'Man Downstairs' by Avery Anna – Lyrics & Meaning

While we're not yet willing to surrender let go letters, its seems Avery Anna is currently readying new music to follow up her 2025 sophomore opus.

Over the last several months, she's been featured on a number of one-off collaborations alongside fellow alt-country acts like Sam Barber and Max McNown, but 'Man Downstairs' is the young star's first solo single release since her previous album dropped last summer.

The biting song arrived today (Feb. 26), and already, it is poised to be an Avery Anna staple, the vicious emo pop number marking an exciting new chapter for the 'Mr. Predictable' artist.

Coming to life in a trickle of sharp plucks and scratchy pulls from the guitar, 'Man Downstairs' opens with an ominous air, as if the song is lying in wait. Surely enough, the tune awakens come the chorus. 'Man Downstairs' erupts into a scorned opus told in full-bellied toms, rapturous cymbals, whining strings and hellbent vocals.

From verse to chorus, the song bounds between contemplative composition and savage anthem, making for a thrilling head-turner of a listen.

"I was a lovesick girl
You were the perfect crime
Innocence meets its death
True love tied to a lie"

'Man Downstairs' finds Avery recounting a love gone wrong. We meet her in a vulnerable state – "a lovesick girl" – but she thinks she may have just found an outlet, someone she describes as "the perfect crime."

That person, however, quickly reveals their flaws – and what seem like ill intentions – and, suddenly, innocence is lost and lies overshadow what could have been.

This heartache appears to have been by design, a ploy to break her spirit, the artist singing, "You knew how much it hurt / You had your sights on me / Then went in for the kill / And I was so deceived."

She, however, isn't limping away, wounded, without a few choice words first:

"Oh, look what you've done, you son of a gun
You're gonna wish you said your prayers
You're playing with fire, pathological liar
I hope you have fun with the man downstairs"

In a roundabout way, she tells her perpetrator to go straight to Hell, singing that prayer won't help them now. They've done their share of lying and cheating. Now, they have a date with the "man downstairs," or the Devil, and the artist wishes them well.

"When did you get so heartless?," she asks. "How did I get on your hit list?"

But whatever their contrived reasons, she's still "screaming good riddance."

"Oh, look what you've done, you son of a gun
But I still keep you in my prayers
You're playing with fire, pathological liar
I hope you have fun with the man downstairs"

I was a lovesick girl
You were the perfect crime
Innocence meets its death
True love tied to a lie
You knew how much it hurt
You had your sights on me
Then went in for the kill
And I was so deceived

Oh, look what you've done, you son of a gun
You're gonna wish you said your prayers
You're playing with fire, pathological liar
I hope you have fun with the man downstairs

You're redefining pain
But I still wish you well (Wish you well)
I hope that you could change
But I just kid myself (Kid myself)
When did you get so heartless?
How did I get on your hit list?
Used to be such a good kid
Now I'm screaming good riddance

Oh, look what you've done, you son of a gun
You're gonna wish you said your prayers
You're playing with fire, pathological liar
I hope you have fun with the man downstairs

Oh, look what you've done, you son of a gun
But I still keep you in my prayers
You're playing with fire, pathological liar
I hope you have fun with the man downstairs

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For more on Avery Anna, see below:

Avery Anna

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