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/
Humiliation
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then the air went thinner
I retired to the briars by the pool, it gets so loud
If I die this instant
Taken from a distance
They would probably list it down
Among other things 'round town
Got my rings around me
I got baby to pound me
I see stars and go weak
My baby cries and lays me down
In the skies over black Venice
I see eyes of a white menace
The surprise of the week
Is that I never heard the sound
All the L.A. women
Fall asleep while swimming
I got paid to fish 'em out
And then one day I lost the job
And I cried a little
I got fried a little
Then she laid her eyes on mine
And she said, "Babe, you're better off"
I got my rings around me
I got baby to pound me
I see stars and go weak
My baby cries and lays me down
In the skies over black Venice
I see eyes of a white menace
The surprise of the week
Is that I never heard the sound
Tunnel vision lights my way
Leave my little life today
As the free-fall advances
I'm the moron who dances
Ah
I was teething on roses
I was in guns and noses
Ah
Under the withering white skies of humiliation
Under the withering white skies of humiliation
Tunnel vision lights my way
Leave my little life today
Tunnel vision lights my way
Leave my little life today
She wore blue velvet
Said she can't help it
She wore blue velvet
Said she can't help it
She wore blue velvet
Said she can't help it
The National's song "Humiliation" is a haunting and introspective reflection on the pressures of life and the pursuit of success. The opening lines highlight the sense of anxiety and tension present in the song's lyrics, as the singer describes feeling suffocated by the sparse and oppressive atmosphere of a dinner party. As the song progresses, the lyrics turn to themes of loss, regret, and the difficulty of meaningful connection in a world that often feels overwhelming and isolating.
The refrain of "I got my rings around me, I got baby to pound me" suggests a search for something solid and grounding in the midst of chaos, while the lines "all the L.A. women fall asleep while swimmin'" and "lead a little life today" express a sense of detachment and disconnection from the world around the singer. The image of the singer being paid to "fish out" drowning women adds a layer of ambiguity and unease to the song's meaning, further highlighting the sense of disillusionment and alienation present throughout.
Line by Line Meaning
I survived the dinner
I made it through that social event
And the air went thinner
Breathing became more difficult due to the situation or atmosphere
I retired to the briars by the pool
I sought refuge in a more isolated or natural spot away from the commotion
It gets so loud
The noise level became unbearable
If I die this instant
If I suddenly passed away right now
Taken from a distance
If seen from afar
They would probably list it down
Others might make a note or record of it
Among other things 'round town
Along with everything else happening in the area
Got my rings around me
I have my support system or coping mechanisms with me
I got baby to pound me
Physical intimacy with my partner relieves my stress
I see stars and go weak
I become overwhelmed or entranced
My baby cries and lays me down
My partner soothes or comforts me
In the skies over black Venice
Looking at the dark horizon of Venice
I see eyes of a white menace
I perceive a looming threat or danger, possibly from a place I previously thought safe or neutral
The surprise of the week
The unexpected happening or event of the week
Is that I never heard the sound
I was oblivious to the danger
All the L.A. women
The women of Los Angeles
Fall asleep while swimmin'
They let their guard down even when they're supposed to be vigilant
I got paid to fish 'em out
I was hired to save them from drowning
And then one day I lost the job
I lost my source of income
And I cried a little
I mourned or felt regret for losing the job
I got fried a little
I got blamed or criticized for the job loss
Then she laid her eyes on mine
Then I met someone who's caught my attention
And she said, 'Babe, you're better off'
I received assurance or comfort from this person
Tunnel vision lights my way
I have a clear focus or goal
Lead a little life today
Live simply or modestly
As the free-fall advances
As I continue to face uncertainty or instability
I'm the moron who dances
I'm still able to find some joy or humor in my situation
Ah
Vocalization for emphasis or expression of feeling
I was teething on roses
I was trying to enjoy something that's inherently painful or unpleasant
I was in guns and noses
I was in a situation of conflict or danger
Under the withering white skies of humiliation
In the bleak or oppressive atmosphere of shame or disgrace
She wore blue velvet
She appeared calm or composed outwardly
Said she can't help it
She expressed helplessness or resignation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Aaron Brooking Dessner, Bryce David Dessner, Matthew Donald Berninger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind