The Avett Brothers - High Steppin May 2026

🚀 "High Steppin'" serves as a mission statement for the Closer Than Together era, signaling the band’s shift toward more personal and socially conscious storytelling while refusing to be pinned down by a single musical genre.

Released in June 2019 as the lead single for their album Closer Than Together , "High Steppin'" represents a bold, experimental pivot for The Avett Brothers. While the band is traditionally rooted in acoustic folk and Americana, this track blends their signature strings with pulsating 1980s-style synths and a spoken-word interlude, creating a sonic landscape that is both catchy and intentionally jarring. Musical Composition and Contrast The Avett Brothers - High Steppin

A "funky synth vibe" layered with traditional fiddle and banjo, bridging the gap between their old-school folk roots and modern pop experimentation. 🚀 "High Steppin'" serves as a mission statement

Despite the dark undertones, the song concludes with a message of resilience, suggesting that "the very last word is love". Visual Narrative: Riding with Death Musical Composition and Contrast A "funky synth vibe"

The chorus describes a man who is "high bettin'" and "love givin'," appearing to live a life of free-wheeling abundance while simultaneously "losin' grip" in the "canyons of [his] mind".

The song begins with a driving, upbeat tempo that Scott Avett describes as a deliberate contrast to its weightier themes. It features:

At its core, "High Steppin'" explores the "fleeting" nature of life and the sobering reality of aging.