The National - New Order T-Shirt

How you tapped on a box of blue American Spirits
At Anyway Cafe a little under a month
Before the ashes and management capital files filled the streets

How we wove through the cones walking home
To the place on Atlantic you shared with your hilarious sister
Kicking off your black flats, demolished and laughing

I keep what I can of you
Split second glimpses and snapshots and sounds
You in my New Order t-shirt
Holding a cat and a glass of beer

When you rescued me from the customs cops in Hawaii
When I shut down the place with my Japanese novelty bomb
And your dad came along

How you had me lay down for a temperature check
With the cool of your hand on the back of my neck
When I said "I think I'm finally going crazy for real"

I keep what I can of you
Split second glimpses and snapshots and sounds
You in my New Order t-shirt
Holding a cat and a glass of beer
I flicker through
I carry them with me like drugs in a pocket
You in a Kentucky aquarium
Talking to a shark in a corner

You in a bath on the phone
Telling somebody that maybe they're better off leaving
Than staying in it alone
You in a bath on the phone
Telling somebody that maybe they're better off leaving
Than staying in it alone

When you cried at the beach and recovered in seconds
And said everything's fine but I knew that it wasn't
Then you stayed out of reach of me for almost a year

How you looked like a poster of a 70's movie
Standing outside at the base of your magazine skyscraper
Waiting for me to go drinking downtown

I keep what I can of you
Split second glimpses and snapshots and sounds
You in my New Order t-shirt
Holding a cat and a glass of beer
I flicker through
I carry them with me like drugs in a pocket
You in a Kentucky aquarium
Talking to a shark in a corner

I keep what I can of you
Split second glimpses and snapshots and sounds
You in my New Order t-shirt
Holding a cat and a glass of beer
I flicker through
I carry them with me like drugs in a pocket
You in a Kentucky aquarium
Talking to a shark in a corner

The National feat. Sufjan Stevens - Once Upon A Poolside

Don't make this any harder
Everybody's waiting
Walk-on's almost over
Teenagers on ice

Try to keep my distance
Talking of forgiveness
Once upon a poolside
Underneath the lights

What was the worried thing you said to me?

I'll follow you everywhere
While you work the room
I don't know how you do it
Tangerine perfume

I'm not doing anyone
Any kind of favors
Watching airplanes land
And sink into the pavement

What was the worried thing you said to me?

I can't keep talking, I can't stop shaking
I can't keep track of everything I'm taking
Everything is different. Why do I feel the same?
Am I asking for too much? Can't hear what you're saying

What was the worried thing you said to me?
I thought we could make it through anything

This is the closest we've ever been
And I have no idea what's happening
Is this how this whole thing is gonna end?
This is the closest we've ever been

Don't make this any harder
Everybody's waiting
Walk-on's almost over
Teenagers on ice

Try to keep my distance
Talking of forgiveness
Once upon a poolside
Underneath the lights
What was the worried thing you said to me?

I thought we could make it through anything

The National feat. Phoebe Bridgers - Laugh Track

Losing my momentum, losing my mind
Not enough to mention, not enough time
I can't even say what it's about
All I am is shreds of doubt

And you don't know how to deal with me
You don't know how that feels
It all comes apart so easily
And you're running out of ideas

Everything melted in less than a week
Watching it felt like forever
The lights started dimming
And then they went out
Heaven came down like a blanket
I can't even say what it's about
All I am is shreds of doubt

So turn on the laugh track
Everyone knows you're a wreck
You're never this quiet, your smile is cracking
You just haven’t found what you’re looking for yet

Turn on the laugh track
We'll see if it changes the scene
Maybe this is just the funniest version
Of us that we've ever been

I think our feet are gonna slip
I think our hands are gonna shake
I think our eyes are gonna cry
I think our hearts are gonna break

Maybe we'll never lighten up
Maybe this isn't gonna quit
I think it's never coming back
Maybe we've always been like this

So turn on the laugh track
Everyone knows you're a wreck
You're never this quiet, your smile is cracking
You just haven’t found what you’re looking for yet

Turn on the laugh track
We'll see if it changes the scene
Maybe this is just the funniest version
Of us that we've ever been

I think our feet are gonna slip
I think our hands are gonna shake
I think our eyes are gonna cry
I think our hearts are gonna break

