Among many collaborations from Mike Patton in recent years, his collaboration with The Avett Brothers might be the most unexpected. In November 2025, AVTT/PTTN was released. Since 2019, mutual admiration has led to songs being sent back and forth throughout the years. Ultimately, this led to their collaboration in 2025. Surprisingly, the former Faith No More and Mr. Bungle singer pairs well with The Avetts. Following the album’s release, The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton went on tour to promote the release.
“Received” is the final track on the new record. The Avett Brothers carried over their signature songwriting and harmonies for the new songs. They kept their approach comfortable in this collaboration, while Patton delivered a side of himself we’re not too familiar with. “Received” is a great example, as the song is about resisting vulnerability and the struggle to accept unconditional love. Patton delivers his lines in the second verse with a vulnerable approach. The trio sings the chorus together, with Patton fitting perfectly with The Avett Brothers’ automatic harmonies.
How To Accept and Receive Love
There is no wondering
If you’re awake
Or what it’s like to be deprived
Of what it takes
To see the shoreline
And what it means
To walk away from every gift of love that you’ve ever
Received.
The song feels like a continuation of the philosophical, poetic, and at times existential songwriting The Avett Brothers are known for. Lyrically, it’s sometimes similar to the song “February Seven” from The Carpenter in 2012.
Throughout their catalog, The Avett Brothers layer Christian and biblical themes within their songs. This track seems to carry a spiritual message, specifically in the second half of the song. The finale of the song comes off as gospel with a list of things to be reached and received. “There is a distance / That we will reach / A desert sky / A lonely beach / A quiet valley / A field of green / Atop the mountain / The canyon beneath / An open door / A hotel suite / An empty building / A crowded street / A little puddle / Enormous sea / A heart’s rebuttal / A loser’s plea.”
Following this, the three join back together to harmonize one final time on the line. “It is the home of every gift of love I’ve ever received.” It wraps up the album but feels like a cliffhanger, where it’s up to you to sort out the rest for yourself. How you accept love, and allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to. Truthfully, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a follow-up album from The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton, given the result of this release.
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