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/
The National blog http://tntl.tumblr.com
The National on Twitter http://twitter.com/TheNational
The National on Instagram http://instagram.com/TheNational
Brassland homepage: http://brassland.org/
Beggars Banquet homepage: http://www.beggars.com/
Fireproof
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I keep none
Wish I could go back
And keep some
You're fireproof
Nothing breaks your heart
You're fireproof
You tell me you're waiting
To find someone
Who isn't so hopeless
There's no one
You're fireproof
Nothing breaks your heart
You're fireproof
How'd you get so far?
You're the needle in the hay
You're the water at the door
You're a million miles away
Doesn't matter anymore
Jennifer, you are not the only reason
My head is boiling and my hands are freezing
Jennifer, you are not the only one
To sit awake until the wild feelings leave you
You're fireproof
Nothing breaks your heart
You're fireproof
It's just the way you are
You're fireproof
It's what you always say
You're fireproof
I wish I was that way
The Nationalβs song Fireproof is a beautiful ode to someone who seems to be untouchable. The singer in the song expresses his admiration and envy towards Jennifer, as she seems to have an impenetrable exterior. He starts off by saying that she keeps his secrets, but he keeps none, implying that she has a way of making him vulnerable, but she herself doesnβt let anyone in. He wishes he could go back and be like her, keeping some secrets to himself.
The chorus of the song emphasizes Jenniferβs apparent invincibility, stating that she is fireproof and nothing breaks her heart. The singer is almost in awe of her, wondering how she got so far and why he canβt be like her. He speaks of her as being a needle in a haystack, a million miles away, and water at the door, all metaphors that emphasize her unattainability.
In the last verse, the singer suggests that Jennifer is not the only one who struggles with their emotions. He, too, sits awake until the wild feelings leave but wishes he could be like her - fireproof. The National has created a beautiful song that captures the feeling of admiration towards someone who is seemingly impenetrable but also portrays the sense of inadequacy felt when comparing oneself to them.
Line by Line Meaning
You keep my secrets
You are someone I trust with my deep and dark secrets.
And I keep none
I am not as trustworthy as you and sometimes end up sharing your secrets.
Wish I could go back
I regret revealing your secrets to others and wish I could undo it.
And keep some
I wish I had kept some of your secrets to myself.
Itβs fireproof
Your heart is impenetrable and nothing can break it.
Nothing breaks your heart
Your heart is impenetrable and nothing can break it.
Itβs just the way you are
This is just a part of who you are and how you deal with emotions.
You tell me youβre waiting
You have shared with me that you are waiting for someone special.
To find someone
You want to meet someone who understands and accepts your unique qualities.
Who isnβt so hopeless
You are looking for someone who is more optimistic and doesn't give up as easily.
But thereβs no one
You haven't found that special someone yet and are feeling discouraged.
Youβre fireproof
Your heart is impenetrable and nothing can break it.
Howβd you get so far
I am amazed that you have come so far in life with your strong and resilient personality.
You're the needle in the hay
You are a rare and unique individual who stands out from the crowd.
The water at the door
You are always ready to quench the thirst of others and offer help when needed.
Youβre a million miles away
You sometimes feel distant and unapproachable, even for those who care about you.
Doesnβt matter anymore
Despite your distance, I still care about you and your well-being.
Jennifer you are not the only reason
Jennifer, you are not the only one to blame for how I am feeling.
My head is boiling and my hands are freezing
I am feeling overwhelmed with emotions and can't seem to find balance or comfort.
Jennifer you are not the only one
I am not the only one struggling with these emotions and feelings.
That sit awake until the wild feelings leave
Sometimes I can't sleep because my emotions are too intense and need time to settle.
Thatβs what you always say
You often reassure others that your heart is impenetrable and nothing can break it.
I wish was that way
I wish I had the same strength and resilience as you do.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: Aaron Brooking Dessner, Matthew Donald Berninger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind