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/
It Never Happend
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My whole life’s been leaning on the door
Waitin’ for someone to turn the key
For the moment that I always knew I’d see
But I’m not sure I’ll ever leave this bed
That whole world is trapped inside my head
And the feelings that I never could explain
Oh I couldn’t tell you how to ease the pain
I needed someone to tell me
That I was okay
And that it’s alright
It’s never too late
All I need to do is jump the fence
But the voices in my head ain’t makin’ sense
And the memories that I’d hoped would carry me
They could open up the door and set me free
‘Cause I was broken I was angry
I needed someone to tell me
That I was okay
And that it’s alright
It’s never too late
And I was hopeless I was empty
I needed something to fill me
I was helpless I was falling
I needed someone to lift me
‘Cause I was broken
I was angry
I needed someone to tell me
That I was okay
And that it’s alright
It’s never too late
Every day is started with a choice
To be the one who hears or be the voice
Please hold on to this promise keep it true
You be the voice for me and I for you
‘Cause I was broken I was angry
I needed someone to tell me
That I was okay
And that it’s alright
It’s never too late
So if you’re hopeless and you’re worn through
I’ll be the someone to tell you
That it’s okay
And it’s alright
It’s never too late
The National's song "It Never Happened" is a poignant reflection on the aftermath of pain, grief, and trauma. The lyrics delve into the singer's inner turmoil as they struggle to come to terms with the events that have shaped their life. The phrase "Open up the gates and let it go" conjures up a sense of release, of letting go of the past, but it also implies that the singer has been holding something back. The idea that their "whole life's been leaning on the door" hints at a tendency to dwell on past events and to feel trapped by them.
The next line "Waitin' for someone to turn the key" suggests a sense of helplessness and a reliance on external validation or approval. The singer is waiting for someone to save them, to unlock the door and set them free. But the following lines reveal a sense of resignation and pessimism: "But I'm not sure I'll ever leave this bed / That whole world is trapped inside my head." The imagery of being trapped in bed paints a picture of someone who is immobilized by their pain and is unable to move forward. The line "And the feelings that I never could explain" highlights the difficulty of articulating complex emotions and the isolation that can result from feeling misunderstood.
The song then moves into a chorus that repeats the refrain "It's never too late" and emphasizes the idea that no matter how broken or lost someone may feel, there is always hope for redemption. The second verse further underscores this point by suggesting that memories can be a source of comfort and can help in the healing process. The line "And the memories that I'd hoped would carry me" suggests that the singer is clinging to memories of happier times, hoping that they will provide a way out of their pain.
The final lines of the song offer a message of solidarity and mutual support. The singer switches from first-person to second-person pronouns, addressing the listener directly and offering to be the one to "tell you that it's okay." The idea that "You be the voice for me and I for you" emphasizes the importance of connection and empathy in healing from trauma.
Line by Line Meaning
Open up the gates and let it go
I want to start fresh and let go of my past.
My whole life’s been leaning on the door
I have always been waiting for something to happen to change my life.
Waitin’ for someone to turn the key
I am waiting for someone to save me from my problems and pain.
For the moment that I always knew I’d see
For that moment when everything will finally be perfect and make sense.
But I’m not sure I’ll ever leave this bed
I am stuck in my current situation and don't know how to move forward.
That whole world is trapped inside my head
My thoughts and emotions are overwhelming and consuming me to the point that I can't escape them.
And the feelings that I never could explain
There are emotions that I can't describe or fully understand.
Oh I couldn’t tell you how to ease the pain
I don't know how to make the pain and sadness go away.
‘Cause I was broken I was angry
I was hurt and angry about my situation.
I needed someone to tell me That I was okay And that it’s alright It’s never too late
I needed someone to offer me reassurance and hope that things will get better.
All I need to do is jump the fence
The solution to my problems may be simpler than I realize.
But the voices in my head ain’t makin’ sense And the memories that I’d hoped would carry me
My thoughts and memories are overwhelming and confusing me even more.
They could open up the door and set me free
My past experiences could help me move forward if I learn from them.
Every day is started with a choice
I can choose to focus on the negative or positive aspects of my life.
To be the one who hears or be the voice
I can either listen to others or speak up and help others.
Please hold on to this promise keep it true
I am asking others to make a promise to me to help each other through difficult times.
You be the voice for me and I for you
Let's support each other and be there for each other.
So if you’re hopeless and you’re worn through
I am reaching out to those who are feeling hopeless and exhausted.
I’ll be the someone to tell you That it’s okay And it’s alright It’s never too late
I want to reassure you that it's okay to ask for help and that there is always hope for a better future.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Stefan Szabo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sergej Lovrekovic
my favourite off this album, brilliant lyrics, Matt's soft voice, roaring intense guitars at the end!
Emiroma
Many old ones are really good (Available, Slipping Husband, Cold Girl Fever and so on), but probably my favorites are the in-between albums, Alligator and Boxer. And their new stuff (High Violet and Trouble Will Find Me) is also fantastic.
reny12341
Love this song!
BRAINWORMS
Being a Devout follower of Radio 6 i already hear a lot of these bands and i always feel Honoured to do so. Awesome track.
marco brenni
Ottima anche questa dei "The National" ! Un complesso in continuo miglioramento, e giustissima e meritata ascesa !
marco brenni
Uno dei segreti del loro grande successo è questa incredibile voce, ma anche il suo modo di cantare, addirittura meglio di Bruce Springsteen !
The Scientist
Awesome tune
Alana Stouffer
I love it! :)
Jcop42
Thank you. I've listened to nearly every song since you replied, and the ones you just mentioned are some of my favorites.
Jcop42
I'm starting to get into the National a lot. I love HIgh Violet and Boxer, but I want to get into some of their older songs because I listened to this and 90 Mile Water Wall and loved them. Does anyone have any recommendations?