| The National – Driver, Surprise Me Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| I think this song is about someone who is returning home after years of absence from a certain relationship. They want to start a new life with new love. Perhaps they have just been released from jail or are trying to start a new life in a new town. They are numb emotionally and don't mind if success comes at the price of embarrassment. | |
| The National – Runaway Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I think the song is about a child's apathetic relationship with their parent. They don't enjoy "being led to the flood" and understand it will only get worse ("we've got another thing coming undone") but they are just tired of fighting and trying to make it better. Although the child recognizes the need for change, the consequences of publicly leaving the situation outweigh the consequences of simply putting up with it momentarily (maybe until the other parent has had enough or the child is old enough to live on their own). The line "and it's taking forever" describes the ineffectiveness of this passive strategy, but it's all the child knows. I guess this interpretation could also extend to anyone in a relationship where they are uncomfortable, but I interpret as a child with an abusive parent or a parent with some type of addiction that causes them to fight. |
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