Avett Brothers "Shame"

The subject of the Avett Brother's song "Shame" is a man who has hopes to begin again with a woman he used to be in relationship with because he feels bad for his previous actions.  The tone is regretful.  Regret is generally a feeling a person experiences after doing something that they wish they had not done.  The word shame used repeatedly in the lyrics describes this same feeling.  Another word used in the lyrics of this song is untender, meaning that someone is not gentle and soft towards others. Most people would not appreciate being called untender, but the singer acknowledges that he used to treat the girl he is pursuing in this way.  The line after explains how he wishes that he could "undo" his untenderness, which is also regret.  Finally the lyrics include the word strutted, which is generally associated with pride and self-absorption.  This is how the singer destroyed the girl.  Pride and self-absorption could lead to the tone of regret.  As the lyrics exemplify, the song pushes the tone throughout.