If I get murdered in the city
Don’t go revenging in my name
One person dead from such is plenty
No need to go get locked away
When I leave your arms
The things I think of
No need to get over alarmed
I’m coming home

I wonder which brother is better
Which one our parents loved the most
I sure did get in lots of trouble
They seemed to let the other go
A tear fell from my father’s eye
I wondered what my dad would say
He said, “I love you and I’m proud of you both,
In so many different ways”

If I get murdered in the city
Go read the letter in my desk
Don’t bother with all my belongings
Pay attention to the list
Make sure my sister knows I love her
Make sure my mother knows the same
Always remember there was nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name
Always remember there was nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name



Lyrics submitted by Thrilliam

Track duration: 03:12


Murder in the City song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I heard all of the Avett Brothers' newer stuff (Emotionalism is my favorite album) before I came across this song on one of the live albums, and it's probably the most beautiful thing they've ever written.

    For such a short song to have both the stanza about the two brothers, and of course the "Always remember..." line, I get chills from this song every time.
    Flagged StormJH1on March 03, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion:i love the avett brothers, as a gay, i am fascinated with murder in the city and the actual use of the fa**ot term. love the avetts they must be phenom in person.
    Flag TESTORXon August 31, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is about leaving home for the first time, possibly against your parents wishes who are worried that you are going to forget where you came from. The writer is trying to convince his parents that he will never forgot what it is most important to him - family.
    Flag LFHolland01on August 26, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Beautiful song about family relationships. Although, it also came to mind when I was writing a paper about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam the other day. Apparently, Muslims refer to all three religions as "Islam," not because they want to subsume the others but because the word is literally translated as "submission"--meaning submission to God; thus, all three Abrahamic religions are united in monotheistic faith and submission to the God of Abraham.

    I doubt the Avett brothers wrote "Murder in the City" with this in mind, but the song has really interesting implications for talking about interreligious dialogue between these three faiths.

    "I wonder which brother is better/ which one our parents love the most/ I sure did get in lots of trouble/ they seemed to let the other go/ a tear fell from my father's eye/ I wondered what my dad would say/ he said I love you and I'm proud of you both in so many different ways."

    "Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name."

    What if we looked past offense at doctrine and ideologies and sought to love each other like family?
    Flag csmith27on May 09, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is by far one of my favorite Avett Brothers songs. I interpret it as it being about family. However, yesterday I saw some student written plays at my school, and someone used this song as inspiration to write a play about Cain and Abel. I don't know much about that story, but from what I gathered from the play and my limited knowledge, it is a beautiful interpretation of this song.
    Flag TRexAllyon March 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Cried when I first heard it and get teary-eyed every time after, makes me value my family so much more. Absolutely beautiful.
    Flag aflowerformyfriendon October 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this just song hit me like a ton of bricks. i cried.
    Flag msunnystraderon August 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's all about family, and the one has for one's family. Simple, and sweet. Perfect.
    Flag dizzykon July 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:when i realized the lyrics to this song, i cried listening to it. so beautiful.
    Flag buyheradrumon September 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:This is the first Avett Brothers song I ever heard. I got it free from Amazon.com. It's such a beautiful song about family. I've since purchased all of their CDs and I'm hating myself for not seeing them when they were in town.
    Flag Alpha13on January 13, 2009   Link

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