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/
not in kansas
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't slow down and I can't stand it
Broadcast News into Hallelujah
Hanne Darboven had a great idea
Make a list, write it down
Shave your head, draw a crown
Move back home with mom and dad
The pool is drained and they are not there
Ohio's in a downward spiral
I can't go back there anymore
Since alt-right opium went viral
I am not in Kansas
Where I am, I don't know where
Take me for a walk and blame this
On the water dripping off the spear
You even get to wear a dress
And feed his flesh to wayward daughters
Everyone is so impressed
Teachers, neighbors, mothers, fathers
First Testament was really great
The sequel was incredible
Like the Godfathers or the first two Strokes
Every document's indelible
Infidels and Heartbreak Beats
Smidges of bad ecstasy
I must have left it in my pocket
With my Christianity in my rocket
I'm binging hard on Annette Bening
I'm listening to R.E.M. again
"Begin The Begin", over and over
"Begin The Begin", over and over
I am not in Kansas
Where I am, I don't know where
Take me for a walk and blame this
On the water dripping off the spear
If the sadness of life makes you tired
And the failures of man make you sigh
You can look to the time soon arriving
When this noble experiment winds down and calls it a day
My shadow's getting shorter
I'm a child at the border
Oh, godmother you can't ignore us
There isn't anybody else left to love us
I wanted you when I was a child
I raked the leaves and I started fires
Now I'm reading whatever you give me
It's half your fault so half-forgive me
I'm way behind in reflex math
Biphasic sleepless emotional crashes
Two days into one, shove 'em together
I always wake up way before the weather
My mother needs an army
But I'm leaving home and I'm scared that I won't
Have the balls to punch a Nazi
Father, what is wrong with me?
I am not in Kansas
Where I am, I don't know where
Take me for a walk and blame this
On the water dripping off the spear
Oil droppers, rubber gloves
I raked the leaves, I lit 'em up
I read whatever it is you give me
It's half your fault so half-forgive me
At the real Neil Armstrong taught me
To play cutthroat at my Aunt Angela's house
While my real dad's skate got caught in the ice
And he drove us home with a spiral fracture
It was then I was enlightened
Roberta Flack the whole way home
I was entirely unfrightened
Dozing off and eternally unalone
The flowers cover over everything
They cover over everything
The flowers cover over everything
I am not in Kansas
Where I am, I don't know where
Take me for a walk and blame this
On the water dripping off the spear
Time has come now to stop being human
Time to find a new creature to be
Be a fish or a weed or a sparrow
For the Earth has grown tired and all of your time has expired
Oh, the gardens are sprouting with flowers
All the tree-tops are bursting with birds
And the people all know that it's over
They lay down their airs and they hang up their tiresome words
The National's "Not In Kansas" is a song about the disorienting experience of feeling lost and disconnected. The lyrics are a stream of consciousness meditation on life's uncertainties, and the feeling of being overwhelmed by the chaos in the world. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of it: "I am not in Kansas, I can't slow down and I can't stand it". The reference to "Kansas" alludes to the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz, in which Dorothy must navigate a new and strange world in order to find her way home. Here, the line suggests that the singer feels like they have been transported to a place where they no longer belong and they are struggling to come to terms with it.
The song then goes on to reference a number of different ideas and images, including Hanne Darboven's art, alt-right opium, and Annette Bening. These references seem to represent a sense of cultural fragmentation and confusion, as though the singer is struggling to make sense of everything that is happening around them. The line "My bedroom is a stranger's gunroom" is especially poignant, as it suggests a sense of danger and uncertainty even in one's own private space.
Overall, "Not In Kansas" is a powerful and haunting commentary on the disorientation and confusion of contemporary life. The song's lyrics capture a sense of anxiety and unease that is all too familiar for many people in today's world.
