Don't Swallow the Cap
The National Lyrics

Gold light breaks behind the houses
The sun is rising and casting a warm glow on the buildings

I don't see what's strange about this
This is an ordinary and familiar scene to the singer

Tiny bubbles hang above me
There are small, airborne particles that catch the light

It's a sign that someone loves me
The artist interprets this beautiful moment as a message of love from someone special

I can hardly stand upright
The artist is physically unsteady and potentially intoxicated

Hit my head upon the light
The singer accidentally bumped into something overhead

I have faith but don't believe it
The singer has faith in something but doubts its existence

It's not there enough to leave it
Despite uncertainty, the artist won't abandon their belief

Everything I love is on the table
All the things the artist cares about are at risk of being lost or destroyed

Everything I love is out to sea
The future is uncertain and unpredictable, like the motion of the ocean

I have only two emotions
The singer experiences a limited range of feelings

Careful fear and dead devotion
The artist is cautious and afraid, but also feels deeply committed to something.

I can't get the balance right
The singer struggles to find equilibrium between opposing forces

With all my marbles in the fight
The singer is giving everything they have, but still struggling to succeed

I see all the ones I went for
The singer recognizes past mistakes and missed opportunities

All the things I had it in for
The artist remembers past grudges or resentments

I won't cry until I hear
The artist is suppressing their emotions until prompted to let them out

'Cause I was not supposed to be here
The singer feels out of place or unwelcome in their current situation

I'm not alone
The singer has a support system or feels connected to something beyond themself

I'll never be
The artist recognizes that life is unpredictable and ever-changing

And to the bone
The artist is deeply rooted in their beliefs and values

I'm evergreen
The artist is perennial or enduring in some way

And if you want (too seriously)
In response to another's request or challenge, but with a hint of skepticism

To see me cry (don't swallow the cap)
The artist refuses to be vulnerable and let their emotions overwhelm them

Play "Let It Be" (pat yourself on the back)
The singer is sarcastically suggesting that someone else can feel good about themselves by causing them emotional pain

Or "Nevermind" (too seriously)
The singer is referencing a popular and powerful source of music and emotion

There's a time to leave, there's a time to think about
The singer recognizes when it is appropriate to move on from a situation or decision

What I wanna say to the girls at the door
The artist may be confronting or interacting with women outside of a physical or metaphorical 'door'

I need somewhere to be
The artist needs a physical location or social 'place' to exist

But I can't get around the river in front of me
There is an obstacle that the singer can't easily circumvent

Calm down, it's alright
The singer reassures themself or someone else that everything is under control

Lead my arms the rest of the night
The artist surrenders control and seeks assistance from another person

When they ask, what do I see?
The artist is asked to describe something, possibly a vision or metaphysical experience

I say a bright white beautiful heaven hanging over me
The artist describes a beautiful and hopeful image that gives them comfort