Standing at the punch table, swallowing punch
Can't pay attention to the sound of anyone
A little more stupid, a little more scared
Every minute, more unprepared

I made a mistake in my life today
Everything I love gets lost in the drawers
I want to start over, I want to be winning
Way out of sync from the beginning

I wanna hurry home to you
Put on a slow, dumb show for you and crack you up
So you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
God, I'm very, very frightened, I'll overdo it

Looking for somewhere to stand and stay
I leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away
Can I get a minute of not being nervous
And not thinking of my dick?

My leg is sparkles, my leg is pins
I better get my shit together, better gather my shit in
You could drive a car through my head in five minutes
From one side of it to the other

I wanna hurry home to you
Put on a slow, dumb show for you and crack you up
So you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
God, I'm very, very frightened, I'll overdo it

You know I dreamed about you
For twenty-nine years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for, for twenty-nine years

You know I dreamed about you
For twenty-nine years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for, for twenty-nine years

Edit Lyrics

Lyrics submitted by lampada, edited by marsattack, mfinn

Slow Show Lyrics as written by Aaron Brooking Dessner Bryce David Dessner

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Slow Show song meanings

Add Your Thoughts

82 Comments

+15
General Comment
It’s about someone who’s really uncomfortable in public around people, maybe a little a-social and there’s a girl who makes him feel normal, loved and comfortable. He feels out of place, like he doesn’t fit where he is, he probably feels embarrassed, a little like an alien. And he wants to go home to that one person he can be himself around and feel good about it. That one person that makes him feel normal and sane. He’s been dreaming of having this person in his life since he was born, probably referring to a life full of insecurities and doubts about people and he found the person who finally understands him and accepts him.

It’s about someone who’s really uncomfortable in public around people, maybe a little a-social and there’s a girl who makes him feel normal, loved and comfortable. He feels out of place, like he doesn’t fit where he is, he probably feels embarrassed, a little like an alien. And he wants to go home to that one person he can be himself around and feel good about it. That one person that makes him feel normal and sane. He’s been dreaming of having this person in his life since he was born, probably referring to a life full of insecurities and doubts about people and he found the person who finally understands him and accepts him.

Reason:

jahjahjehon May 14, 2008 Link
- 1 Reply Log in to reply
There was an error.

@jahjahjeh

I agree with jahjahjeh....I think it's about a shy, somewhat socially inept guy who has been lonely most of his life, and dreaming of finding someone who understands him. Now he has found that person, but he's worried he is letting things become a mess ("everything I love gets lost in drawers") and being too intense and scaring her away ("I'll overdo it").

voodoodollyon November 28, 2008
+13
General Comment
I think Slow Show relates to the fact that the woman may be more educated than this man. The man, feeling very insecure, feels the constant need to clown his way into the heart of his girl, lest she become bored. And he is afraid afraid of over doing it and becoming the silly idiot he himself thinks he is. I think he is also so very in love with her, and afraid that she will find out he is the fraud he thinks he is...

I think Slow Show relates to the fact that the woman may be more educated than this man. The man, feeling very insecure, feels the constant need to clown his way into the heart of his girl, lest she become bored. And he is afraid afraid of over doing it and becoming the silly idiot he himself thinks he is. I think he is also so very in love with her, and afraid that she will find out he is the fraud he thinks he is...

Reason:

beanbag01on January 21, 2008 Link
- 3 Replies Log in to reply
There was an error.

@beanbag01

I haven't read a post yet that i completely agree with. I have felt this way about this since i heard it. I am looking at the lyrics now cause im going through exactly what I think they are talking about. first I dont know what the lyrics officially are but I hear the drawer line as Everything I love is lost in drugs. which makes a lot more sense. I think there may be some other lines I hear differently. Anyway, I see this song as the verse contrasting the chorus. The verse is about how everything is falling apart in his life. He has made some serious mistakes. These mistakes may have to do with drugs, relationships, work, the law, whatever it may be but they do not have anything to do with the person from the chorus. The person in the chorus is his savior. As bad as everything in his life is going he just wants to rush home and be with this one person who loves him unconditionally. This makes so much sense I could quote line for line but it makes so much sense. It is a thank you song to this person. "ut a blue ribbon on my brain". just comfort him when he is down because everything else is so wrong. I dont see how you all see this song so differentl.

buddycathedralon December 08, 2008

This song relates to me, a 35 year-old man who did a lot of partying in his 20s who is now married with a one year-old daughter, in a much different way.

