I throw them in the lake
Gonna steal me an automobile
And drive so far away
Now I am a fugitive
I'm always on the run
Sally told the policeman
Exactly what I'd done
I went and got my shotgun
I went and got my blade
Killed poor Sally's lover
And I put him in the grave.
Now all you ramblin' fellas
You listen close to me
That woman she gonna bring you pain
Your heart is gonna bleed
But it ain't worth the trouble
The sufferin' or the grief
A bleeding heart is better than the penitentiary
I killed ppor Sally's lover
One dark and dreary day
Sally got another
And I got sent away
Somebody get my shotgun
Somebody get my blade
Sally's been laying with another man
And I set him in his grave
The Avett Brothers' song "I Killed Sally's Lover" is a dark song about jealousy, murder, and regret. In the song, the singer is enraged when he finds out that Sally has been laying with another man in his bed. He seeks revenge and picks up his shotgun and pocket blade, determined to kill the man who betrayed him. The lyrics suggest that he is not afraid of being caught or punished for the murder, as his anger and desire for revenge are too overwhelming. However, Sally's lover is not the only victim of his violent actions. The singer goes on to reveal that he has now become a fugitive and is always on the run after killing Sally's lover.
The song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of jealousy and revenge. The lyrics suggest that the singer's actions were motivated by his own insecurities and anger, rather than a desire to protect his relationship with Sally. In the end, his violent actions only lead to more pain and suffering for everyone involved. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer has come to regret his actions and is warning others not to make the same mistake.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody get my shotgun
The singer wants to inflict physical harm on someone.
Somebody get my blade
The singer wants to inflict physical harm on someone.
Sally's been layin' with another man
Sally has been cheating on the singer with another man and this has angered him.
And he's sleeping in my place
The man Sally is cheating with is staying at the artist's place.
Gonna shoot him sure as rain
The artist is determined to shoot the man Sally is cheating with.
You can run as fast as you want to boy
The man Sally is cheating with won't be able to escape.
I'll kill you just the same
The singer will kill the man Sally is cheating with.
Somebody get my pocket blade
The artist is looking for a weapon to harm someone.
Gonna cut him don't you know
The artist intends to harm someone with his pocket blade.
You can try to hide all you want to boy
The person the artist wants to harm won't be able to hide.
There ain't nowhere to go
The person the singer wants to harm won't have anywhere to run.
Now Sally don't go thinkin'
Sally shouldn't think she has gotten away with cheating.
That you got off so clean
Sally shouldn't think she's gotten away with cheating unscathed.
I'd kill you too if I had the nerve
The singer would also harm Sally if he could.
But I just ain't that mean
The singer is not willing to harm Sally.
So I go and get my murder tools
The artist goes to gather items to harm someone with.
I throw them in the lake
The artist gets rid of his murder tools.
Gonna steal me an automobile
The singer plans on stealing a car.
And drive so far away
The singer plans on leaving town.
Now I am a fugitive
The artist is now a fugitive on the run.
I'm always on the run
The artist is constantly running away from the law.
Sally told the policeman
Sally told the police what the artist had done.
Exactly what I'd done
Sally told the police about the murder.
Killed poor Sally's lover
The artist killed the man Sally was cheating with.
And I put him in the grave
The singer buried the man he killed.
Now all you ramblin' fellas
The singer is addressing all the men who wander around.
You listen close to me
The singer wants the men to pay attention.
That woman she gonna bring you pain
Women are capable of causing pain to men.
Your heart is gonna bleed
The artist warns that the men's hearts will hurt.
But it ain't worth the trouble
Cheating isn't worth the pain it causes.
The sufferin' or the grief
Cheating causes too much pain.
A bleeding heart is better than the penitentiary
It's better to suffer emotionally because of cheating than to end up in jail.
I killed poor Sally's lover
The artist killed the man Sally was cheating with.
One dark and dreary day
The murder occurred on a dark, gloomy day.
Sally got another
Sally cheated with another man.
And I got sent away
The artist was arrested for the murder of Sally's lover.
Sally's been laying with another man
Sally has been cheating on the singer with another man.
And I set him in his grave
The singer killed the man Sally was cheating with and buried him.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROBERT WILLIAM CRAWFORD, SCOTT YANCEY AVETT, TIMOTHY SETH AVETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind