Demons
National The Lyrics
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The sight of you among the sights
Get this sudden sinking feeling
Of a man about to fly
Never kept me up before
Now I've been awake for days
I can't fight it anymore
I'm going through an awkward phase
I am secretly in love with
Everyone that I grew up with
Do my crying underwater
I can't get down any farther
All my drowning friends can see
Now there is no running from it
It's become the crux of me
I wish that I could rise above it
But I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
Bats and buzzards in the sky
Alligators in the sewers
I don't even wonder why
Hide among the younger viewers
Huddle with them all night long
The worried talk to God goes on
I sincerely tried to love it
Wish that I could rise above it
But I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
Can I stay here? I can sleep on the floor
Paint the blood and hang the palms on the door
Do not think I'm going places anymore
Wanna see the sun come up above New York
Oh, everyday I start so great
Then the sunlight dims
Less I look the more I see the pythons and the limbs
Do not know what's wrong with me
Sours in the cut
When I walk into a room
I do not light it up
Fuck
So I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
The song "Demons" by The National is about the turmoil of being pulled down by one's own demons despite one's best efforts to try and rise above them. The opening lines describe the feeling of longing and nostalgia that arises when the singer thinks about someone they used to know in the city. However, this emotion is coupled with a sinking feeling that is reminiscent of being about to take a leap into the unknown. The next verse introduces the idea of secret love for everyone the singer grew up with, coupled with the metaphor of drowning friends who can see him struggling. The lyric "I wish that I could rise above it" captures the sense of being trapped and unable to escape from the demons that keep pulling him down.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the fact that despite wanting to break free from his demons, the singer is not able to do so. The lines "I stay down with my demons" are repeated multiple times, amplifying the sense of being stuck and trapped. The bridge of the song presents a vivid picture of a world that is strange and hostile, with bats, buzzards, and alligators lurking in unlikely places. The sense of being lost and searching for a sense of belonging is captured by the final lines of the song when the singer talks about sleeping on the floor and not going anywhere.
Overall, "Demons" by The National is a powerful song about the struggle to break free from the things that weigh us down. Despite the haunting lyrics and weighty themes, the song is also notable for its powerful instrumentation, with moody horns and driving percussion that mirror the frenzied emotions of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
When I think of you in the city
The thought of you in the middle of a bustling city
The sight of you among the sights
Seeing you amidst all the distractions
Get this sudden sinking feeling
A sudden sense of dread
Of a man about to fly
Like a man getting ready for a leap of faith
Never kept me up before
Never has this bothered me in the past
Now I've been awake for days
But now I'm unable to sleep for days
I can't fight it anymore
I can no longer resist it
I'm going through an awkward phase
I'm experiencing an uncomfortable stage
I am secretly in love with
I have a deep affection for
Everyone that I grew up with
Everyone I've known since childhood
Do my crying underwater
I let my emotions out in private
I can't get down any farther
I can't sink any lower
All my drowning friends can see
My friends who are struggling can see it too
Now there is no running from it
I can no longer escape from it
It's become the crux of me
It's become the central issue in my life
I wish that I could rise above it
I wish I could overcome it
But I stay down
But I remain in this state
With my demons
With my inner struggles
Bats and buzzards in the sky
Disturbing sights in the skies
Alligators in the sewers
Strange creatures lurking in the sewers
I don't even wonder why
I don't question their existence
Hide among the younger viewers
I seek comfort with the youth
Huddle with them all night long
I curl up with them for comfort
The worried talk to God goes on
As we worry, we pray for help
I sincerely tried to love it
I earnestly made an effort to find joy
Wish that I could rise above it
I wish I could surpass it
Can I stay here? I can sleep on the floor
Can I stay here for the night? I don't need much
Paint the blood and hang the palms on the door
An ominous tone is set by this imagery
Do not think I'm going places anymore
I don't see myself making progress
Wanna see the sun come up above New York
I seek something new or hopeful in NYC
Oh, everyday I start so great
Each day begins well
Then the sunlight dims
But it inevitably gets worse
Less I look the more I see the pythons and the limbs
The more I ignore it, the worse it gets
Do not know what's wrong with me
I don't understand what's causing this
Sours in the cut
A metaphor suggesting something festering
When I walk into a room
When I enter a space
I do not light it up
I don't bring positive energy
Fuck
An expression of frustration
So I stay down
So I remain in this state
With my demons
With my inner struggles
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Aaron Brooking Dessner, Matthew Donald Berninger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Socialitysucks
[LYRICS]:
When I think of you in the city
The sight of you among the sites
I get this sudden sinking feeling
Of a man about to fly
Never kept me up before
Now I've been awake for days
I can't fight it anymore
I'm going through an awkward phase
I am secretly in love with
Everyone that I grew up with
Do my crying underwater
I can't get down any farther
All my drowning friends can see
Now there is no running from it
It's become the crux of me
I wish that I could rise above it
But I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
Passing buzzards in the sky
Alligators in the sewers
I don't even wonder why
Hide among the under views
Huddle with them all night long
The worried talk to god goes on
I sincerely tried to love it
Wish that I could rise above it
But I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
Can I stay here? I can sleep
On the floor
Paint the blood and hang the palms
On the door
Do not think I'm going places anymore
Wanna see the sun come up above New York
Oh, everyday I start so great
Then the sunlight dims
Less I've learned
The more I see the pythons and the limbs
Do not know what's wrong with me
Sours in the cup
When I walk into a room
I do not light it up
Fuck
So I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
I stay down
With my demons
@theneedledrop
odd time signature, and they play it so goddamn smooth! NICE NICE NICE NICE!
@Arze02
Its so strange that I just found your comment, but I whole heartedly agree melon
@christianevans5471
I was shocked by such shockingly positive reception from the squashmelon. He's often not too favourable to Dessner's collaborator Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.
@zackzallie8735
How dare you gave High Violet a 6? >:(
@sanfordcurtis8242
You’re a cunt for giving TWFM a 4
@theneedledrop
i know 7 isn't the most revolutionary of time signatures, but they play it so smooth that you don't even notice the odd time sig, honestly. that's not something all bands can do.
@sarahsmith1418
Radiohead revolutionized 5 for me. 15 Step is one of the smoothest grooves
@shirvs
"When I walk into a room I do not light it up. Fuck." The man knows how to write a lyric that hits the spot...
@OakCliffTX82
They somehow manage to speak to a very sensitive, awkward, insecure part of human nature without making it too heavy or depressing. Lines like "and I cried a little, I got fried a little", "I was solid gold, I was in the fight, I was coming back from what seemed like a ruin" all seem to touch a basic thing we all go through
@MrZeldafan125
Soul on ice 82 totally agree with you they manage to make a connection to everyday people