Maybe we'll never lighten up
Maybe this isn't gonna quit
I think it's never coming back
Maybe we've always been like this

I think our feet are gonna slip
I think our hands are gonna shake
I think our eyes are gonna cry
I think our hearts are gonna break

So turn on the laugh track
Everyone knows you're a wreck
You're never this quiet, your smile is cracking
You just haven’t found what you’re looking for yet

Turn on the laugh track
We'll see if it changes the scene

The National feat. Taylor Swift - The Alcott

I get myself twisted in threads to meet you at The Alcott
I go to the corner in the back where you'd always be
And there you are sitting as usual with your golden notebook
Writing something about someone who used to be me

And the last thing you wanted
Is the first thing I do
I tell you my problems
You tell me the truth
It's the last thing you wanted
It's the first thing I do
I tell you that I think I'm falling
Back in love with you

I sit there silently waiting for you to look up
I see you smile when you see it's me
I had to do something to break into your golden thinking
How many times will I do this and you'll still believe?

It's the last thing you wanted
Tell me which side are you on, dear
It's the first thing you do
Give me some tips to forget you
You tell me your problems
Have I become one of your problems?
And I tell you the truth
Could it be easy this once?
It's the last thing you wanted
Everything that’s mine is a landmine
It's the first thing I do
Did my love aid and abet you?
I tell you that I think I'm falling
Back in love with you

And I'll ruin it all over
I'll ruin it for you
I'll ruin it all over
And over, like I always do
Why don’t you
I'll ruin it all over
Rain on my parade
I'll ruin it for you
Shred my evening gown
I'll ruin it all over
Read my sentence out loud
And over, like I always do
Cuz I love this curse on our house

It's the last thing I wanted
Tell me which side are you on, dear
It's the first thing I do
Give me some tips to forget you
I tell you my problems
Have I become one of your problems?
And you tell me the truth
It's the last thing I wanted
Everything that’s mine is a landmine
It's the first thing I do
Did my love aid and abet you?
I tell you that I think I'm falling

Back in love
Back in love
Back in love with you
Back in love with you

The National feat. Rosanne Cash - Crumble

If you say that it's true
But you don't know what to do
And it's only because you love me

If you tell me that you're sure
And it can't wait anymore
And it's only because you love me

I... I'm gonna crumble
I... I'm gonna crumble

If you say it like that I'll die
If you say it like that I'll probably cry
If you say it like that and don't want to take it back
I'm gonna crumble

You say don't misread your words
Sometimes they're gonna hurt
And it's only because you love me

If you say you're well aware
Of that but you don't care
And it's only because you love me

I... I'm gonna crumble
I... I'm gonna crumble

If you say it like that I'll die
If you say it like that I'll probably cry
If you say it like that and don't want to take it back
I'm gonna crumble

Get yourself ready to catch what you can of me
Get yourself ready to pick me up
Get yourself ready to catch what you can of me
Get yourself ready to pick me up

If you say it without intention
You just thought that you should mention
And it's only because you love me

And you want to see me soon
Under less a children’s moon
And it's only because you love me

I... I'm gonna crumble
I... I'm gonna crumble

If you say it like that I'll die
If you say it like that I'll probably cry
If you say it like that and don't want to take it back
I'm gonna crumble

Get yourself ready to catch what you can of me
Get yourself ready to pick me up
Get yourself ready to catch what you can of me
Get yourself ready to pick me up

The National - Tour Manager

Alice, do what you can to get me out of this plan tonight
Maybe you can say I wanted to make it but I won't get back in time
It’s beautiful how you can find a good excuse for anything
None of them are cheap but how long can you keep on covering

Play it like it's nothin’, Alice, nothin’
Play it like it's nothin’, Alice, nothin’

I don't wanna talk about it
Don't like the way it sounds
Wanna keep it kinda quiet
Gonna try to keep it down

I know you know what I mean
You've seen me here before
Say the bubble left without me
And don't say anymore

Let me know when you're free, I gotta tell you something I believe in
It came to me while I was waking up from a something I was dreaming
It’s beautiful how we can find a good excuse for anything
And none of them are ever cheap but how long can we keep on covering

Play it like it's nothin’, Alice, nothin’
Play it like it's nothin’, Alice, nothin’
I don't wanna talk about it
Don't like the way it sounds
Wanna keep it kinda quiet
Gonna try to keep it down

