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/
Karen
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't think I'll ever do that again
I'll end up winning and I won't know why
I'm really trying to shine here, I'm really trying
You're changing clothes and closing windows on me all the time
Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone into America
No, I wouldn't go out alone
Karen, we should call your father, maybe it's just a phase
He'll know the trick to get a wayward soul to change his ways
It's a common fetish for a doting man
To ballerina on the coffee table cock in hand
Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone into America
Whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone
Without warm water in my head
All I see is black and white and red
I feel mechanical and thin
Hear me play my violin again
I'm living in the target's shoes
All I see is black and white and blue
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest
Protect the title
Karen, put me in a chair, fuck me and make me a drink
I've lost direction, and I'm past my peak
I'm telling you this isn't me
No, this isn't me
Karen, believe me, you just haven't seen my good side yet
Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone into America
Whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone
Without warm water in my head
All I see is black and white and red
I feel mechanical and thin
Hear me play my violin again
I'm living in the target's shoes
All I see is black and white and blue
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest
Protect the title
I must be me, I'm in my head
Black birds are circling my bed
I must be me, I must be me
Black feathers are falling on my feet
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest
Protect the title
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest
Protect the title
The National’s song Karen delves into a complicated and emotionally charged relationship dynamic. The singer, addressing the titular Karen directly, struggles to maintain a sense of balance amidst conflicting desires, underlying tension, and shifting power dynamics. He conveys a sense of disorientation, feeling as if he is losing his grip on his own identity and desires.
In the opening lines, the singer establishes his unwillingness to take sides. He is aware that winning in this relationship would come at a cost, perhaps losing sight of his own values or sense of self. Nonetheless, he remains determined to shine and be recognized in his own right. However, the song’s central tension emerges as Karen seemingly tries to cut him off, closing windows and changing clothes away from his view.
The chorus functions as a warning to Karen, urging her to wait for him and not to venture into America alone. The singer presents a warning tinged with a kind of vulnerability, admitting that he is not in possession of all the answers himself. The lyrics present a sense of isolation and alienation, particularly in the line “Without warm water in my head / All I see is black and white and red / I feel mechanical and thin / Hear me play my violin again.”
All in all, Karen is a deeply personal and emotive song, with The National not shying away from examining the darker and more uncomfortable aspects of human emotion and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Karen, I'm not taking sides
The singer is not choosing a side in a conflict involving Karen
I don't think I'll ever do that again
The singer does not want to take sides in a conflict again
I'll end up winning and I won't know why
The singer fears that they will win a conflict without fully understanding why
I'm really trying to shine here, I'm really trying
The artist is putting in effort and wants to succeed
You're changing clothes and closing windows on me all the time
Karen is shutting the artist out and constantly changing her mind
Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
The singer is asking Karen to wait for them before making a decision
No, I wouldn't go out alone into America
The singer does not want to face something difficult alone
Karen, we should call your father, maybe it's just a phase
The artist suggests seeking Karen's father's advice to help her through a difficult time
He'll know the trick to get a wayward soul to change his ways
Karen's father has experience in guiding someone back on track
It's a common fetish for a doting man
The act of watching a ballerina on a coffee table is a common kink for a caring man
To ballerina on the coffee table cock in hand
Watching a ballerina on a coffee table while masturbating
Without warm water in my head
The artist feels disconnected and disoriented
All I see is black and white and red
The singer sees things in a simplistic and violent way
I feel mechanical and thin
The singer feels empty and robotic
Hear me play my violin again
The singer wants to express themselves through music
I'm living in the target's shoes
The artist feels targeted and vulnerable
All I see is black and white and blue
The artist sees things in a simplistic and sad way
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest
The singer is repeating a mantra to protect their safe space
Protect the title
The singer wants to maintain a certain status or reputation
Karen, put me in a chair, fuck me and make me a drink
The artist is asking Karen to take control and dominate them
I've lost direction, and I'm past my peak
The artist feels lost and unable to reach their potential
I'm telling you this isn't me
The artist is expressing that their current behavior is not who they truly are
Karen, believe me, you just haven't seen my good side yet
The singer is asking Karen to have faith in their better qualities
I must be me, I'm in my head
The artist is trying to find and be true to themselves
Black birds are circling my bed
The singer feels surrounded by negative thoughts and emotions
Black feathers are falling on my feet
The singer is weighed down by negative emotions
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRYCE D. DESSNER, MATTHEW D. BERNINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karenjayanne1680
Karen, eu não estou tomando partido
Eu não acho que faria isso novamente
Eu vou acabar ganhando sem saber porque
Eu estou realmente tentando brilhar aqui, eu estou realmente tentando
Você está mudando a roupa e fechar as janelas em mim o tempo todo
Bem, o que quer que faça, ouça, é melhor esperar por mim
Não, eu não iria sair sozinho na América
O que quer que faça
Ouça, é melhor esperar por mim
Não, eu não iria sozinho
Karen, deveriamos chamar seu pai, talvez seja apenas uma fase
Ele vai saber o truque para conseguir fazer uma alma rebelde mudar seus modos
É um fetiche comum para um homem apaixonado
a bailarina a torneira de mesa de café na mão
Bem, o que quer que faça
Ouça, é melhor esperar por mim
Não, eu não iria sair sozinho na América
O que quer que faça
Ouça, é melhor esperar por mim
Não, eu não iria sozinho
Sem água quente na minha cabeça
Tudo o que vejo é a preto e branco e vermelho
Eu sinto mecânico e fino
Ouça-me tocar o meu violino novamente
Eu estou vivendo no lugar do alvo
Tudo o que vejo é a preto e branco e azul.