"Standing at the punch table swallowing punch
can't pay attention to the sound of anyone
a little more stupid, a little more scared
every minute more unprepared"

---I used to be great at parties....very sociable and fun. Now I think about my responsibilities and the fact that I shouldn't be out "swallowing punch" while my baby is at home. I am completely unprepared to succeed in this atmosphere.

"I made a mistake in my life today
everything I love gets lost in drawers
I want to start over, I want to be winning
way out of sync from the beginning"

--I have been irresponsible in the past and effed things up. Of course, my new responsibility is way too important and I need to step up and get my brain and heart around it.

"I wanna hurry home to you
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightened
I'll overdo it"

--Yup, this is how I feel every day that I am leaving the office, a friend's house, or anywhere, these days, when I am coming home to my daughter. The Slow Show is whatever performance I am putting on, slow and at her level, with the intent of cracking her up and building love.

"Looking for somewhere to stand and stay
I leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away
Can I get a minute of not being nervous
and not thinking of my dick
My leg is sparkles, my leg is pins
I better get my shit together, better gather my shit in
You could drive a car through my head in five minutes
from one side of it to the other"

--Again, feeling uncomfortable in the party, singles environment in which I used to thrive. "The wall leaned away" means that the environment is no longer accepting of me and wants me out of there, and home where I belong. The party with the punch bowl isn't where I belong anymore. I need to "stop thinking of my dick" because my days of fornication are over.

"You know I dreamed about you
for twenty-nine years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for
for twenty-nine years"

--I dreamed of true love my whole life, and found it when she was born.

toastwaveron April 07, 2009

I really think you nailed it beanbag. Makes sense to me. Toastwaver, I'm curious if it is actually a child that the 29 years refers to or 29 years it took him to find his true love maybe?

bisongrecoon March 30, 2010
+9
General Comment
This song is about feeling inadequate in every area of your life except your relationship. It's about being in love with the way the person you love makes you feel. "I made a mistake in my life today," "I want to start over, I want to be winning" "I leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away" "I better get my shit together, better gather my shit in" - not being good enough, feeling awkward, not feeling like you're living up to your potential. "I wanna hurry home to you put on a slow, dumb show for you and crack you up so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain god I'm very, very frightening I'll overdo it" But it's all worth it to come home at the end of the day to someone who accepts you for exactly who you are. Even if you don't have any moves... :) She makes him feel smart and sexy, the opposite of how he feels around other people. "I missed you for for twenty-nine years" Gorgeous. It's how The National says "You complete me."

This song is about feeling inadequate in every area of your life except your relationship. It's about being in love with the way the person you love makes you feel. "I made a mistake in my life today," "I want to start over, I want to be winning" "I leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away" "I better get my shit together, better gather my shit in" - not being good enough, feeling awkward, not feeling like you're living up to your potential. "I wanna hurry home to you put on a slow, dumb show for you and crack you up so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain god I'm very, very frightening I'll overdo it" But it's all worth it to come home at the end of the day to someone who accepts you for exactly who you are. Even if you don't have any moves... :) She makes him feel smart and sexy, the opposite of how he feels around other people. "I missed you for for twenty-nine years" Gorgeous. It's how The National says "You complete me."

Reason:

heardithereon September 12, 2009 Link
- No Replies Log in to reply
There was an error.

@heardithere
+4
My Opinion
This song is pretty much about someone with zero self-esteem who is in love with someone. He sucks at relationships (everything I love gets lost in drawers) and he has never had a chance to really stay with someone for a long period of time... most likely because he is his own worst enemy. So he knows he is a fuck up. He wants to still go home to this girl he loves because he seeks approval from her... he cares way too much about what this girl thinks of him. He already knows he will try too hard. He will say something stupid. He knows that this relationship is doomed. But only because he is so unsure of every single thing that he does. It seems like at the end he cuts the BS and just comes clean about how he feels. Doesn't over do it and just simply states "You know I dreamed about you for 29 years, before I saw you." The song is him realizing that he isn't such a fuck up and that he knows how he feels and he just has to be honest rather than put on a show for her.

