"Rejects in the Attic" (formerly "Without You") is a song by The Avett Brothers which was first performed at Merlefest on April 28, 2013. The song was first released on Live, Vol. Four in December 2015. A studio version is available as a Target exclusive track on 2016's True Sadness.
The song and title "Without You" appeared briefly with Scott, Bob, Joe, and Paul during The Avett Brothers' appearance on PBS' Nashville 2.0 which premiered November 22, 2013. A peppier, full band version of the song was performed under the title "Rejects in the Attic" in Atlantic City on June 7, 2014.
Video[]
Original lyrics[]
I've been hanging out with the rejects in the attic
Can't get out of my head the way you left
I got a sense of belonging but what does it matter
The winter's on its way here to collect
The colors we thought were ours to protect
I was born on the outskirts of a dream
My daddy was a miner of almost anything
And I've been busting stones
Too proud to go back home
Admit that all my digging was in vain
But don't we talk different than we did?
Am I more quiet than I've been?
Don't you look brighter than the moon?
Don't I look different without you?
Don't I look different without you?
I'm taking rain like an Appaloosa hoofprint
And you know I'm drinking sunlight all day long
I'm opened up just like a dogwood flower
And winter's on its way here to collect
The colors we thought were ours to protect
Well you think we'd be used to it my dear
Well seeing how it happens every year
But don't we talk different than we did?
Am I more quiet than I've been?
And don't you look brighter than the moon?
Don't I look different without you?
Well don't I look different without you?
I was taken on the outskirts of a dream
I had a been a miner of almost everything
Well I stopped busting stones
I had to go back home
Admit that all my digging was in vain
Second version lyrics[]
I've been hanging out with the rejects in the attic
Can't get out of my head the way you left
I got a sense of belonging but what does it matter
And winter's on its way here to collect
I was born on the outskirts of a dream
My daddy was a miner of almost anything
And I've been busting stones
Too proud to go back home
Admit that all my digging was in vain
But don't we talk different than we did?
Am I more quiet than I've been?
Don't you look brighter than the moon?
Don't I look different without you?
Don't I look different without you?
I'm taking rain like my Appaloosa's hoofprint
And you know I'm drinking sunlight all day long
I'm opened up just like a dogwood flower
And winter's on its way here to collect
But don't we talk different than we did?
Am I more quiet than I've been?
And don't you look brighter than the moon?
Don't I look different without you?
Don't I look different without you?
I was taken on the outskirts of a dream
I had a been a miner of almost everything
Nowl I'll stop busting stones
I'll have to go back home
Admit that all my digging was in vain
But don't we talk different than we did?
Am I more quiet than I've been?
And don't you look brighter than the moon?
Don't I look different without you?
Don't I look different?
Winter's on its way here to collect
Don't I look? Don't I look?
Winter's on its way here to collect
Don't I look? Don't I look?
Winter's on its way here to collect
Don't I look? Don't I look?
Winter's on its way here to collect
Don't I look? Don't I look?
Winter's on its way here without you
Winter's on its way here without you
Live, Vol. Four tracks[]
Live, Vol. Four
1. "Intro" / "Feeling Good"
2. "Satan Pulls the Strings"
3. "Laundry Room"
4. "Another is Waiting"
5. "Shame"
6. "Kick Drum Heart"
7. "Rejects in the Attic"
8. "Ten Thousand Words"
9. "Talk on Indolence"
10. "Auld Lang Syne"
11. "The Boys are Back in Town"
12. "I and Love and You"
13. "Slight Figure of Speech"
14. "Happy Trails"
True Sadness tracks[]
True Sadness
1. "Ain't No Man"
2. "Mama I Don't Believe"
3. "No Hard Feelings"
4. "Smithsonian"
5. "You Are Mine"
6. "Satan Pulls the Strings"
7. "True Sadness"
8. "I Wish I Was"
9. "Fisher Road to Hollywood"
10. "Victims of Life"
11. "Divorce Separation Blues"
12. "May It Last"
Deluxe editions:
13. "I Wish I Was" (Full band) (Target)
14. "Rejects in the Attic" (Target exclusive)