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.
Signs
The Avett Brothers Lyrics
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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' song "Signs" speaks to the experience of being in a place where you're not welcome and being told that you need to leave. The lyrics suggest that the singer is feeling isolated and rejected by both the place and the people around him. The line "It's the place and your friends that got me down" indicates that the singer is not only feeling unwelcome in the physical location, but also in the social circles associated with it. The sense of isolation is further emphasized by the repetition of the line "There's a sign in the window/Tellin' me I've got to go", which suggests a feeling of being forced out.
Despite this sense of rejection, the singer claims to see "signs" in the other person's behavior that validate their feelings of alienation. The line "I see the signs everyday/In your face and in the way that you act" suggests that the other person's behavior has been consistently unwelcoming towards the singer. However, the singer seems to accept this rejection and recognizes that it's not about their own pride being hurt, but about realizing that the other person is not going to change.
The final verse of the song suggests a possible resolution to this sense of isolation. The singer claims to have seen things in both themselves and the other person that have led them to believe they can live together in a way that allows them both to be free. This suggests a potential path towards mutual understanding and reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the place and your friends that got me down
Where you live and your circle of friends have a negative impact on me
Tellin' me I should not hang around
Your friends have advised me not to be with you
There's a sign in the window
There is a literal sign in the window telling me to leave
Tellin' me I've got to go
The sign is insisting that I must leave
I see the signs everyday
I am constantly aware of the negative signs in our relationship
In your face and in the way that you act
Your attitude and behavior make it clear that things aren't going well between us
And it's not that that hurts my pride
The truth about our relationship doesn't make me feel embarrassed or ashamed
But now I see the other side of you
I am beginning to see the less favorable aspects of your personality
The side that won't let down
The part of you that refuses to change or compromise
The side that won't let go
Your unwillingness to move on is causing issues
I didn't mean for me to see
I did not intend to witness these negative aspects of our relationship
The things I see in you and me
I have recognized undesirable qualities in both of us
But now I know that we can live together
I am hopeful that we can find a way to make our relationship work
The way I want to live free forever
I want to live my life independently without feeling held back or restricted
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DILLON PACE, MANDI FAYE PERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind