Consisting of musicians already well-known in their native country, from such bands as Jaga Jazzist and Bigbang and featuring the accomplished singer-songwriter Thomas Dybdahl on vocals, The National Bank was immediately labeled a "super group" in the vein of Cream and Emerson, Lake & Palmer upon their arrival on the music scene.
In February 2008 they released a new album, called Come On Over To The Other Side.
Members
Lars Horntveth (guitar)
Martin Horntveth (drums)
Thomas Dybdahl (vocals)
Nikolai Hængsle Eilertsen (bass)
Morten Qvenild (keyboards)
Official website: www.thenationalbank.no
Styrofoam
The National Bank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like most things in my vision it's out of reach
In salty surf
In sea weed disengaged from an ice cold berth
I watched it bob below me like a bird
Heavy oiled feathers from a spill
A death wish heard
In ocean spray with salt stains on pink skin
I'm at the edge way high on a ledge with
Nothing to stop me you can't stop me if I dare
Look what it's come to
That I'll attempt to
Vaporize and suddenly disappear
We steer like styrofoam
Over dark undertows
'Round and 'round
Waiting
Your turn in "pick up sticks"
Easy come easy goes
Once more we ought to know
To stay tied
To our own lives
Pictures fade in albums where they're glued
Captions shine in gold ink to go along
In cursive hand
Some faces you only barely recognize
I'm at the edge way
High on a ledge where
Nothing can stop me you can't stop me if I dare
Look what it's come to
That I'll attempt to
Vaporize and suddenly disappear
Lyrics from eLyrics.net
The National Bank's song Styrofoam presents a hauntingly beautiful picture of isolation and desperation. The lyrics start with a vivid image of a styrofoam floating past the beach, out of reach, serving as a metaphor for the sense of detachment and unattainability of the things the singer desires. The salty surf and seaweed add to the sense of isolation and being disengaged from the world. The singer watches the styrofoam bobbing below them like a dying bird, covered in heavy oiled feathers from a spill, representing the sense of hopelessness and death wish.
The second stanza repeats the imagery of the styrofoam, emphasizing the feeling of powerlessness, lack of control, and uncontrollable drifting, much like the object itself. The phrase "We steer like styrofoam over dark undertows" symbolizes the lack of direction and control over one's life, represented by the dark undertows. The image of "pick up sticks" implies that life is a game of chance, and the only constant is instability.
The third and final stanza evokes the sense of nostalgia and lost memories. The pictures fading in albums and faces only barely recognized are a reminder of the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of change. The final repetition of the chorus expresses the singer's despair and desire to disappear into nothingness.
The song is a poignant commentary on the human condition, emphasizing a sense of loneliness and isolation in the face of the inevitable change and loss. Through its vivid imagery and haunting vocals, Styrofoam evokes a sense of melancholia and despair that is both universal and deeply personal.
Line by Line Meaning
The styrofoam is floating past the beach
The styrofoam is drifting on the water's surface past the shore.
Like most things in my vision it's out of reach
The styrofoam is like many other things that I see but cannot grasp or obtain.
In salty surf
The styrofoam is in the salty water of the ocean.
In sea weed disengaged from an ice cold berth
The styrofoam is floating amidst the seaweed, having dislodged from its originally frozen position.
I watched it bob below me like a bird
I observed the styrofoam bouncing up and down in the water, much like a bird in flight.
Heavy oiled feathers from a spill
The styrofoam is covered in thick oil, similar to the effect of a bird's feathers after an oil spill.
A death wish heard
The styrofoam's presence in the polluted ocean is an indication of a self-destructive tendency.
In ocean spray with salt stains on pink skin
The styrofoam is surrounded by ocean mist and my skin bears salt stains due to prolonged exposure to the salty air.
I'm at the edge way high on a ledge with
I am situated on the edge of a high platform.
Nothing to stop me you can't stop me if I dare
Nobody can stop me if I take a risk and attempt to do what I want.
Look what it's come to
I have reached a point where I am considering a drastic action.
That I'll attempt to
I am contemplating making a bold move.
Vaporize and suddenly disappear
I may vanish into thin air unexpectedly.
We steer like styrofoam
We are floating aimlessly like styrofoam, pushed against the tide without any direction or purpose.
Over dark undertows
We are carried by strong currents beneath the surface of the sea.
'Round and 'round
We are moving in circles, making no progress.
Waiting
We are waiting for something to happen to us, without taking action ourselves.
Your turn in "pick up sticks"
It is your turn to act, to pick up the metaphorical sticks and make a move.
Easy come easy goes
Things that come easily can also be taken away easily.
Once more we ought to know
We should have learned this lesson before.
To stay tied
We must remain tethered to our own lives and not drift away aimlessly.
To our own lives
We should be connected and invested in our personal journeys and not get lost in the tides of life.
Pictures fade in albums where they're glued
Memories captured in photographs eventually become dim and blurred over time.
Captions shine in gold ink to go along
Words inscribed beneath the photos seem to glitter in an attempt to bring back the colors of the past.
In cursive hand
Written in a flowing, elegant handwriting.
Some faces you only barely recognize
Over time, the images of certain people you once knew can become barely recognizable.
Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.