According to the band, their music is described as "high energy acoustic music". They have to date released one independent album and two albums through Dualtone, a Nashville label. Their music has been called Celtic-influenced and bluegrass-flavored, but they have a distinctly American sound despite their overseas origins. The band has been nominated in the Americana Music Association Awards for 2006 in the category of New/Emerging Artist of the Year. In 2005, they toured extensively with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.
In 2004, the Austin Music Awards named them Best New Band. In 2005, Country Music Television named their album Weather and Water one of the ten favorite bluegrass albums of the year, saying, "At the nexus of bluegrass, country and pop, this charming trio immediately win over such diverse audiences in concert. Luckily, their winning personality translates to this disc—even with several melancholy, yet melodic, songs. Not for nothing did Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson choose them to open their summer tour of minor league ballparks."
The Avenue
The Greencards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lovers smiling back at me,
on the avenue, down on the avenue.
The sound of music in my ears,
Been ringing out for two thousand years,
through the avenue, down on the avenue.
i sing, sing your favorite song,
Walk on, keep on walking on...
The people i meet are friendly enough,
They bid me good luck and they wave me on
to the avenue, down to the avenue.
A familiar scent lies in the air,
I turn around but you're not there,
on the avenue, it's just the avenue.
Yeah... walk on, walk on,
I sing, sing your favourite song,
Walk on, keep on walking on
I shout your name, i lose my head,
Could it be that you're not here,
on the avenue, down on the avenue...
The lyrics to The Greencards’ song The Avenue describe a wanderer walking through ancient streets, noticing lovers smiling at him and hearing music that has been ringing out for two thousand years. Despite being surrounded by friendly people bidding him good luck, he is left with a sense of melancholy as he turns around to look for someone who is not there. The chorus, “walk on, walk on, I sing, sing your favorite song, walk on, keep on walking on,” provides a sense of persevering through life’s ups and downs.
The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they appear to describe the eternal nature of memory and the impermanence of life. The walk through the ancient streets is a metaphor for the journey through life, with its twists and turns, and the dearness of loved ones. The music and lovers provide a sense of continuity that contrasts with the transience of the wanderer’s personal experience. The feeling of loss that pervades the song suggests that life is fleeting and that one must cherish the present moment while it lasts.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk along these ancient streets,
As I stroll upon these aged pathways
Lovers smiling back at me,
Couples expressing joy towards me
on the avenue, down on the avenue.
On this well-traveled road, this well-traveled road
The sound of music in my ears,
Melodies resonate within me
Been ringing out for two thousand years,
Radiating for an eon
through the avenue, down on the avenue.
On this thoroughfare, this thoroughfare
Yeah... walk on, walk on,
Proceed, proceed
i sing, sing your favorite song,
Hum your preferred tune
Walk on, keep on walking on...
Keep moving, proceed
The people i meet are friendly enough,
Folks that I encounter are pleasant
They bid me good luck and they wave me on
They wish me the best of fortunes and signal me to proceed
to the avenue, down to the avenue.
Towards this street, this street
A familiar scent lies in the air,
A well-known fragrance drifts about
I turn around but you're not there,
I spin around but you're nonexistent
on the avenue, it's just the avenue.
On this roadway, this roadway alone
Yeah... walk on, walk on,
Proceed, proceed
I sing, sing your favourite song,
Hum your preferred tune
Walk on, keep on walking on
Keep moving, proceed
I shout your name, I lose my head,
I shout your name, I become discombobulated
Could it be that you're not here,
Perhaps you are absent
on the avenue, down on the avenue...
On this pathway, this pathway
Writer(s): Carol Leonie Young
Contributed by Mila I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.