Lit Up

This is such a solid track

When I first heard this, I thought he was on about his dick- "Come to attention", "The only good part of me" etc. now, i dunno, seems like it's about getting wasted. How cool are female bodyguards btw? With revolvers too...

I see the following situation being described... a man, perhaps a musician, has the option of being with one of two people.

One, "My Bodyguard," is the woman whom he is either already with (or at least, she'll claim that he is). She is assertively protective of him and makes a point to deter others from getting close to him with a "revolver." My Bodyguard is who wants him, but not who he wants.

The other, nicknamed "Manhattan" in the song, is the "you" who the song is essentially written towards. "Wear[ing] [her] skirt like a flag," she commands his attention with how she conducts herself. He believes she possesses a longevity, a wisdom, as she "doesn't fade" which directly contrasts how he sees his own seemingly-temporary contribution to the world. His work "only lasts a season" and only captures the interest of fad-happy and uncritical "bedroom kids."

"My Bodyguard" girl tries to convince him that "Manhattan" girl is "bad blood" and the "low-life of the party" because she feels threatened by her and wants to persuade him that she is bad for him.

The man, however, is conflicted. Manhattan is "the only good part of [him]" when she is around. She's only near him for "a little while" but makes such an impression on him that all he can do is "[light] up" and smoke his anxiety down. When making the case for "My Bodyguard," he wants to be able to convince himself that he has tried to "untie" from Manhattan. This may be to preserve his relationship with "My Bodyguard" or, perhaps, because he's intimidated by how desperately he wants a potentially unobtainable "Manhattan." He's not satisfied, of course, with that answer. He wants to be "in control" of the situation but he's torn and, instead of getting what he wants, he can only, helplessly, light up.

I always thought it was "I tried it one time"?

Lit up, its about fags. Matt is a smoker i heard somewhere it was about cigarettes.

definitely reminds me of debauchery filled nights...the only good part of him left is him on the substances (i would think...) when hes singing lit up lit up alright i try to untie my knot it seems to be a drug reference i dont know if i'd go as far as sayin smack just because hes tying a knot. . .possibly though when hes talking about bad blood again.

you know i always hear your love life falls apart not low life of the party........good song though

i thought it might be using cigarettes as an excuse to escape monotony.

sheltered children(bedroom kids) paralleled by sheltered adults(body guards). "only lasts a season" might reference the constant changing of fads by which we structure our lives. he hopes to "untie Manhattan", or maybe break off from the daily routine of working in the city?

he believes he's in control, but he's only grasping at an escape. a cigarette.

The National to me always projected that "lover and a fighter" image, and "lighting someone up" is a term that's used when someone decisively wins a fight, so... I mean, with the party references, and the chorus line "I tried it one time and got lit up" - sounds like he's describing getting drunk at a party and trying to be a tough guy - definitely seems like a very National-esque activity

this sound I make that only lasts the season and only heard by bedroom kids who buy for that reason

HIPSTERS!!! but this line also makes me think of how desolate it can be if you're an artist and you realize that whatever buzz may surround your stuff fades pretty fast.

sounds like it's just about partying in the city.