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.
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.