Ocioso, inativo, inativo, ocioso, proteger o ninho
Proteger o título
Karen, me coloque em uma cadeira, me foda e me prepare um drink
Eu perdi a direção, e passei meu auge
Estou dizendo isso não é comigo
Não, isso não é comigo
Karen, acredite, você simplesmente nem viu meu lado bom ainda
Bem, o que quer que faça
Ouça. é melhor você esperar por mim
Não, eu não iria sair sozinho na América
O que quer que faça
Ouça, é melhor esperar por mim
Não, eu não iria sozinho
Sem água quente na minha cabeça
Tudo o que vejo é a preto e branco e vermelho
Eu sinto mecânico e fino
Ouça-me tocar o meu violino novamente
Eu estou vivendo no lugar do alvo
Tudo o que vejo é a preto e branco e azul
Ocioso, inativo, inativo, ocioso, proteger o ninho
Proteger o título
Eu devo ser eu, eu estou na minha cabeça
pássaros pretos estão circundando minha cama
Eu devo ser eu, devo ser eu
Penas pretas estão caindo em meus pés
Ocioso, inativo, inativo, ocioso, proteger o ninho
@forbiddenforest1827
Karen, I'm not taking sides, I don't think I'll ever do that again
I'll end up winning and I won't know why
I'm really trying to shine here, I'm really trying
You're changing clothes and closing windows on me all the time
Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone into America
Whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone
Karen, we should call your father, maybe it's just a phase
He'll know the trick to get a wayward soul to change his ways
It's a common fetish for a doting man
To ballerina on coffee table, cock in hand
Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone into America
Whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone
Without warm water in my head, all I see is black and white and red
I feel mechanical and thin, hear me play my violin again
I'm living in the target's shoes, all I see is black and white and blue
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest, protect the title
Karen, put me in a chair, fuck me and make me a drink
I've lost direction and I'm past my peak
I'm telling you, this isn't me, no, this isn't me
Karen, believe me, you just haven't seen my good side yet
Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone into America
Whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone
Without warm water in my head, all I see is black and white and red
I feel mechanical and thin, hear me play my violin again
I'm living in the target's shoes, all I see is black and white and blue
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest, protect the title
I must be me, I'm in my head, blackbirds are circling my bed
I must be me, I must be me, black feathers are falling on my feet
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest, protect the title
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest, protect the title
@ripelivejam
One of the best National songs from their best album.
@imperialguard28
(Listens to this while trying not to think about Plankton's computer wife)
@karencardenas9824
I always secretly wished someone would dedicate me this... Lol
@MrCryptic55
+Karen Cardenas I dedicate this to you Karen :)
@karengonzalez2670
same 😂😭
@KarenEduardaa
me too
@HarryMoho
Karen Cardenas you want someone to dedicate a song about someone assaulting their wife to you
? Weird
@starsalways7922
HarryMoho I didn't realize that was what this is about...but I was in a relationship with a man who would physically abuse me from time to time. One night I walked out into the garden and he came up behind me, wrapped his arms around me and placed one of his headphones in my ear, the line "This isn't me, Believe me you just haven't seen my good side yet" played. He was kind of like that. I love The National a lot. I love this song & it makes sense to me, I just didn't really understand why until I read your comment just now.
@brume1938
definitely one of my favorites of theirs, timeless
@frankbrenner4852
Pure facts.