Lyrics: Matt Berninger
Music: Aaron Dessner
Length: 3:43
Rylan
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You remind me of everyone
Rylan did you break your mother's heart
Every time you tried to play your part
Is it easy to keep so quiet?
Everybody loves a quiet child
Is it easy to seem so grand?
Rylan you could take the quick way out
You could turn blank-white in a blank-white house
Say that you're a pervert, you're a vulture
Don't you wanna be popular culture?
Is it easy to keep so quiet?
Everybody loves a quiet child
Is it easy to seem so grand?
Wanna be alone in la-la land?
Is it easy to live inside the room?
All the little kids are high and hazy
Everybody got nowhere to go
Everybody wants to be amazing
Rylan California's rotten
Dress light-blue to be forgotten
Eat your pearls on Sunday morning
Keep the conversations boring
Stay with me among the strangers
Change your mind and nothing changes
Don't let's show any emotion
When you climb into the ocean
Rylan you should try to get some sun
There's a little bit of hell in everyone
Is it easy to keep so quiet?
Everybody loves a quiet child
Is it easy to seem so grand?
Wanna be alone in la-la land?
Is it easy to live inside the room?
All the little kids are high and hazy
Everybody got nowhere to go
Everybody wants to be amazing
Rylan you should try to get some sun
You remind me of everyone
Rylan you should try to get some sun
Little bit of hell in everyone
Rylan you should try to get some sun
The National's "Rylan" is a song that questions the pursuit of fame, the pressure to conform, and the struggles of living in a society that values individuality while simultaneously boxing people in. The lyrics address Rylan, a person who seems to be struggling with fitting in and finding their place in the world.
The song opens with the advice to Rylan to get some sun, a metaphor for stepping out into the world and trying to find oneself. The singer notes that Rylan reminds them of everyone, suggesting that their struggles with identity and conformity are universal. The next few lines suggest that Rylan has tried to play their part, but that it has been a struggle and may have caused pain to their mother.
The chorus questions the ease with which Rylan seems to keep quiet and seem grand, perhaps suggesting a level of insecurity or dissatisfaction with their current situation. The second verse presents an alternative, the possibility of taking the quick way out and becoming part of popular culture, but this is presented as a negative option.
The final verse describes California as rotten and suggests that people often try to blend in and be forgotten rather than stand out. The conversations are boring, and people avoid showing emotion. The chorus repeats, ending with the reminder that there is a little bit of hell in everyone, and Rylan should try to get some sun.
Overall, "Rylan" is a thought-provoking exploration of identity, fame, and conformity. It raises questions about the importance of individuality, the pressure to conform, and the struggle to find a place in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Rylan you should try to get some sun
The singer is telling Rylan to get out and enjoy life more
You remind me of everyone
The singer is saying Rylan is relatable to everyone
Rylan did you break your mother's heart
The singer is asking if Rylan caused his mother pain
Every time you tried to play your part
The artist is suggesting that Rylan may not feel like he fits in with societal expectations
Is it easy to keep so quiet?
The artist is questioning if it's difficult for Rylan to be reserved
Everybody loves a quiet child
The singer is saying that people tend to like people who don't cause trouble
Is it easy to seem so grand?
The singer is questioning if Rylan's confidence is genuine
Wanna be alone in la-la land?
The artist is asking if Rylan desires to escape reality
Rylan you could take the quick way out
The artist is suggesting that Rylan could give up too easily
You could turn blank-white in a blank-white house
The artist is saying Rylan could lose himself in conformity
Say that you're a pervert, you're a vulture
The singer is implying that Rylan could resort to naming himself something negative to gain attention
Don't you wanna be popular culture?
The artist is suggesting that Rylan may desire acceptance from society
Is it easy to live inside the room?
The singer is questioning if Rylan is comfortable staying indoors all the time
All the little kids are high and hazy
The singer is describing how others may be stuck in a stagnant lifestyle
Everybody got nowhere to go
The singer is emphasizing that many people lack direction
Everybody wants to be amazing
The artist is implying that people often seek validation or admiration
Rylan California's rotten
The artist is saying that even the most ideal places can be flawed
Dress light-blue to be forgotten
The singer is saying Rylan could conform and not stand out by dressing in a simple way
Eat your pearls on Sunday morning
The singer is implying that Rylan could try to show off their wealth to be accepted
Keep the conversations boring
The artist is suggesting that Rylan may try to fit in by not being too interesting or different
Stay with me among the strangers
The artist is saying that they want Rylan to stay with them even if they feel like outsiders
Change your mind and nothing changes
The artist is saying that change requires action, not just thoughts
Don't let's show any emotion
The singer is suggesting that people should hide their true feelings
When you climb into the ocean
The artist is implying that Rylan may want to disappear or escape their problems
There's a little bit of hell in everyone
The singer is saying that everyone has their own struggles, even if they hide it well
Contributed by Adeline Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Leonor Grosso
[Verse 1]
Rylan, you should try to get some sun
You remind me of everyone
Rylan, did you break your mother's heart?
