“February Seven” by The Avett Brothers

The Avett Brothers’ “February Seven” is bit of a confusing piece, or let’s say one that has been interpreted a number of different ways. Such is perhaps to be expected given the philosophical and even existential nature of the lyrics.

And another reason as to why there has yet to be a consensus concerning this song’s meaning probably has something to do with the lyrics appearing, at least to some degree, to contradict themselves. On one hand, the vocalist is coming off as being fatally pessimistic. He presents himself as someone who bravely “search(ed) for something real” only to end up disappointed and disillusioned. But in the aftermath of finding himself defeated, he rather feels “rested and… ready to being” again. 

Also, the end of the second verse points to the idea that when he really reached his lowest point, something like a miracle occurred and ‘brought him to his feet’.

The Addressee

With that in mind, there’s an unspecified addressee referred to in the first verse. It is easy to conclude, due to the associated lyrics, that said individual is someone who perhaps the vocalist cheated with or who broke his heart. But it is also possible, going back to the miracle theory, that the signer is addressing a higher power, i.e. a spirit who is always “standing there”, wherever he may find himself. There are also lyrics that may rebut that hypothesis, but still it is worth noting.

Takeaway

Ultimately, this is perhaps one of those songs where the terser the analysis, the better. But what is obvious via the chorus is that the optimism the vocalist possessed at one point, the dream he believed in so to speak, has been “spoiled” after he made an attempt to pursue it. 

But that said, by the looks of things he’s not going to give up as far as doing what he has to do in order to edify his life. And likewise, it reads as if he’s giving such advice to the listening audience, that even after dreams die, that doesn’t mean that life has come to an end.

And finally concerning the title, it is not mentioned in the song nor referred to in the lyrics. But a number of researchers have documented that the said date is the one on which whatever happened to Scott Avett transpired which inspired him to write this piece.

The Avett Brothers and “February Seven”

The Avett Brothers is a musical act from North Carolina that is fronted by a couple of male siblings in Scott and Seth Avett. They’ve been on the scene since the early aughts and during the 2010s dropped a string of studio albums, all of which scored within the top 5 of the Billboard 200. 

It is from their “The Carpenter” album, a product of American Records, that “February Seven” was released on 12 September 2012.

Scott Avett is four years older than his younger brother Seth. And it is the two of them who are credited with writing “February Seven”, with the track being produced by Rick Rubin.

This song peaked at number 10 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Songs chart.

The first live performance of this song is noted as having occurred at a venue called Harrah’s Stir Cove, in Iowa, on the date of 3 July 2012.

For the record, the other two members of the Avett Brothers when this track came out, who are still down with the act at the writing of this post, are bassist Bob Crawford and cellist Joe Kwon. In addition to both being vocalists, pianists and guitarists, Scott Avett also plays the banjo and Seth Avett, the organ.