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/
Reasonable Man
The National Lyrics
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A quiet love is better than none
And I don't mind losing a friend to a friend
If only to be a reasonable man
And I don't mind waiting if it's for the best
A careful heart is better than none
I don't mind painting my back with the past
Smoothing the laugh o'er the lane
But if it happens to you
The same kind of deal
I recommend fire
Instead of the fool
I don't mind shaking your hand at the door
If only to be a resolute man (Pictures in resolute pain)
If only to be a resolute man
If only to be a resolute man
But if it happens to you
The same kind of deal
I recommend fire
Instead of the fool
I don't mind shaking your hand at the door
If only to be a resolute man (Pictures in resolute pain)
If only to be a resolute man
If only to be a resolute man
If only to be a reasonable man
If only to be a reasonable man
The National's song "Reasonable Man" is a reflective and melancholic piece that centers around the theme of acceptance and loss. The opening lines reveal the singer's resignation to losing a loved one to their own self, indicating his willingness to give her space to explore her own self in her own way. He acknowledges that a relationship which turns out to be quiet and uneventful is still better than having none. He further expands on this theme in the next line, admitting that losing a friend to another friend - again, if it means being reasonable - is worthwhile. The singer speaks of being a "reasonable man," indicating that he is willing to forgo his own desires and aspirations if it's what's best for everyone.
The second half of the song delves into the singer's past and how he has chosen to deal with it. He paints a vivid image of his "resolute pain" and "laugh o'er the lane," suggesting that he has carried the weight of his experiences with him but has also learnt to cope with them. The final lines of the song speak of the singer's advice to others going through the same experiences. He recommends using fire - a metaphor for dealing with pain, instead of foolishly ignoring it.
Overall, "Reasonable Man" is a hauntingly beautiful track that forces the listener to confront their own sense of loss and coping mechanisms.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't mind losing a girl to herself
I am fine if my relationship with someone ends because they are focused on finding and bettering themselves.
A quiet love is better than none
Being with someone who doesn't speak or connect in the way that you are accustomed to is still better than being alone.
And I don't mind losing a friend to a friend
I am okay with a friend prioritizing another friend if it benefits their relationship.
If only to be a reasonable man
I do this action in order to be considered reasonable and understandable.
And I don't mind waiting if it's for the best
I am willing to be patient if it is the best option for the situation.
A careful heart is better than none
I would rather be cautious in my feelings than not have any emotion at all.
I don't mind painting my back with the past
I am willing to acknowledge and carry the weight of my past experiences.
Pictures in resolute pain
Having memories that elicit strong emotions from personal strength rather than fragility.
Smoothing the laugh o'er the lane
Overcoming past wounds with grace and optimism.
But if it happens to you
If this same scenario happens to you in the future...
The same kind of deal
The same type of outcome or situation.
I recommend fire instead of the fool
I advise a drastic action such as severing ties completely rather than continuing to tolerate foolhardy behavior.
I don't mind shaking your hand at the door
I am willing to part on good terms and with mutual respect.
If only to be a resolute man (Pictures in resolute pain)
This statement refers to earlier mentioned idea of being strong and unwavering despite harrowing experiences.
If only to be a reasonable man
I am doing these things in order to be seen as someone who is level-headed and practical.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, TUXEDO MUSIC
Written by: Billy Cioffi, Mickey Mcgee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind