51 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Natural Anthem Lyrics
I'll write you a song
And it won't be hard to sing
It will be a natural anthem
Familiar it may seem
It will rally all the workers
On strike for better pay
And it's chorus will resound
And boost morale thoughout the day
I'll write you a song
And I hope that you won't mind
Because all the names and places
I have taken from real life
So please don't get upset
At this portrait that I paint
It may be a little biased
But at least I spelled your name right . . .
And it won't be hard to sing
It will be a natural anthem
Familiar it may seem
It will rally all the workers
On strike for better pay
And it's chorus will resound
And boost morale thoughout the day
And I hope that you won't mind
Because all the names and places
I have taken from real life
So please don't get upset
At this portrait that I paint
It may be a little biased
But at least I spelled your name right . . .
Song Info
Submitted by
rjbucs28 On Jun 18, 2003
More The Postal Service
The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
Nothing Better
Such Great Heights
Brand New Colony
Sleeping In
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
The instrumental part doesn't go on for too long, I think. To me, that represents the actual anthem he talks about at the end of the song. It doesn't need to have lyrics... he doesn't need to say anything, it's just pure emotion in that music.
It's a great song. But when the lyrics kick in and I'm finally getting into it, the song's ending. So even though it's like, 6 minutes long, it feels too short!
all the postal service's songs are crazy when you are high
I hear that.. Give Up is an amazing should-be stoner record.
I hear that.. Give Up is an amazing should-be stoner record.
This seems like the anthem behind all of Ben's lyrics. It's like he's describing all the songs he writes - the choruses resound, the names and places are taken from real life, and they've got his biased slant on them.
But taken on its own, to me personally, it's a love song that goes beyond the sentiment of Brand New Colony, which is very much about being with the person alone, getting away from it all, protecting them. This is more about how that person inspires you to do some good and be a positive force.
I think you're exactly right.
I think you're exactly right.
Yup. Agreed. He's in love with someone, and it inspires him to do grander, greater, better things. Probably why I connect with this song so well.
Yup. Agreed. He's in love with someone, and it inspires him to do grander, greater, better things. Probably why I connect with this song so well.
may i comment about the last couple of lines of the song? i know a lot of people are interested in how the lyrics end in such an odd and maybe even sarcastic matter, but it's really not as odd as one might think. there is an old saying that goes, "it doesn't matter what someone says about you, as long as they spell your name right." ben is basically using that saying. he's telling the person that the song is directed towards not to be mad at anything he says because at least he spelled his/her name right. forgive me if someone else has already pointed this out, i just felt obliged to share. haha.
great band, great song :]
I can't decide if he's writing the anthem to a single person or to the world as a whole. It seems likely that the "you" he is addressing is humanity as a whole; however, the "from real life" line confuses me. The target is difficult to pin down. There is no doubt that it's a song to unite everyone... some of the specifics remain confusing, though.
I feel that he is adressing a third world country. "Rally all the workers" means that the people who want to get involved. The workers want their "natural" rights: to vote, to free speech, etc. The stanza below is adressing everyone who is not a worker. These people, who have grown up without knowing anything other than communism, are frightened. He's saying that he wants them to help, too, so they can be a part of history. Hence: "From real life" and "spelled your name right." He's taken the historal people from real life, and he's saying their rally will change history....
I feel that he is adressing a third world country. "Rally all the workers" means that the people who want to get involved. The workers want their "natural" rights: to vote, to free speech, etc. The stanza below is adressing everyone who is not a worker. These people, who have grown up without knowing anything other than communism, are frightened. He's saying that he wants them to help, too, so they can be a part of history. Hence: "From real life" and "spelled your name right." He's taken the historal people from real life, and he's saying their rally will change history. They will be a part, too.
Does that help? In my opinion, song meanings are just a matter of opinion, as long as you can find back up for that opinion. So, do you agree?
I think this song is about how you shouldn't treat things badly...go home and do something useful...maybe sing a song, write a poem...let your emotions run wild...and don't get worried if you make a little mistake, life goes on.
The 12 year old wonder George
I think it's kind of a definition of a song. Because songs are what this is describing. Or maybe his thoughts/feelings/anticipations about what the listener of the songs he creates will think of it each time a new song is created.
I know the introduction is amazing but to me it does seem a bit lengthy. Although, I like how in some parts of it.. you think singing will begin but then it just goes back into the music. Kind of very cool. :).
I love the way he says "But at least I spelled your name right."
Kind of like proving a point.
"I have taken from real life" I don't hear that. I hear "I have taken from your life". I'm not sure if that changes anything, or maybe I heard wrong but... It would seem more like he was talking about a specific person if those were the lyrics.
this reminds of radioheads- national anthem.. i realy like the building up of the song.. realy great album