Their self-titled debut album"The National" (Brassland 2001) was recorded and released before they had played even a single show. They cut the album with engineer Nick Lloyd and formed a label with writer Alec Bemis, so those recordings could be released. Kerrang! magazine gave it four Ks, calling it "the stuff underground legends are made of."
The National made a second album, "Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers" (Brassland/Talitres 2003). The staff was the same, though Peter Katis, who produced "Turn on The Bright Lights" and "Antics" by Interpol, helped produce and mix, and Australian composer Padma Newsome from Clogs collaborated on arrangements and strings.
Following the first session of several for Bernard Lenoir on France's Radio Inter, an in-between EP was released, Cherry Tree, containing what would become the blueprint for the sound on their next record and the session of Sad Song's standout Murder Me Rachael. After these accolades and being impressed by their live show, Roger Trust signed them to Beggars Banquet.
A show at their favorite bar became a van ride to neighboring cities, became a plane ride to Europe, became two summers overseas. Their ties to those good jobs slackened. And they continue on their own path, moving out even further out in Brooklyn to Ditmas Park, where there is space and familiar suburban streets and even Geese on Beverly Road. Their album, "Alligator", much of which was recorded at their homes in Ditmas Park, was engineered by Paul Mahajan, who has worked with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and TV on the Radio. Padma Newsome camped out for a month with the band, and Peter Katis added more production and mixed the record at his house in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Berninger's potent baritone still intones about matters fraught and funny and sad; about record collections, missing persons and medium-sized American hearts. But the record's not simply gothic or miserablist -- more like the plays of Tennessee Williams, it's full of peculiar intimacies and awkward grace. Alligator's heroes are reckless and possessed seducers, but they are apologetic ones. In The National's imaginings, in songs alternately lush and spare, there is something twighlit and dreamy worked out in the basement of our brains.
"Abel," "Secret Meeting," and "Lit Up" were released as singles.
On May 22, 2007, The National released their follow-up to Alligator, Boxer, on Beggars Banquet. Taking advantage of the fact that nobody had heard their first album and earliest demos, Matt proceeded to steal lyrics and melodies from them and give them the attention they deserved while keeping the intimacy that made them special. They even managed to convince new friend Sufjan Stevens to lay down some piano tracks for them, and recorded the album in a scant 6 months after coming off the long post-Alligator road.
"Mistaken for Strangers", "Fake Empire" and "Apartment Story" have been released as singles. The band have just finished touring North America and are on a large European autumn/winter tour after playing high slots at several large festivals. In their Dec. 07/Jan. 08 issue, Paste magazine named Boxer best record of 2007.
The band's fifth album, High Violet, was released on May 10, 2010 by 4AD Records. "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Anyone's Ghost" and "Terrible Love" were released as singles.
In 2013 their sixth studio record Trouble Will Find Me was released and named "Best New Music" by Pitchfork. The album contained the single "I Need My Girl". In 2015, the album outtake "Sunshine On My Back" was released.
Four years after Trouble Will Find Me, marking the longest timespan between albums in their career so far, they released their seventh album Sleep Well Beast on September 8th, 2017 and were yet again met with great critical success.
The National homepage: http://www.americanmary.com/
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Brassland homepage: http://brassland.org/
Beggars Banquet homepage: http://www.beggars.com/
Anna Freud
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But nobody is watching for you
I don't wanna turn it on
It only makes me sad for you
I know you can play piano
That was just a talent show
I've never known you like I know you
You're on the rocks in a two piece suit
The dead location of the dying suit
You gave Lawrence a big salute
Texas brought them to their knees
Indiana pushes you on the stairs
Your independent declaration
Sounded too much like a prayer
But I'll wake up and wait there for you
I'll wait there for you
Anna Freud
No confidence in Anna
Anna Freud
Remember what they said to you
Everyone will know us now
We love you, babe, you make us proud
Don't come home without he crowd
Don't come back to long this town
We always knew you'd let us down
Don't come back without the crown
Anna Freud
No confidence in Anna
Anna Freud
But I'll wake up and wait there for you
I'll wait there for you
The National's song "Anna Freud" is a melancholic reflection on the pressures and expectations of fame, the feelings of isolation that come with it, and the personal toll it takes on one's mental health. The song's lyrics describe the experience of being in the public eye: "Everyone is watching, but nobody is watching for you." The singer is aware of the price of fame and recognizes the sadness it has caused "I don't wanna turn it on, it only makes me sad for you." The song alludes to the titular Anna Freud's experiences with her father Sigmund, the famous psychoanalyst, and her own work in psychological research.
The verses each highlight a different aspect or situation of this life of fame that the singer finds sad: people only appreciating someone's talents when they're put on display in talent shows, supporters and fans putting too much pressure on the individual to succeed, and the experiences of isolation and lack of privacy. The chorus, "Anna Freud, no confidence in Anna" suggests that even famous people struggle with self-doubt and that they may be repressing parts of themselves in order to succeed. Ultimately, the song's final lines express a desire for connection despite the pressures and problems of fame: "But I'll wake up and wait there for you, I'll wait there for you."
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone is watching
There are people observing but they are not paying attention to you.
But nobody is watching for you
You are not the center of attention.
I don't wanna turn it on
I don't want to activate this situation.
It only makes me sad for you
It only produces sorrow in me for you.
I know you can play piano
I'm aware that you have the skill to play the piano.
That was just a talent show
It was only a display of your abilities.
I've never known you like I know you
I don't have a true understanding of you.
I never wanted you to go
I didn't want you to leave.
You're on the rocks in a two piece suit
You are in trouble, wearing an inadequate outfit.
The dead location of the dying suit
The place where you are is hopeless.
You gave Lawrence a big salute
You expressed your respect for Lawrence.
Texas brought them to their knees
Texans suffered a hard outcome.
Indiana pushes you on the stairs
Indiana is causing you to climb stairs.
Your independent declaration
Your announcement of independence.
Sounded too much like a prayer
It seemed like you were making a plea to a higher power.
But I'll wake up and wait there for you
I will arise and stay there for your arrival.
I'll wait there for you
I will remain in that place until you arrive.
Anna Freud
A reference to Sigmund Freud's daughter.
No confidence in Anna
Lack of faith in her capabilities.
Remember what they said to you
Recall what they communicated to you.
Everyone will know us now
We will be famous now.
We love you, babe, you make us proud
We care for you, you bring us pride.
Don't come home without the crowd
Don't come back without a group of people.
Don't come back to long this town
Don't return to this town for a long period of time.
We always knew you'd let us down
We always anticipated that you would disappoint us.
Don't come back without the crown
Don't return without being the champion.
Anna Freud
A reference the second time.
No confidence in Anna
Reiteration of the previous lack of faith in her abilities.
But I'll wake up and wait there for you
The repetition of the insistent statement that the artist is waiting for her.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: Bryan Devendorf, Matt Berninger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind