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Mission statements
Posted: Monday, September 28, 2009 - 00:47
I've heard some talk about a couple of "very poignant" mission statements from the brothers within the album notes of I and Love and You. Would anybody care to divulge? I'm very curious to see the wisdom that accompanies the newest chapter in the story of the Avett Brothers.
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Unless of course nobody wants to spoil the surprise before the official release of the album (which, regardless, will be happening in a few hours).
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"We're harvesting beards."
Okay...I'll bite. Those of you that have been holding off, don't read beyond this point
***** SPOILER ALERT *****
The words "I" and "Love" and "You" are the watermark of humanity. Strung together, they convey our deepest sense of humility, of power, of truth. It is our most common sentiment, even as the feeling of it is so infinitely uncommon : each to proclaim these three words with his or her very own heart and mindset of reason (or lack thereof); a proclamation completely and perfectly new each time it is offered. Uttered daily and nightly by millions, the words are said in an unending array of circumstances : whispered to a newborn in a mothers arms; shared between best friends on the playground; in the form of sympathy -said by a girl to a boy, as the respect continues but the relationship does not. It is said too loudly by parents to embarassed children in the company of their friends, and by grown children - to their fading parents in hospital beds. The words are thought in the company of the photograph and said in the company of the gravestone. It is how we end our phone calls and our letters... the words at the bottom of the page that trump all those above it, a way to gracefully finish a message, however important or trivial, with the most meaningful gifl of all : the communication of love. And yet the words themselves have been the victims of triviality, a ready replacement for lesser salutations among near strangers, burst forth casually as "love ya." Truly? To what degree? Why, how much, and for how long? These are questions befitting of the stature of love, though not the everyday banter of vague acquaintance. The words have also been twisted by the dark nature of deceit : To say "I love you" with a dramatic measure of synthetic emotion; a snare set by those who prey uponn fellow humanity, driven to whatever selfish end, to gain access to another's body, or their money, or their opportunity. In this realm, the proclamation is disgraced by one seeking to gain rather than to give. In any case, and by whatever inspiration, these words are woven deeply in to the fibers of our existence. Our longing to hear them from the right place is maddeningly and simultaneously our finest strength and our most gentle weakness.
The album "I and Love and You" is inashamedly defined by such a dynamic of duality. As living people, we are bound by this unavoidable parallel. We are powerful yet weak, capable yet temporary. Inevitably, an attempt to place honesty within an artistic avenue will follow suit. This is a piece which shows us as we are : products of love surrounded by struggle. The music herein is, in many ways, readable as both a milestone and an arrival. A chapter in the story of young men, it bridges the space between the uncertainty of youth and the reality of it's release. The record is full with the quality of the question and response. As far as questions go, there are plenty-normally residing within the tone and delivery of the lyrics themselves, which, ironically, are sung with so much confidence. Among songs and thoughts so driven and purposeful, the most basic relatable doubt comes through with a resounding clarity. Outside of the eternal theme of romantic love, the album speaks thankfully upon a landscape of light-filled rooms, word-filled pages, time machines, forgiveness, singing birds, ocean waves, art ,change, confessions of shortcomings, and reasons to continue on. Hope and a cause for smiling follow naturally. In the midst of all this, there are allusions to the less-than-ideal conditions of life : the loss of memory, the inability to control temper, insecurity, indecision, jaded indifference, and the general plague of former and current weakness. "I and Love and You" is an album of obvious human creation, chracterized by it's best and it's worst. Emotional imperfection is a reality for those who recorded the piece, just as it is for those who will hear it. The conclusion of the song from which the title is taken admits that the words "I love you" have become "hard to say". And perhaps that difficulty is as common as it's counterpart. Perhaps the inability to say these heaviest of words is as much a part of life as the lighthearted candor of those who say them without any difficulty at all. And so it ends with the phrase whispered to and by those of us most defeated and most elated... I and love and you...
Wow, thanks so much for going through all that trouble Blasto. Now, I'm gonna think on it for a bit.
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"We're harvesting beards."
I have been dying to read this mission statement..although I paused and thought maybe I should wait when I seen that you posted it Blasto, Tuesday is so close (although it still feels so far away...and I already heard the album
) after all.
Thanks for posting...I know I wouldn't want to do all that typing !
As for the statement, WOW! I mean every word summed everything up in such a true and elegant manner, and provoked thought as well.
And the way they are with words, no matter if it's lyrics to a song or words to a statement, they always seem to know how to make something seem so clear and simple yet at the same time they always leave you with something to ponder.
James,
I think you hit the nail on the head, buddy. And no worries about typing it all out. I had actually already done that a few days ago for my own personal reasons. It was a lot more powerful to me once I read it aloud and then typed it out for myself. Just helped it sink in better. Maybe I should have started this post with a ****NERD ALERT**** warning!
I thank you for posting it. the color/font combo on the cd artwork makes it a bit tough to read.
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http://annoyinglyboring.com
thanks for that. i was completely taken aback (in a good way)
Thanks, Blasto. I also had trouble reading it on the CD-too small and
not enough contrast for these aging eyes.
Thanks for typing that up Blasto, got my box set today and the Mission Statement had me in tears, but I had to agree with others the font and artwork made it sort of hard to read, so was nice to read it again in a font that wasn't so hard on my "aging" eyes. The mission statement is just amazing and I want to share it with everyone I know, this is why I love (and I mean it when I say love, I am not being trivial) this band and these guys!
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Peggy
"I Love You" is also the most verbalized and non-verbalized lie ever uttered by the human species in my book....a close second, "I'm sorry".
anyway, i'll go along with this i guess....hahaha.
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Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense...Buddha
I was totally exhausted last night when I came home from the release party, but I just had to open the box set. I was dying to read the mission statement. I was in tears almost immediately. It is incredibly well-written and captures a whole lot of the human range of emotion in one fell swoop. For me, that alone was the worth the cost of the box set. I want to frame it and hang it on the wall.
Terry, there is truth to what you say, and I think the mission statement addresses that cynicism. But I think that one of the great things about the Avett Brothers - their music, their fans, their shows, their entire persona - is that they make it ok not to be too cool to express your emotions, especially love. They call detatched aloofness out for all the silliness that it is. They make you want to call your brother and say "I'm sorry we fought. I love you and let's get back on the right track." They make you unashamed to hold your lover's gaze a little longer and hand a little tighter. They make it feel right - not awkward - to hug a friend and say "I love you, and I'm here for you." They make you feel comfortable having six people you don't know stay in your apartment when they're coming into town for a show - they're not strangers, they're fellow fans.
Look, in a world where we're all a little hard, a little rushed, a little jaded, it's so nice to have a soft place to land. But you have to be willing to take the leap of faith to get there. Their music gives me the confidence to do that, and for that, I am so grateful.
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Ain't it like most people, I'm no different, we love to talk on things we don't know about.
i'm just jaded...
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Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense...Buddha
do you need your arm shot full of love?
Heidi,
Well said.
is that a Heroin joke....
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Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense...Buddha
is it wrong that i think it is?
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Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense...Buddha
It's a line from And it Spread...
what's it mean though?
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Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense...Buddha
That's and "and it spread" joke....
wow, well said indeed, heids!
blasto, thank you so much for posting this! I reposted it as a note on facebook and almost immediately got this comment: "This is amazing. I may have to start listening to this band..." Being able to spread the Avett awesomeness made my day!