Line by Line Meaning
I am not in Kansas
I am not in a familiar or safe environment
I can't slow down and I can't stand it
I am struggling to cope with the pace and chaos of my life
Broadcast News into Hallelujah
There is a strange mix of positivity and despair in the media
Hanne Darboven had a great idea
I appreciate the creative output of others
Make a list, write it down
I am attempting to organize my life
Shave your head, draw a crown
I am experimenting with my appearance and identity
Move back home with mom and dad
I am considering regressing to a simpler or more secure time in my life
The pool is drained and they are not there
My childhood and the familiar places of my past are no longer accessible
My bedroom is a stranger's gunroom
The places where I should feel most safe and myself are unfamiliar and possibly dangerous
Ohio's in a downward spiral
The place where I come from is experiencing difficulties and a decline in quality of life
I can't go back there anymore
I can no longer revisit my past life, whether by choice or circumstance
Since alt-right opium went viral
The rise of far-right ideologies on the internet has had a negative impact on society
Take me for a walk and blame this
I seek escape and relief from the difficulties of my life
On the water dripping off the spear
In the smallest things, there is beauty and solace to be found
You even get to wear a dress
I am seeking unconventional experiences or behaviors
And feed his flesh to wayward daughters
I am exposing myself to potentially dangerous or taboo activities
Everyone is so impressed
Others are impressed or affected by my actions, whether positively or negatively
Teachers, neighbors, mothers, fathers
My behavior has attracted attention from a range of people in my life
First Testament was really great
I appreciate religious texts and stories
The sequel was incredible
Continuations of stories or art have the potential to be even more impactful or meaningful
Like the Godfathers or the first two Strokes
I appreciate cultural artifacts and entertainment
Every document's indelible
Records and documents are important and lasting
Infidels and Heartbreak Beats
I am interested in dark or intense subjects and emotions
Smidges of bad ecstasy
There is a mix of pleasure and pain in my experiences
I must have left it in my pocket
I have lost something or forgotten something important
With my Christianity in my rocket
I carry my religious beliefs with me wherever I go
I'm binging hard on Annette Bening
I am immersing myself in a particular culture or interest
I'm listening to R.E.M. again
I am revisiting things from my past for comfort or nostalgia
"Begin The Begin", over and over
I find solace or meaning in repeating certain experiences or media
If the sadness of life makes you tired
Life's difficulties can be exhausting and demoralizing
And the failures of man make you sigh
The failures or shortcomings of people are disheartening
You can look to the time soon arriving
There is hope that things will improve or change
When this noble experiment winds down and calls it a day
Eventually, every effort or experiment comes to an end
My shadow's getting shorter
Time is moving on and my life is changing
I'm a child at the border
I am in a place or situation that makes me feel vulnerable or uncertain
Oh, godmother you can't ignore us
I am seeking help or guidance from a higher power or authority figure
There isn't anybody else left to love us
I feel alone or unloved in my current situation
I wanted you when I was a child
I have long-standing desires or needs that have not been met
I raked the leaves and I started fires
I have a history or past that is now inaccessible or changed
Now I'm reading whatever you give me
I am learning or receiving guidance from others
It's half your fault so half-forgive me
I am accepting partial responsibility for my actions or situation
I'm way behind in reflex math
I am struggling with certain aspects of my life or learning
Biphasic sleepless emotional crashes
My emotional state is tumultuous and draining
Two days into one, shove 'em together
I am attempting to fit more into my limited time or resources
I always wake up way before the weather
I have a sense of restlessness or unease in my life
My mother needs an army
My family or loved ones are dealing with difficult situations that require support or effort
But I'm leaving home and I'm scared that I won't
I am making a difficult transition or facing a daunting task
Have the balls to punch a Nazi
I am grappling with issues of morality and ethics
Father, what is wrong with me?
I am struggling with my identity and place in the world
Oil droppers, rubber gloves
I am exposed to dangerous or toxic environments or substances
I raked the leaves, I lit 'em up
I am taking care of or disposing of natural materials
At the real Neil Armstrong taught me
I have learned important lessons or experiences from unexpected sources
To play cutthroat at my Aunt Angela's house
I have learned games or strategies that are aggressive or competitive
While my real dad's skate got caught in the ice
I have experienced or witnessed accidents or difficult situations
And he drove us home with a spiral fracture
I have experienced or witnessed the aftermath of painful or traumatic events
It was then I was enlightened
Difficult or painful experiences can lead to personal growth or understanding
Roberta Flack the whole way home
Music or art can have a powerful impact on emotions and memories
I was entirely unfrightened
There are moments of fearlessness or calm in the midst of turmoil
Dozing off and eternally unalone
Despite my difficulties, I am not truly alone in the world
The flowers cover over everything
There is beauty and growth in the midst of decay or destruction
Time has come now to stop being human
Humanity is facing a crisis or reckoning
Time to find a new creature to be
There are alternate or new ways of experiencing life or consciousness
Be a fish or a weed or a sparrow
There is a spectrum of experiences and identities available to us
For the Earth has grown tired and all of your time has expired
Our collective impact on the planet is reaching a critical point
Oh, the gardens are sprouting with flowers
Even in the midst of turmoil, there is beauty and growth
All the tree-tops are bursting with birds
Nature continues to thrive and renew itself
And the people all know that it's over
There is a sense of finality or acceptance in the face of change or crisis
They lay down their airs and they hang up their tiresome words
People are shedding their pretenses and burdens in the face of hardship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Aaron Dessner, Anne Eickelberg, Brian Hageman, Hugh Swarts, Jay Paget, Mark Davies, Matthew D. Berninger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind