Ten Thousand Words

Seems to me its more a reflection on their career to this point. The insecurities of trying to write so many songs, and not knowing exactly which notes to choose ("Still can't find out how to hold my hands"). The butterflies that come from performances and going to bigger stages ("need me in the next room over...").

The part that really makes me think that is that their self-title EP came out around 2000, so "after 10 years of making the most glorious of debuts" would be a reflection that this song is 10 years after that.

I hear this song as being about their moving to the next level, having doubts, undergoing (more) self-examination, and anticipating what others will say while, at the same time, thinking about the importance of the words we all use. This verse is likely my favorite Avett Brothers lyric:

And everyone around me shakes their head in disbelief And says I'm too caught up They say young is good and old is fine And truth is cool but all that matters Is that you have your good times But their good times come with prices And I can't believe it when I hear the jokes they make At anyone's expese except their own Would they laugh if they knew who paid?

Interesting thoughts, especially about it possibly being about their career so far.

When I first heard it, it struck that it was a reference to the death of a loved one ("I know you need me in the next room over, But I am stuck in here all paralyzed"), and the narrator's own disillusionment with this life, especially the emptiness of hedonism and the pain that we cause each other when we act selfishly ("all that matters is that you have your good times, But their good times come with prices, And I can't believe it when I hear the jokes they make, At anyone's expese except their own, Would they laugh if they knew who paid").

So he's criticising other people in his frustration, but then realises he doesn't have answers either. The line "We love to talk on things we don't know about" would then seem to be a nod to the philosopher Wittgenstein: "About what one can not speak, one must remain silent".

I think this song has religious undertones. In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul talks about speaking for edification and says that he would rather speak 5 words with his mind to instruct others than 10,000 words of speaking that others can’t understand. I think the lyrics anre about a searching for truth and that everyone has something to say about how you should live and what truth is. I also believe the line, “would they laugh if they know who paid” is speaking to sin and consequences (those good times come with prices), and the person who paid was Christ. If you read 1 Corinthians 13 and 14 and then read the lyrics I think you can see the connection. Especially because Paul specifically mentions 10,000 words.

I’ve always thought that this song had to do with coming home off tour and what it must be like to go reintegrate into family life. He knows that his wife needs him in the next room over, but he is stuck in the room that he’s in may be trying to write songs. I thought about that too as far as maybe coming home from tour after they’ve been doing this for 10 years or so, and shedding a persona that he wears on the road. “the clothes I wore out there I will not wear ‘round you”

The lyric is "most glorious debuts", not "glorious day dues"

Oh also, this song is awesome. Not quite sure what it means.

the last verse makes me think its about a 10-year high school reunion. he's coming back home after 10 years, and seems slightly insecure about the way he has changed. and in the verse before, he mentions people making jokes at others expense, and comments on the effects that those jokes may have made over time.

just a thought.

I think this song is really about any party or situation, where people talk about things they think they know about, but also sometimes use this what they know to point out others and put them down.

And I can't believe it when I hear the jokes they make At anyone's expense except their own

I kind of think he had some spiritual experience Which he doesn't know how to explain in words, so he's trying to talk to people about it but they just 'shake their head in disbelief' and laugh at him..