The National – Baby, We'll Be Fine

General CommentMatt Berninger writes a lot of lyrics about the awkward transition into adulthood; characters stumbling and faking their way through their fledgling careers and lives, pretending to be capable and confident but feeling desperately insecure inside. This song is probably the best example, although Mistaken For Strangers touches on it as well.

The character in this song (maybe Berninger himself, in his younger days?) yearns to be given reassurance that he's doing a good job at work ("Son, I've been hearing good things") but when that isn't forthcoming, tries to give himself a pep talk instead:

"Take a forty-five minute shower and kiss the mirror
And say, look at me
Baby, we'll be fine
All we gotta do is be brave and be kind"

God, that's beautiful/melancholy/pitiful. He's saying, look I know you "don't know how to do this" but suck it up, and be a nice person, and you'll get by okay. Fake it if you have to ("put on a smile") but don't let anybody know how insecure you feel inside.

He lets his lover know how he's really feeling though. He says "I've had a stilted, pretending day". He wants her to tell him he'll be fine, because he's been trying to convince himself of the same thing and it isn't working. I think he even feels like he isn't a fully functioning human, the spilled drink making him "melt like a witch and scream", just like holy water would burn a vampire.

What is he sorry for? For being an anxious, insecure fuck up, I think. So many of Berninger's lyrics make me want to give him a bear hug, but this one is just devastating.

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  @watchthestars

General CommentI think it's about feeling low and wanting to be told you're loved without having to ask. For somone to show you they care spontaniously, from his boss, or from the girl who should love him unconditionally.

But it doesn't happen, so he turns to sex, a physical feeling to fill the emotional ones he's missing. When it goes wrong, in the tiniest way, such as spilling a drink on his clothes caused him to snowball.

The song is, essentially just "tell me you love me"

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  @sleep forever

General CommentHe's assuring himself that everything will be fine, essentially a love song about himself.

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  @nonentity21

My InterpretationBaby We'll Be Fine is a song simply about wanting the people in your life who you try to please the most to appreciate all you do. A simple nod of appreciation, something meaningful, or just saying "Baby we'll be fine" is all he is looking for. He needs it from his boss, his girlfriend, and unfortunately the only person he can get any type of assurance from is himself, which is why he kisses himself in the mirror and says "baby we'll be fine."
Forty-five minute showers, Jack and Coke and waking up from a night of Sauvignon are all attempts at soothing ones self. In the end, trying to seek more comfort with sex he has a cold drink spilled on him and sadly is the one who keeps apologizing.
Unfortunately there is very little confidence in the lyrics of this song. Very beautiful, but truly sad.

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  @defactoind
  0

  Death of A Salesman

  Flag caro89316on June 04, 2010  

General CommentI really like this song. It's low key. Sounds a little sorrowful. It puts mee in the mood for longer nights, changing leaves and gray skys.

Sweater weather.

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  @NativeIndie

My InterpretationTo me, this song came on my shuffle & I heard it for the first time at possibly the most poignant moment of my life.

"All night I lay on my pillow and pray
For my boss to stop me in the hallway
Lay my head on his shoulder and say
Son, I've been hearing good things"

- He is praying for God's approval. He has been working so hard & feels unnapreciated.

"I wake up without warning and go flying around the house
In my sauvignon fierce, freaking out
Take a forty-five minute shower and kiss the mirror
And say, look at me
Baby, we'll be fine
All we gotta do is be brave and be kind"

- He is drunk. Maybe literally, maybe metaphorically... He is out of control... Trying to reassure himself & knowing he will be ok, but he is emotionally tormented.

"I put on an argyle sweater and put on a smile
I don't know how to do this
I'm so sorry for everything"

- He puts on a brave face, but he is lost & so sorry for not being a better, more in control person.

"Baby, come over, I need entertaining
I had a stilted, pretending day
Lay me down and say something pretty
Lay me back down where I wanted to stay
Just say something perfect, something I can steal
Say, look at me
Baby, we'll be fine
All we've gotta do is be brave and be kind"

- Another day where he was depressed. He wants his partner to comfort him. He wants reassurance.

"I pull off your jeans, and you spill jack and coke in my collar
I melt like a witch and scream
I'm so sorry for everything"

- He is with is partner & being intimate, but out of control & still "drunk". This is where he seeks his comfort, but ultimately it is not helping. He has the girl he was craving but he is still depressed & it is because he is seeking his comfort in the wrong places. His depression comes from a deeper place.

This song is utterly hopeless & embodies the feeling of depression perfectly. It is simple & beautiful. Gosh, it cut me down... Personally, I believe the writer should be seeking salvation from loving God & being loved by God. I hope anyone reading this may find some comfort because if you're connecting to this song, you're probably feeling as miserable & forsaken as I do right now. Things will get better. Just be patient & trust in God. Seek first His kingdom. <3

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  @ryanEC
  0

  Wise words :)
  
  I love this song, and I can definitely identify with it.
  
  I think it goes beyond depression though- depression always has a root. I think that root is insecurity, a sense of an unstable environment. That's why he's seeking approval. That's why he can't rest. That's why even the wine can't calm him down. That's why the physical intimacy can't calm him down. That's why he needs the words he can steal and remember.
  
  I definitely "lock" the texts that say nice things, reassuring things.
  
  Ultimately, it's that frenzy- you hate feeling the way you do and feel extreme remorse for it, but he can't find the cure. I agree that God's love is the antidote.
  
  This song reminds me of:
  
  Anxiety Attack - Jeffrey Lewis
  Still Be Around - Uncle Tupelo

  Flag adelasteron February 01, 2013  

  0

  Amen.
  
  For all those who don't believe in God, or even hate God-- You have never been alone, and never will be. No matter what you have done, God still wants to know&love you infinitely more than you want to know him.
  
  "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God GOES WITH YOU; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

  Flag ItsYourson September 28, 2013  

General CommentThis is about inserting positive thoughts to onesself and sighing about...

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  @SuperSista
  0

  I agree. It's strikes me as a song about a guy who is unhappy with life, and with his relationship with the woman mentioned in the song. Maybe because of something he did? He mentions being "So sorry for everything" and then at the end of the song he "Melts like a witch and scream" which, to me, represents the facade he's being trying to reinforce in himself melting away... His frustration with the situation boils over.
  
  I dunno, a lot of the song is still a mystery to me.

  Flag imoveritfoshoon June 26, 2009  

General CommentFor me, this is the best song of Alligator. Just listening to it the other day I got all choked up when he sings "I don't know how to do this". It's such a vulnerable declaration. It's completely heartbreaking this song.

The first part of the song definitely seems the person trying to find justification in life through his work life which he never gets. And this may be because of his relationship with his wife. I haven't heard such a complex and nuanced song about a relationship in a while.

Love love love this song.

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  @binaural

General CommentThe strongest and most relatable song on Alligator. Beautiful music coupled with amazing lyrics. I think we've been missing the strong suggestion that he's ridiculously insecure, too. He would want his boss to compliment him or use his girlfriend as an emotional crutch if he didn't feel confident with himself.

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  @TheAmazingSaint

General CommentThis song reminds me a lot of Springsteen's "Atlantic City" for some reason. I could easily imagine the narrator of this song saying "last night I met this guy and I'm gonna do a little favor for him." It's all about the insecurity and desperate hope when you can feel things slipping away beyond your control.

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  @zms676
  0

  It's almost like the thought process of a younger version of Springsteen's character is captured by The National.

  Flag 3crookedheartson December 06, 2011