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/
This Is the Last Time
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a hundred times yourself
I wish everybody knew
What's so great about you
Oh, but your love is such a swamp
You don't think before you jump
And I said I wouldn't get sucked in, ah
This is the last time
Oh, don't tell anyone I'm here
I got Tylenol and beer
I was thinking that you'd call somebody
Closer to you
Oh, but your love is such a swamp
You're the only thing I want
And I said I wouldn't cry about it, ah
This is the last time
This is the last time
We were so under the brine
We were so vacant and kind
We were so under the brine
We were so vacant
We were so under the brine
We were so out of our minds
We were so under the brine
We were so vacant
Oh, when I lift you up you feel
Like a hundred times yourself
I wish everybody knew
What's so great about you
Oh, but your love is such a swamp
You don't think before you jump
And I said I wouldn't get sucked in, ah
I won't be vacant anymore
I won't be waitin' anymore
I won't be vacant anymore
I won't be waitin' anymore
I won't be vacant anymore
I won't be waitin' anymore
I won't be vacant anymore
I won't be waitin' anymore
Jenny, I am in trouble
Can't get these thoughts out of me
Jenny, I'm seeing double
I know this changes everything (it takes a lot of pain)
Jenny, I am in trouble
Can't get these thoughts out of me to (pick me up)
Jenny, I'm seeing double (it takes a lot of rain)
I know this changes everything (in my cup)
It takes a lot of pain to pick me up
It takes a lot of rain in my cup
It takes a lot of pain
Baby, you gave me bad ideas
Baby, you left me sad and high
The National's song 'This Is the Last Time' is a poignant and emotional track describing the difficulties of a tumultuous relationship. The song discusses the central character's struggle with the love of their partner. The opening lines, "Oh, when I lift you up, you feel like a hundred times yourself," speak to the joy and excitement that the central character experiences when they are with their partner. They believe that their partner is exceptional and wish that others could see the greatness in them as well.
However, as the song progresses, the central character begins to describe the problems they face in their relationship. The line "Oh, but your love is such a swamp, you don't think before you jump" encapsulates the idea that sometimes, the partner's love is overwhelming and difficult to navigate. Despite the difficulties, the central character cannot help but be drawn back to their partner, as evidenced by the repeated refrain "This is the last time."
The final lines of the song, "Jenny, I am in trouble, can't get these thoughts out of me, Jenny, I'm seeing double, I know this changes everything," are a plea to the central character's partner, Jenny. They reveal the desperation and confusion the central character feels, unable to escape their relationship despite its difficulties. The song is a beautiful and honest portrayal of the complexities of love and the difficulties that can arise in even the strongest relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, when I lift you up
When I support you, you exude extreme confidence.
You feel like a hundred times yourself
You are someone who is not driven by self-doubt.
I wish everybody knew
I want the world to know about your exceptional qualities.
What's so great about you
I want people to notice the beauty of your soul.
Oh, but your love is such a swamp
Your love is like a difficult situation that I cannot get out of.
You don't think before you jump
You act impulsively and without thought.
And I said I wouldn't get sucked in
I told myself that I wouldn't get trapped by your love again.
I
I am determined to not repeat my past mistakes.
This is the last time
I have made a decision to break away from this pattern of getting trapped.
Oh, don't tell anyone I'm here
I am hiding from everyone and trying to escape from your grasp.
I've got time and no one near
I am currently free from anyone's control and can do as I wish.
I was thinking that you'd call somebody
I was hoping that you would find someone else to love.
Closer to you
I want you to find someone who can handle you better than I can.
You're the only thing I want
Although I want to break free, I find it difficult because you are the only one I love.
And I said I wouldn't cry about it
I promised myself that I would not show any weakness for you again.
We were so under the brine
We were submerged in an emotion that we could not control.
We were so vacant and kind
We were kind, yet empty in our actions.
We were so out of our minds
We were acting irrationally and without reason.
I won't be vacant anymore
I do not want to be empty and unfeeling anymore.
I won't be waitin' anymore
I am done waiting for things to change on their own.
Jenny, I am in trouble
I am having a difficult time dealing with my feelings for you.
Can't get these thoughts out of me
I cannot stop thinking about you.
Jenny, I'm seeing double
I am seeing two different sides of you.
I know this changes everything
My confusing thoughts are going to change our relationship forever.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Aaron Brooking Dessner, Bryce David Dessner, Matthew D. Berninger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tekla
LYRICS
Oh, when I lift you up
You feel like a hundred times yourself
I wish everybody knew
What's so great about you
Oh, but your love is such a swamp
You don't think before you jump
And I said I wouldn't get sucked in
I
This is the last time
Oh, don't tell anyone I'm here
I've got time and no one near
I was thinking that you'd call somebody
Closer to you
Oh, but your love is such a swamp
You're the only thing I want
And I said I wouldn't cry about it
I
This is the last time
This is the last time
We were so under the brine
We were so vacant and kind
We were so under the brine
We were so vacant
We were so under the brine
We were so out of our minds
We were so under the brine
We were so vacant
Oh, when I lift you up
You feel like a hundred times yourself
I wish everybody knew
What's so great about you
Oh, but your love is such a swamp
You don't think before you jump
And I said I wouldn't get sucked in
I
I won't be vacant anymore
I won't be waitin' anymore
I won't be vacant anymore
I won't be waitin' anymore
I won't be vacant anymore
I won't be waitin' anymore
I won't be vacant anymore
I won't be waitin' anymore
Jenny, I am in trouble
Can't get these thoughts out of me
Jenny, I'm seeing double
I know this changes everything
Jenny, I am in trouble
Can't get these thoughts out of me
Jenny, I'm seeing double
I know this changes everything
Nazeer 123
Jenny, I am in trouble
Can't get these thoughts out of me to (pick me up)
Jenny, I'm seeing double (it takes a lot of rain)
I know this changes everything (in my cup)
It takes a lot of pain to pick me up
It takes a lot of rain in my cup
It takes a lot of pain
Baby, you gave me bad ideas
Baby, you left me sad and high
m55
My brother had a spinal cord injury and was quadriplegic for the last 5 years of his life, this was one of my songs for him. About 2 weeks after he died(he lived about 5 years after his injury) this was playing in the music store and there was another quadriplegic guy that was shopping. I tried to avoid him because I didn't want to break out in tears. When I was walking out of the store he pulled up and was actually driving ❤. He asked for help opening his cds. My brother would have been proud to see him driving ❤. To make a long story short, Mikey and Bobby, you are remembered (sorry for the novel) 😢 ❤😇
takfarinass fenniche
Very touching 😢
Sisu Blue
XOXOXO HUGGGS
bzpy
These stories just get more and more ridiculous
alaskawaters
The National's lyrics are sometimes the only way I know to express what my depression makes me feel. This deep lingering sadness in their songs hits home so hard.
Andoni Roque
The National is like that cool guy on a party that at one time disappears into the backyard to have a beer and a smoke by himself in the quiet and looks at the stars.
Burzum66
@J T that's me bro
Burzum66
Thanks for that comment to. I think it's a great description. I identify my self with this band
Aleks
I think I was that kind of guy, but unfortunately I haven't known who would understand or appreciate me, only punks and cannonballers to quote another of their songs.
dierdriu
@Cris Serna Interpol is like that really cool guy at the party who steps out into the back garden to spend some time alone.
You come out and peer up at the stars with him.
He looks at you with an inscrutable expression, then tells you a random fact about a famous serial killer.
You're terrified, but also fascinated.