Ada
The National Lyrics
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Why you don't want to talk about reasons
Why you don't wanna talk
Now that you got everybody you consider sharp
All alone, all together, all together in the dark
Leave it all up in the air
Leave it all up in the air
Ada, put the sounds of your house in a song
Try to be speechless for a minute
If you think you're gonna faint, go out in the hallway
Let them all have your neck
Ada, don't stay in the lake too long
It lives alone and it barely knows you
It'll have a nervous breakdown and fall
Into a thousand pieces around you
Stand inside an empty Tuxedo
With grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
Ada, hold onto yourself by the sleeves
I think everything counts a little more than we think
Leave it all up in the air
Leave it all up in the air
Leave it all up in the air, yeah
Ada, Ada, Ada
Ada, I can hear the sound of your laugh through the wall
Ada, don't talk about reasons
Why you don't want to talk about reasons
Why you don't wanna talk
Now that you got everybody you consider sharp
All alone, all together, all together in the dark
Leave it all up in the air
Leave it all up in the air
Leave it all up in the air
Ada, Ada, Ada
Ada, I can hear the sound of your laugh through the wall
Ada, Ada, Ada
Ada, I've been hoping you know your way around
The lyrics to The National's Ada seem to be quite ambiguous at first glance, but upon deeper reflection, they appear to revolve around the idea of communication and how we interact with each other. The song seems to be sung to someone named Ada who is reluctant to open up and communicate her reasons for doing so. The lyrics "don't talk about reasons, why you don't want to talk about reasons, why you don't wanna talk", suggest that Ada is holding back from expressing herself. The lyrics then implore Ada to put the sounds of her house into a song, to try to be speechless for a minute and to hold onto herself by the sleeves. These lines suggest that the singer is urging Ada to try to express herself in other ways or to find other means of communication. The lyrics "leave it all up in the air" repeated throughout the song, seem to suggest that the singer is content to leave things unresolved, to not press for a more conclusive resolution, this attitude of leaving things up to fate is one of the recurring themes of the song.
But who is Ada? The name Ada is not mentioned elsewhere in The National's discography, so it is unclear who she is. However, it is possible that Ada is a symbol for someone who is avoiding issues in their life and is finding it difficult to communicate. Alternatively, Ada could be a real person or someone that the band encountered in their life, but regardless of who she is, the song paints a picture of someone who is struggling to communicate because of some deep pain or fear.
In conclusion, Ada by The National seems to be a song about the difficulties of communication and the rewards and frustrations that come with it. Whilst the song might be interpreted in a variety of ways, it should be clear that it is a song that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with getting their feelings and thoughts across to someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Ada, don't talk about reasons
Don't explain why you are unwilling to talk
Why you don't want to talk about reasons
Do not clarify why you are hesitant to discuss certain topics
Why you don't wanna talk
Do not elaborate on why you refuse to have conversations
Now that you got everybody you consider sharp
Since you have gathered individuals who you perceive as intelligent
All alone, all together, all together in the dark
Despite being cloistered, everyone is united in obscurity
Leave it all up in the air
Allow everything to remain uncertain
Ada, put the sounds of your house in a song
Create music that reflects the audio of your home
Try to be speechless for a minute
Attempt to remain silent for a brief period
If you think you're gonna faint, go out in the hallway
Leave the immediate area if you feel like you might lose consciousness
Let them all have your neck
Allow others to criticize or take advantage of you
Ada, don't stay in the lake too long
Do not spend an excessive amount of time in the lake
It lives alone and it barely knows you
The lake exists in solitude and is not familiar with you
It'll have a nervous breakdown and fall
The lake will experience a mental collapse and crumble
Into a thousand pieces around you
Scattering debris in your vicinity
Stand inside an empty Tuxedo
Position yourself within a vacant Tuxedo outfit
With grapes in my mouth, waiting for Ada
Biding my time with grapes in my mouth, anticipating Ada
Ada, hold onto yourself by the sleeves
Keep your composure firmly in your grasp
I think everything counts a little more than we think
I believe that every action has more significance than we comprehend
Ada, Ada, Ada
Repeating Ada's name
Ada, I can hear the sound of your laugh through the wall
I am able to hear your laughter through the wall, Ada
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Aaron B. Dessner, Matthew D. Berninger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind