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.
Love Like The Movies
The Avett Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But in the movies they're not in love at all
And with a twinkle in their eyes
They're just saying their lines
So we can't be in love like the movies
Now in the movies they make it look so perfect
And in the background they're always playing the right song
But real life is more than just two hours long
So you want to be in love like the movies
But in the movies they're not in love at all
And with a twinkle in their eyes
They're just saying their lines
So we can't be in love like the movies
Well you can freeze frame any moment from a movie
Or run the whole damn thing backwards from reel to reel
But I don't see one single solitary light technician
Or one single camera in this moonlit field
I don't want to be in love like the movies
Cause in the movies they're not in love at all
With a twinkle in their eyes
They're just saying their lines
So we can't be in love like the movies.
And with a twinkle in their eyes
They're just saying their lines
And so we can't be in love like the movies.
Nooooooo
We can't be in love like movies
The Avett Brothers’ song Love Like The Movies is a commentary on the unrealistic depictions of love and relationships in movies. The song begins with the singer acknowledging the desire to be in love like the movies but quickly points out that the love portrayed in movies is often not genuine. The twinkle in the actors' eyes is simply them saying lines scripted by someone else. The lyrics suggest that real-life love is messy and complicated, and that no movie can accurately depict the depth and complexities of a real relationship.
The second verse continues this sentiment as it dissects the way movies make relationships look perfect. The background music always sets the perfect mood, and the movie always ends with a resolution. The singer, however, notes that real-life relationships are not always so simple; they are more than just the two-hour run time of a movie. The refrain of the song reiterates the idea that we can’t be in love like the movies because the love portrayed in movies is not genuine. The final verse of the song uses the technique of freezing a moment in a movie and playing it in reverse to highlight how even in the perfect moments, there are still people behind the scenes making the magic happen. In the end, the singer concludes by stating that they don’t want to be in love like the movies.
Overall, the lyrics of Love Like The Movies suggest that real-life love is vastly different from the idealized version depicted in movies. Genuine love is complicated and cannot be reduced to a script. The song encourages listeners not to measure their love against what they see in movies.
Line by Line Meaning
So you want to be in love like the movies
You desire a romantic relationship as portrayed in movies
But in the movies they're not in love at all
However, the relationships depicted in movies aren't authentic or genuine
And with a twinkle in their eyes
The actors in movies portray the emotions of the characters
They're just saying their lines
But they're only reciting the scripted dialogue
So we can't be in love like the movies
Hence, it's impossible to replicate their kind of romance in reality
Now in the movies they make it look so perfect
Movies create an idealized and flawless image of love
And in the background they're always playing the right song
The soundtrack in the movies sets up the mood and emotions
And in the ending there's always a resolution
Movies always provide a happy ending for the lovers
But real life is more than just two hours long
Life is more complicated and enduring than a mere movie
Well you can freeze frame any moment from a movie
You can pause any particular scene in a movie
Or run the whole damn thing backwards from reel to reel
Or play the whole movie in reverse from start to end
But I don't see one single solitary light technician
But in reality, there are no light technicians, hence movies are not a measure of true love
Or one single camera in this moonlit field
There's no camera rolling in a real-life romantic scene
I don't want to be in love like the movies
I don't desire a movie-like relationship
Cause in the movies they're not in love at all
Because, in reality, their love isn't genuine or authentic
And with a twinkle in their eyes
The actors create an illusion of romance
They're just saying their lines
But their emotions are not true or natural
So we can't be in love like the movies.
Therefore, we can't replicate the romance from a movie
And with a twinkle in their eyes
Actors can't perform genuine romantic emotions
They're just saying their lines
They're only reciting their scripted dialogue
And so we can't be in love like the movies.
Therefore, it's not possible to experience movie-like romance in real life
Nooooooo
Expressing a negative sentiment towards movie-like romance
Contributed by Aiden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.