Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Pretty Girl From Michigan” by The Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers’ song ‘Pretty Girl From Michigan’ is a sweet, soulful love story between two people from faraway places, told in a searingly honest and heartfelt way.
The song begins by introducing us to our protagonist, a young man lusting after a ‘pretty girl from Michigan’. But it isn’t just her beauty that draws him in – he mentions her ‘rosy cheeks, sparkling eyes, and great smile with a gentle rise’. The narrator sees something deep inside the woman, something that moves him past superficial attraction and into longing and love.
The chorus of the song, I’m never gonna, leaves us unsure of how this love story will end. With its future uncertain, the song reflects on the two lovers, their knowledge of one another, and the feelings that bind them together. Again, the song refers to her beauty – ‘she’s dressed in the finest clothes’, while bringing depth to the relationship – ‘we’ve shared pain and we’ve shared fears’.
The third verse centres around the couple’s shared dreams and aspirations – musings about where they might one day end up and what life might hold in store for them. They are hopeful, although the desire for physical closeness can still be heard; they are ‘just two galaxies, two shooting stars trying to just find balance’.
The song’s narrative reaches its peak in the fourth verse, where love is finally declared. Our protagonist asks the woman to ‘come to where I’m standing’, still uncertain as to what fate has in store for them, but willing to try anyway.
Pretty Girl From Michigan’ is a powerful and honest love story, told in simple and lovely language. It speaks of love, longing, beauty, and hope – all ingredients in a tried-and-true recipe for a classic love song.