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/
Forever After Days
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stand and step up to the light
An extraordinary man
Unbroken in a breaking light
Forever after days
Stand and make myself a crown
To the table I step alone
Take my shot under the light
Heroes come the common way
Pull myself into the sky
Wrap me in the banner I made
On my feet I stand tonight
Stand alone inside the air
An extraordinary man
Everything stops and holds me there
Forever after days
Stand and make myself a crown
To the table I step alone
And hold my own above the ground
Take my shot under the light
Heroes come the common way
Pull myself into the sky
Wrap me in the banner I made
Forever after days
Stand and make myself a crown
To the table I step alone
And hold my own above the ground
Take my shot under the light
Heroes come the common way
Pull myself into the sky
Wrap me in the banner I made
The National's song Forever After Days is a motivational anthem about a man who is determined to succeed even when facing obstacles. The opening lines "On my feet I stand tonight, Stand and step up to the light" suggest that the man is ready to face a challenge and step into the spotlight to achieve greatness. The references to being an "extraordinary man" and "unbroken in a breaking light" suggest that he is special and resilient, able to withstand pressure and adversity.
The chorus of "Forever after days, Stand and make myself a crown, To the table I step alone, Hold my own above the ground" reinforces the idea of self-reliance and determination. The man is determined to make himself a crown, to symbolize his own success and accomplishment without needing the validation of others. He steps to the table alone and holds his own, again emphasizing his independence and self-assurance.
The second verse and chorus continue to build on this theme of determination and perseverance. Lines such as "Pull myself into the sky, Wrap me in the banner I made" suggest that the man is lifting himself high above his circumstances, and wrapping himself in the flag he made, meaning the man is proud of his achievements.
Overall, Forever After Days is a powerful song with lyrics that inspire perseverance, self-reliance, and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
On my feet I stand tonight
Standing up and facing something, ready to take action
Stand and step up to the light
Confronting something difficult and moving towards the solution
An extraordinary man
Someone with an exceptional character or ability
Unbroken in a breaking light
Steadfast and unmoved in the face of adversity
Forever after days
Continuing into the future, indefinitely
Stand and make myself a crown
Taking control and becoming the leader of your own life
To the table I step alone
Approaching a situation without anyone else's help
Hold my own above the ground
Staying strong and confident, even when everything else feels unstable
Take my shot under the light
Seizing an opportunity and putting yourself in the spotlight
Heroes come the common way
Reminding us that bravery and greatness can come from anyone
Pull myself into the sky
Rising above challenges and reaching for success
Wrap me in the banner I made
Celebrating your own achievements and accomplishments, with pride
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: AARON B. DESSNER, MATTHEW D. BERNINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joni Webb
My favorite National song, without a doubt.
Kopó Rihe
This song is absolutely beautiful.
Garay Verdiyev
I love this so much!! WHat about you? :)
Ovetal
Thanks for upload