I know you know what I mean
You've seen me here before
Say the bubble left without me
And don't say anymore

Play it like it's nothin’, Alice, nothin’
Play it like it's nothin’, Alice, nothin’

The National - Deep End (Paul's In Pieces)

I'm going off the deep end
Barely sleeping
Ringing in my ears sounds like singing
It's the only thing I hear

I'm drowning out inside the sound

I can't stop myself from thinking about you all the time
I'm always trying to tune you out but I'm gonna let you in tonight

When the sound of your voice comes through it's hardly there
But it's all I care about

I'm drowning out inside the sound
I can't follow what you're saying, I don't bother to try

I'm going off the deep end
Barely sleeping
Ringing in my ears sounds like singing
It's the only thing I hear

I just cling to it. I just listen
I just cling to it. I just listen

It sounds like you're saying beautiful things to me
It sounds like you're setting me up for beautiful dreams

I'm going off the deep end
Barely sleeping
Ringing in my ears sounds like singing
It's the only thing I hear

I'm drowning out inside the sound
I'm drowning out inside the sound

I can't follow what you're saying
I don't bother to try
Little bits of beautiful things you would say while I was fading off

I just cling to it. I just listen
I just cling to it. I just listen

The National - Graceless

Graceless
Is there a powder to erase this?
Is it dissolvable and tasteless?
You can't imagine how I hate this
Graceless

I'm trying, but I'm graceless
Don't have the sunny side to face this
I am invisible and weightless
You can't imagine how I hate this
Graceless

I'm trying, but I'm gone
Through the glass again
Just come and find me
God loves everybody, don't remind me
I took the medicine and I went missing
Just let me hear your voice, just let me listen

Graceless
I figured out how to be faithless
But it would be a shame to waste this
You can't imagine how I hate this
Graceless

I'm trying, but I'm gone
Through the glass again
Just come and find me
God loves everybody, don't remind me
I took the medicine and I went missing
Just let me hear your voice, just let me listen

All of my thoughts of you
Bullets through rotten fruit
Come apart at the seams
Now I know what dying means

I am not my rosy self
Left my roses on my shelf
Take the wild ones, they're my favorites
It's the side effects that save us

Grace
Put the flowers you find in a vase
If you're dead in the mind it'll brighten the place
Don't let 'em die on the vine, it's a waste
Grace

There's a science to walking through windows
There's a science to walking through windows
There's a science to walking through windows
There's a science to walking through windows without you

All of my thoughts of you
Bullets through rotten fruit
Come apart at the seams
Now I know what dying means

I am not my rosy self
Left my roses on my shelf
Take the wild ones, they're my favorites
It's the side effects that save us

Grace
Put the flowers you find in a vase
If you're dead in the mind it'll brighten the place
Don't let 'em die on the vine, it's a waste
Grace

Grace
Put the flowers you find in a vase
If you're dead in the mind it'll brighten the place
Don't let 'em die on the vine, it's a waste
Grace

The National - Fake Empire

Stay out super late tonight
Picking apples, making pies
Put a little something in our lemonade
And take it with us

We're half awake in a fake empire
We're half awake in a fake empire

Tiptoe through our shiny city
With our diamond slippers on
Do our gay ballet on ice
Bluebirds on our shoulders

We're half awake in a fake empire
We're half awake in a fake empire

Turn the light out, say goodnight
No thinking for a little while
Let's not try to figure out everything at once
It's hard to keep track of you falling through the sky

We're half awake in a fake empire
We're half awake in a fake empire

The National - Grease In Your Hair

This machine's a backwards thinker
It looks for you until it's neck hurts
Not so hard to be a person
If you've got something you can reference

Grease in your hair, fingernail polish
Water balloon eyes, totally honest

I've worked up a sincere speech
I just don't know how I'm going to say it
The second I stand up I freeze
My only move here is to faint

Don't splash apart, everything changes
All jumbled up, wide open spaces
Grease in your hair, fingernail polish
Water balloon eyes, totally honest

Down we go on the grass
Magnets make machines go crazy
I used to know you well
You'd give me such a future feeling
We're in the middle of
Some kind of cosmic rearrangement
You were so funny then
And I kept thinking I would catch it

