Guilty
Timothy Seth Avett as Darling Lyrics


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My mama is always trying
And my sister is always hiding
And my brother is always writing and riding
The music is always playing
No matter what I'm saying
And my mama is always praying that we're breathing
That we're breathing
That we're breathing

The seasons are always changing
And my love's always rearranging
And my heart has just been hanging and waiting
And our lives aren't burning
And our world isn't turning
And I don't know about love but I'm learning
But I'm learning
But I'm learning

They say words cannot hurt us
But I sat through the service
And I don't know why this preacher makes me nervous
They say time heals the wounded
They say time heals the sorry
But I ask you can time heal the guilty




If your guilty
Like I'm guilty

Overall Meaning

The song "Guilty" by Timothy Seth Avett as Darling reflects on the complexities of family dynamics and personal struggles with guilt. The lyrics depict a family where each member is dealing with their own issues: the mother who is always worrying about her children, the sister who is hiding, and the brother who is focused on his music. The singer depicts his own struggles with love and his heart that feels like it's been waiting for something. There's a sense of restlessness and unease in the lines, describing a life that feels like it isn't moving forward.


The song then turns to the topic of guilt, questioning whether time can heal the guilty. The singer reflects on a past experience of sitting through a service where a preacher made him uncomfortable. The repetition of the word "guilty" creates a powerful sense of shame and remorse that the singer is grappling with. Overall, the song speaks to the ways in which we carry our own struggles and regrets along with us, even as life continues to change around us.


Line by Line Meaning

My mama is always trying
My mother is consistently attempting


And my sister is always hiding
Additionally, my sister often conceals herself


And my brother is always writing and riding
In the same vein, my sibling frequently composes and travels


The music is always playing
There is a continuous soundtrack


No matter what I'm saying
Regardless of the statements I am declaring


And my mama is always praying that we're breathing
Furthermore, my mother constantly prays that we are living


The seasons are always changing
The climate is ever-shifting


And my love's always rearranging
My emotions are perpetually shifting


And my heart has just been hanging and waiting
Consequently, my heart has been waiting idly


And our lives aren't burning
Our existences are not aflame


And our world isn't turning
Similarly, the world is not continuing to spin


And I don't know about love but I'm learning
I do not have a full comprehension of love, yet I am gaining knowledge


They say words cannot hurt us
There is a common belief that words cannot harm us


But I sat through the service
However, I attended a spiritual ceremony


And I don't know why this preacher makes me nervous
The reason is unknown, but this preacher induces anxiety in me


They say time heals the wounded
There is a saying that time can aid in the healing of the injured


They say time heals the sorry
Additionally, it is commonly believed that time can help assuage regretful feelings


But I ask you can time heal the guilty
However, I pose the question whether or not time can absolve guilt


If your guilty
This last statement refers back to oneself, stating that if one is guilty, can time help?




Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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