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.
One Line Wonder
The Avett Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stars fallin' from high forgotten sky
I was a one-line wonder in my own love song
I keep a little journal by my bed
Dreams help me find the words I haven't said
Like when a little girlie said goodbye to me
I won't see her again I'm sure
Didn't I say I need you
I tried to move on but I can't
I tried to think of bad times
Good memories are all I have
I love you but I can't remember why
I'd love to find a reason to deny
I was a one-hit wonder in my own hometown
And I guess I might have made a few mistakes
But maybe that's exactly what it takes
To get a little happy in this big sad world
How many have you made
And which of those have you laid on down to die
Well didn't I say I need you
I tried to move on but I can't
I tried to think of bad times
Good memories are all I have
In "One Line Wonder," The Avett Brothers explore the feelings of confusion and nostalgia that often come after a breakup. The first verse suggests that the singer still loves their former partner, but has forgotten why. The metaphor of "stars falling from a forgotten sky" suggests that the memories that formed the basis of the relationship have faded away. The second verse introduces the idea that writing and keeping a journal helps the singer process their feelings. However, the journal entry the singer refers to is about a different past relationship, suggesting that they may not have fully moved on from the previous breakup. The chorus repeats the idea that the singer was a "one-line wonder" - someone who had a brief moment of happiness in their relationship before it ended. The final verse is more introspective, with the singer suggesting that maybe mistakes can lead to finding happiness in a "big sad world." The repetition of "didn't I say I need you" throughout the song is a constant reminder of the lingering feelings that the singer has for their former partner.
Overall, "One Line Wonder" is a poignant portrayal of the aftermath of a breakup. It speaks to the struggle of moving on while still holding onto the happy memories of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
I love you but I can't remember why
The person still has feelings for someone, but can't recall the reason why they fell in love in the first place.
Stars fallin' from high forgotten sky
The singer is comparing their forgotten love to a falling star, a brief and fleeting moment that quickly fades away.
I was a one-line wonder in my own love song
The singer sees themselves as a superficial object of desire and not the main focus of their own romantic story.
I keep a little journal by my bed
The artist writes down their thoughts and feelings about their love life in a personal journal before going to sleep.
Dreams help me find the words I haven't said
The artist uses their dreams as a way to express the unspoken emotions they have for someone.
Like when a little girlie said goodbye to me
The singer thinks back to a past breakup with someone they referred to as a 'little girlie', possibly someone they viewed as immature or naïve in retrospect.
From behind a screen door
The singer recalls the moment of their breakup, where the other person was standing behind a screen door, or perhaps a symbolic barrier that separated them.
I won't see her again, I'm sure
The artist accepts that the relationship is over and that they will never see the other person again.
Didn't I say I need you
The artist reminisces about expressions of love and affection they shared with the other person.
I tried to move on but I can't
Even though the artist has attempted to let go of their past love, they find themselves unable to move on fully.
I tried to think of bad times
The singer attempts to heal and move on by focusing on negative aspects of their relationship instead of the good, but is still unsuccessful.
Good memories are all I have
Despite their efforts to move on, the artist is left with only positive memories of their past relationship.
I'd love to find a reason to deny
The singer is torn between wanting to deny their feelings for the other person, and needing to understand why they still have those feelings.
I was a one-hit wonder in my own hometown
The singer feels like their love life is an unremarkable footnote in their own story, and not something that made a significant impact on anyone else.
And I guess I might have made a few mistakes
The singer acknowledges that they were not perfect in their past relationships and may have made mistakes.
But maybe that's exactly what it takes
The artist believes that making mistakes and learning from them is an essential part of growing and finding happiness in life.
To get a little happy in this big sad world
The artist sees love and romantic relationships as a way to find small moments of joy in an otherwise difficult and unhappy world.
How many have you made
The singer is questioning how many mistakes the other person has made in their love life.
And which of those have you laid on down to die
The singer wonders if the other person has let go of any past relationships, or if they hold onto them like the singer does.
Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.