| The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Consmonaut more or less nailed it, except I would say that it's more of a sequel - not the opposite - to "Theory of the Crows". When the debut came out, these guys were all in their late twenties, relatively new to Brooklyn, and just beginning to understand what it means to live in the 'adult' world. In "Theory of the Crows" the grievances were fresh, even if the narrator already sounded tired with it all. In "Bloodbuzz Ohio" - and 'High Violet' in general - it's been nearly a decade since the debut. The narrator now has a family, kids, and many more years on his life. The novelty of starting a band and moving to Brooklyn has faded. He's now reflecting on home - Ohio (Cincinnati) - where it all started. Everything has changed since he left, and he has seen what's become of 'everybody he knows' and he understands because he's lived it. There's a definitely a "You Can't Go Home Again" sentiment going on throughout, as home is not what it used to be and neither are you. Part of what makes the National great is their ability to universalize the personal experience of getting older, and this song is one of the very best examples of this. When he sings of owing "money, to the money, to the money I know", we can all identify: student loans, car payments, mortgages, interest on top of interest - it's all too real and all too familiar. Clearly the ghosts of "Theory of the Crows" still linger, as the responsibilities of adulthood have not escaped him, and it doesn't appear as they ever will. |
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| The National – Apartment Story Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Just read gatinha's post after posting mine - looks like he/she nailed it already. | |
| The National – Apartment Story Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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The thematic centerpiece of 'Boxer' and maybe (along with "Theory of the Crows" and "Bloodbuzz Ohio") the quintessential National song. It's about dressing up and playing adult, looking the part and going through the motions, but ultimately wondering what the hell you're doing and how you got here. The opening lines set the scene - a guy and his girlfriend trying to get each other ready (pinned flowers, ties) for a grown-up night out, all the while acknowledging the tragedy of the whole charade: "We'll be alright we have our looks and perfume on." That's what their lives have become - looking, smelling, and acting as late-20 early-30 somethings are expected to. Like "Slow Show", it's about being out in the adult world doing adult things but wanting, at the end of the day, just to come home and do nothing at all ("Hold ourselves together with our arms around the stereo for hours..."), a temporary reprieve (hiding behind the couch until they're forced back into the fold) from the trivial obligations of the real world. They find solace in each other, and their music (which, of course, is timeless), if nothing else. Also, I always saw "Everything we did believe is diving, diving, diving, diving off the balcony" as a reference to how idealism and naivety (dreams, hopes) go right out the window as the first casualties of the growing-up process. They're watching it happen, but there's nothing they can do about it; that's just life. Great theme, great lyrics, GREAT drumming, great song. * The Replacements' "Left of the Dial" has a line - "Pretty girl keep growing up, playing makeup - wearing guitar..." that makes me think of "Apartment Story". They both reflect the notion that we never really grow up; we just play the part as we know we're supposed to. I think there's something about acknowledging this, even as we're getting older, that makes the whole thing a little less painful. |
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