Stay in one state, nothing is stable
Whip on a cape, step on a cable

I have no more feeling for it
I have no more frame of mind
I have no more feeling for it
I have no more frame of mind

Grease in your hair, fingernail polish
Water balloon eyes, totally honest
Don't splash apart, everything changes
All jumbled up, wide open spaces

Down we go on the grass
Magnets make machines go crazy
I used to know you well
You'd give me such a future feeling
We're in the middle of
Some kind of cosmic rearrangement
You were so funny then
And I kept thinking I would catch it
I kept thinking I would catch it
I kept thinking I would catch it
I kept thinking I would catch it

The National - Mr. November

This is nothing like it was in my room
In my best clothes
Trying to think of you
This is nothing like it was in my room
In my best clothes
The English are waiting
And I don't know what to do
In my best clothes
This is when I need you
The English are waiting
And I don't know what to do
In my best clothes

I'm the new blue blood, I'm the great white hope
I'm the new blue blood

I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November
I'm Mr. November, I won't fuck us over
I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November
I'm Mr. November, I won't fuck us over

I wish that I believed in fate
I wish I didn't sleep so late
I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders
I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders
I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders

I'm the new blue blood, I'm the great white hope
I'm the new blue blood

I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November
I'm Mr. November, I won't fuck us over
Won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November
I'm Mr. November, I won't fuck us over
I won't fuck us over, I won't fuck us over
I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November

I wish that I believed in fate
I wish I didn't sleep so late
I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders
I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders
I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders

I'm the new blue blood, I'm the great white hope
I'm the new blue blood

I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November
I'm Mr. November, I won't fuck us over

The National - I'll Still Destroy You

It's so easy to set off

The molecules and the caplets

They all have something against me

Nothing I do makes me feel different

This one's like your sister's best friends in a bath calling you to join them

Can't avoid them

This one's like your mother's arms when she was young and sunburnt in the '80s

Lasts forever

The more level they have me

The more I cannot stand me

I have helpless friendships

And bad taste in liquids

This one's like the wilderness, without the world I'm gonna miss those long nights, the windows open

I keep re-reading the same lines always up at 5am every morning

Like a baby

It's just the lights coming on

It's just the lights coming on

I have no positions

No point of view or vision

I'm just trying to stay in touch with anything I'm still in touch with

The sky's getting white

I can't find a lighter anywhere I'm going crazy

I'm not crazy

Put your heels against the wall

I swear you got a little bit taller since I saw you, I'll still destroy you

It's just the lights coming on

It's just the lights coming on

The National - Hey Rosey

I'm your angel when it rains here

Heaven picks the place

I'm a child in that way, dear

Please do it again

Hey Rosey, I think I know just what the feeling is

I was hoping you wouldn't see me like this

I hate to fall before your feet again

I'm the rocks they weigh down the angels with

Help me see it won't always be like this

Hey Rosey, I think I know just what the feeling is

Hey Rosey, I think I know just what the feeling is

You said you got to let me escape myself

You said I don't know how not to want something else

If I held your hand again, would you be here down on your knees like this?

Hey Rosey, I think I know just what the feeling is

Hey Rosey, I think I know just what the feeling is

I will love you like there's razors in it

And she'll love you like a radiant flame

There's never really any safety in it

(Please do it again)

There's never really any safety in it

Hey Rosey, I think I know just what the feeling is

Hey Rosey, I think I know just what the feeling is

The National - Afraid Of Everyone

Venom radio and venom television

I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone

Lay the young blue bodies with the old red bodies

I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone

With my kid on my shoulders I try

Not to hurt anybody I like

But I don't have the drugs to sort

I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out

I defend my family with my orange umbrella

I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone

With my shiny new starspangled tennis shoes on

I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone

With my kid on my shoulders I try

Not to hurt anybody I like

But I don't have the drugs to sort

I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out

I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out

Your voice is swallowing my soul, soul, soul

The National - Murder Me Rachael

I saw my love with pretty boy

I saw my love with pretty boy

Murder me Rachael I made a mistake

I loved her to ribbons

Loved her to ribbons

Murder me Rachael I made a mistake

Murder me Rachael

Murder me Rachael

I saw my love with pretty boy

I saw my love with pretty boy

So say goodbye to pretty boy

Just say goodbye to pretty boy

Her pretty little ribbons

Her pretty little name

Sew it in my skin

Never go away

Her pretty little ribbons

Her pretty little name

Sew it in my skin

Never go away

I saw my love with pretty boy

I saw my love with pretty boy

So say goodbye to pretty boy

Just say goodbye to pretty boy

Tomorrow won't be pretty

Tomorrow won't be pretty

Love her to ribbons

Love her to ribbons

Love her to ribbons

Love her to ribbons

Love her to ribbons

The National - American Mary

Give my jewels to the army, my silverware and jeans

Give my love to your family; tell them anything.