Every time you tried to play your part
[Chorus]
Is it easy to keep so quiet?
Everybody loves a quiet child
Underwater, you're almost free
If you wanna be alone, come with me
[Verse 2]
Rylan, we can take the quick way out
We can turn blank white in a blank white house
Say that you're a pervert, you're a vulture
Don't you wanna be popular culture?
[Chorus]
Is it easy to keep so quiet?
Everybody loves a quiet child
Underwater, you're almost free
If you wanna be alone, come with me
Is it easy to live inside yourself?
All the little kids are high and hazy
Everybody's got nowhere to go
Everybody wants to be amazing
[Bridge]
Rylan, California's rotten
Dress light blue to be forgotten
Eat your pearls on Sunday morning
Keep your conversations boring
Stay with me among the strangers
Change your mind and nothing changes
Don't let show any emotion
When you climb into the ocean
[Outro]
Rylan, you should try to get some sun
There's a little bit of hell in everyone
Rylan, you should try to get some sun
You remind me of everyone
Rylan, you should try to get some sun
There's a little bit of hell in everyone
Rylan, you should try to get some sun
source: genius lyrics
Juicy Crickets
14.) "Rylan"
[Verse 1]
Rylan you should try to get some sun
You remind me of everyone
Rylan did you break your Mother's heart?
Every time you tried to play your part
[Chorus 1]
Is it easy to keep so quiet?
Everybody loves a quiet child
Underwater you're almost free
If you wanna be alone come with me
[Verse 2]
Rylan you could take the quick way out
You could turn blank white in a blank white house
Say that you're a pervert, you're a vulture
Don't you wanna be popular culture?
[Chorus 2]
Is it easy to keep so quiet?
Everybody loves a quiet child
Underwater you're almost free
If you wanna be alone come with me
Is it easy to live inside yourself?
All the little kids are high and hazy
Everybody got nowhere to go
Everybody wants to be amazing
[Bridge]
Rylan, California's rotten
Dress light blue to be forgotten
Eat your pearls on Sunday morning
Keep your conversations boring
Stay with me among the strangers
Change your mind and nothing changes
Don't let show any emotion
When you climb into the ocean
Rylan you should try to get some sun
There's a little bit of hell in everyone
[Outro]
Rylan you should try to get some sun
You remind me of everyone
Rylan you should try to get some sun
There's a little bit of hell in everyone
Rylan you should try to get some sun
Yara J
Rylan was me in college. I have never related to a song so much. The loneliness, the awkwardness, the superiority complex born as a result. My mom's heart was always broken because I could never be "normal", though ironically she was pretty much directly responsible for my low self esteem and social anxiety. I was depressed for the better part of my teenage years because I never felt like I fit in. Today I am much better due to medication and healing through independence and a healthy, supportive relationship. I do still feel the Rylan inside me creep out every now and then, but I am in the process of letting go. Thank you so much for this masterpiece, I will never forget about this song.
Danny W
@Kevin Stone That make you feel good?
Soho Flame
Hey my name is rylan as well
Kylee Cammon
@Kevin Stone woah so rude for no reason, they were just sharing their experiences and relatability to the song :/
Kim Leibbrand
If you were never normal why should you be normal? Being normal is default, be your self no matter what circumstance.
Emily Young
All the songs on this album are making me nostalgic for someone else's life
Nicky
@donncha sheehan u r going to dįsappear
donncha sheehan
@Mike Field to the office
Robbie
The life of Donald Trump.
Leonor Grosso
[Verse 1]
Rylan, you should try to get some sun
You remind me of everyone
Rylan, did you break your mother's heart?
Every time you tried to play your part
[Chorus]
Is it easy to keep so quiet?
Everybody loves a quiet child
Underwater, you're almost free
If you wanna be alone, come with me
[Verse 2]
Rylan, we can take the quick way out
We can turn blank white in a blank white house
Say that you're a pervert, you're a vulture
Don't you wanna be popular culture?
[Chorus]
Is it easy to keep so quiet?
Everybody loves a quiet child
Underwater, you're almost free
If you wanna be alone, come with me
Is it easy to live inside yourself?
All the little kids are high and hazy
Everybody's got nowhere to go
Everybody wants to be amazing
[Bridge]
Rylan, California's rotten
Dress light blue to be forgotten
Eat your pearls on Sunday morning
Keep your conversations boring
Stay with me among the strangers
Change your mind and nothing changes
Don't let show any emotion
When you climb into the ocean
[Outro]
Rylan, you should try to get some sun
There's a little bit of hell in everyone
Rylan, you should try to get some sun
You remind me of everyone
Rylan, you should try to get some sun
There's a little bit of hell in everyone
Rylan, you should try to get some sun
source: genius lyrics