January Wedding

this is a great song. the meaning is pretty obvious, but the line, "and she was sick like audrey hepburn when i met her" could mean that she was depressed and/or anorexic. hepburn fought through anorexia and depression, and given that the meaning of the song is about two wounded people (he was sick with heartache) finding each other, then maybe they were both sort of depressed and trying to be better. i found that line intriguing and somewhat poetic...it's a nice way of telling the listener that this woman was really hurting...bringing in a reference to a beloved american icon. way to go, avett brothers!!

I've skipped this song most times that I've listened to the album, not because I have anything against this song, but because I love "Head Full of Doubt" so much and I get impatient. But I listened to this today and was really struck by how gorgeous the lyrics are, especially:

"I hope that I don't sound to insane when I say There is darkness all around us I don't feel weak but I do need sometimes for her to protect me And reconnect me to the beauty that I'm missin'"

I don't think the meaning is too hard to decipher. They are in love, she has brought him out of a dark place, and they are getting married in January. Like the first lines say, they keep it simple ;) And I think this song is really beautiful in its simplicity.

I believe the key to this song is "sick like Audrey Hepburn." I take it as she has a terminal illness (cancer as mentioned before). With that understanding I see the lyrics reflecting their love when going through a time like this. I'll break it down the best I can...

"No longer do we wonder if we're together We're way past that And I've already asked her So in January we're gettin' married" Here the singer is expressing that they may not be together for some reason (death), but they are going to fix that by getting married. His soon-to-be wife will always be with him in some way if he is married to her, even if/when she dies. Also, a January wedding is relatively uncommon, at least in North Carolina where the Avett Brothers are from. This implies that the wedding is rushed as if there is not much time to wait.

"She's talkin' to me with her voice Down so low I barely hear her But I know what she's sayin' I understand because my heart and hers are the same" Here is the first clue that young woman may be sick due to her low voice, but he is so connected to her that he understands her even without hearing her words.

"And I was sick with heartache And she was sick like Audrey Hepburn when I met her But we would both surrender True love is not the kind of thing you should turn down Don't ever turn it down" The singer was going through a rough patch when he met her for an unknown reason. She was already sick when they met. Even though both knew that the sickness would take her, they both surrendered to their feelings and fell for each other. The singer goes on to say that true love is too important to turn down, even if brief. The singer charges his listeners to do the same as he did.

"I hope that I don't sound to insane when I say There is darkness all around us I don't feel weak but I do need sometimes for her to protect me And reconnect me to the beauty that I'm missin'" The darkness refers to the looming death of his lady. She has the power to see pass her illness and see life's beauties and joys, while he sometimes cannot. He is so concerned for her that he sometimes feels vulnerable to the despair. Though he is always strong for her.

"No longer does it matter what circumstances we were born in She knows which birds are singin' And the names of the trees where they're performin' in the mornin And in January we're gettin' married Come January let's get married" This closing verse seems to be his thoughts after she has passed, perhaps sometime in the spring due to the birds being out, hence they have been married already. The "no longer does it matter" line implies that she has died and since she is dead she is no longer ill. Knowing which birds are singing and the names of the trees seems to be a Godly or heavenly ability, implying that she has passed and has gained this knowledge by ascending to heaven. The singer simply just repeats the hook "And in January we're gettin' married" for musical purposes, not necessarily talking about a future event. I also like to think that the last line is how he purposed to her and he likes to remember that with a smile.

The album isn't out yet, but I saw a live version on youtube. Pretty straightforward subject wise, just a beautiful song about two people who are really in love. Kind of makes someone who isn't in love feel left out. But thats what the Avett's have the power to do, one song makes you smile, the next makes you want to cry. Absolutely love this band.

I took the Audrey Hepburn line as a reference to Breakfast at Tiffany's, where she says about "the mean reds", which are like the blues but worse. Love it.

I've seen a few biographies on Audrey Hepburn, and it's a fairly well known fact that she suffered from anorexia.

Several other Avett songs mention a girl with self-esteem issues.

"I wish you'd see yourself as beautiful as I see you, why can't you see yourself as beautiful as I see you?" is just one example.

Anyhow, that's what I've always gotten out of it. "The Mean Reds," is another good take on it though!

Hepburn also died of abdominal cancer, and that's the way I always took it in this song. It kind of adds a bittersweet note to the song. They're in love, and they want to enjoy it to its fullest while they can.

The song is a ballad about Seth's love for and wedding to his (now ex) wife Susan. Audrey Hepburn suffered from anorexia and depression, and the line "sick like Audrey Hepburn" refers to that, but he goes on to say that their love was strong enough to overcome their individual problems, and the "darkness" that surrounded them. Such a beautiful, straightforward song

Audrey Hepburn died in the month of January caused by cancer of the appendix. This girl in the song could also be dying of such things and by gettin married in January, they might both die? Just a thought. I love this song and have it in my head most days..

they somehow managed to pull of something so cheesy. in the most delightful way possible.