Give yourself to anyone; give yourself away

Don't be a nightingale for anyone's space to fill.

If I could, I'd be your star again

Fall across your falling sky...

It takes a lot of little rain to make you feel like nothing.

Anything, anything you can do, do to me for everything I did for you

Nothing.

I didn't try to take your love away

I just never knew I had it...

There is nothing you can say to ever make me want you

American

There is nothing you can say to ever make me leave you

American.

American Mary.

If you kiss me, kiss me with your silver eyes

Don't look at me like someone you don't recognize

I didn't try to do this.

Your arms around my shoulderblades

Are useless.

There is nothing you can say to ever make me want you

American

There is nothing you can say to ever make me leave you

American.

American Mary.

The National - Carin at the Liquor Store

I was a worm, I was a creature
I get on the ground the second I'd see you
You cannot command your love
I wasn't a catch, I wasn't a keeper
I was walking around like I was the one who found dead John Cheever
Hand in glove

So blame it on me
I really don't care
It's a foregone conclusion

I see you in stations and on invitations
You'd fall into rivers with friends on the weekends
Innocent skies above
Carin at the liquor store, I can't wait to see you
I'm walking around like I was the one who found dead John Cheever
In the house of love

So blame it on me
I really don't care
It's a foregone conclusion

It wasn't so bad, I wasn't that sick
Got taken by love, I wasn't that quick
Foregone conclusion

It's gonna be different after tonight
You're gonna see me in a different light
It's a foregone conclusion

So blame it on me
I really don't care
It's a foregone conclusion

I'm already seeing
Stars in the air
It's a foregone conclusion

The National - Conversation 16

I think the kids are in trouble
Do not know what all the troubles are for
Give them ice for their fevers
You're the only thing I ever want anymore
We live on coffee and flowers
Try not to wonder what the weather will be
I figured out what we're missing
I tell you miserable things after you are asleep

Now we'll leave the silver city 'cause all the silver girls
Gave us black dreams
Leave the silver city 'cause all the silver girls
Everything means everything

It's a Hollywood summer
You'll never believe the shitty thoughts I think
Meet our friends out for dinner
When I said what I said I didn't mean anything
We belong in a movie
Try to hold it together 'til our friends are gone
We should swim in a fountain
Do not want to disappoint anyone

Now we'll leave the silver city 'cause all the silver girls
Gave us black dreams
Leave the silver city to all the silver girls
Everything means everything

I was afraid I'd eat your brains
I was afraid I'd eat your brains
'Cause I'm evil
'Cause I'm evil

I'm a confident liar
Have my head in the oven so you know where I'll be
I'll try to be more romantic
I want to believe in everything you believe
I was less than amazing
Do not know what all the troubles are for
Fall asleep in your branches
You're the only thing I ever want anymore

Now we'll leave the silver city 'cause all the silver girls
Gave us black dreams
Leave the silver city to all the silver girls
Everything means everything

I was afraid I'd eat your brains
I was afraid I'd eat your brains
'Cause I'm evil
'Cause I'm evil
'Cause I'm evil

The National - Rylan

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.

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.

Rylan, we can take the quick way out.
We can turn blank white in a blank white house.
They 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.
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.

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.

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.

The National - Not In Kansas

I am not in Kansas
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
My bedroom is a stranger's gunroom
Ohio's in a downward spiral
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, neighbours, mothers, fathers
The First Testament was really great
The sequel was incredible
Like the Godfather, the first two Strokes
Every document's indelible
Infidels and Heartbreak Beats
Smidges of bad ecstasy
Must have left it in my pocket
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 them 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 thoughts or 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 alone
Flowers cover over anything
They cover over anything
Flowers cover over anything

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 its over
They lay down their airs and they hang up their tiresome words