This song is pretty much about someone with zero self-esteem who is in love with someone. He sucks at relationships (everything I love gets lost in drawers) and he has never had a chance to really stay with someone for a long period of time... most likely because he is his own worst enemy. So he knows he is a fuck up. He wants to still go home to this girl he loves because he seeks approval from her... he cares way too much about what this girl thinks of him. He already knows he will try too hard. He will say something stupid. He knows that this relationship is doomed. But only because he is so unsure of every single thing that he does. It seems like at the end he cuts the BS and just comes clean about how he feels. Doesn't over do it and just simply states "You know I dreamed about you for 29 years, before I saw you." The song is him realizing that he isn't such a fuck up and that he knows how he feels and he just has to be honest rather than put on a show for her.

Reason:

thatsboxyon February 12, 2013 Link
- No Replies Log in to reply
There was an error.

@thatsboxy
+4
My Interpretation
A love song. I think this is about a man in love, perhaps for the first time. He's awkward and desperately wants approval from the person he's in love with (to give him a 'blue ribbon'). He also sees her as his sanctuary from the world, all he wants to do is go home and be with her and make her laugh. He's afraid he's going to blow it - "God I'm very, very frightening, I'll overdo it" - because he wants to impress her SO much, and can't think of anything else, and can't find peace in normal social situations. "Can I get a minute of not being nervous And not thinking of my dick?" And "You could drive a car through my head in five minutes From one side of it to the other" And she (I'm just assuming it's a she) is perhaps the love of his life, the one he always dreamed to find. And it scares him. You know I dreamed about you For twenty-nine years before I saw you You know I dreamed about you I missed you for, for twenty-nine years Just a beautiful song.

A love song. I think this is about a man in love, perhaps for the first time. He's awkward and desperately wants approval from the person he's in love with (to give him a 'blue ribbon'). He also sees her as his sanctuary from the world, all he wants to do is go home and be with her and make her laugh. He's afraid he's going to blow it - "God I'm very, very frightening, I'll overdo it" - because he wants to impress her SO much, and can't think of anything else, and can't find peace in normal social situations. "Can I get a minute of not being nervous And not thinking of my dick?" And "You could drive a car through my head in five minutes From one side of it to the other" And she (I'm just assuming it's a she) is perhaps the love of his life, the one he always dreamed to find. And it scares him. You know I dreamed about you For twenty-nine years before I saw you You know I dreamed about you I missed you for, for twenty-nine years Just a beautiful song.

Reason:

crookedlegson June 21, 2013 Link
- 1 Reply Log in to reply
There was an error.

@crookedlegs

I love reading about everyone's interpretations...so interesting!

I got a much more tragic image in my head when I heard this song for the first time...maybe it's the ex ER worker in me.

I think he is at his lover's funeral....."standing at the punch table, swallowing punch
Can't pay attention to the sound of anyone A little more stupid, a little more scared
Every minute, more unprepared".

I think he feels he is to blame for his lover's death...the "drawers" could symbolize a coffin.
"I made a mistake today
Everything I love gets lost in the drawers
I want to start over, I want to be winning
Way out of sync from the beginning
I wanna hurry home to you"

I think he may have crashed a car with his lover, maybe he was showing off by speeding to impress, but sadly it ended in tragedy. Now he longs for a "slow show", and regrets thinking with his "dick".
He is injured from the car crash too...."My leg is sparkles, my leg is pins I better get my shit together, better gather my shit in". He must have sustained some leg trauma from the crash, and has pins in his bones.

somethoughtson July 30, 2014
+3
General Comment
You know I dreamed about you for twenty-nine years before I saw you There just seems so much ache and half joy in this line I can't even catch my breath. I imagine him naked on the edge of his bed cock flailing writing this on the back of a cigarette pack.

You know I dreamed about you for twenty-nine years before I saw you There just seems so much ache and half joy in this line I can't even catch my breath. I imagine him naked on the edge of his bed cock flailing writing this on the back of a cigarette pack.

Reason:

powderfinger01on May 03, 2007 Link
- 3 Replies Log in to reply
There was an error.

@powderfinger01

Wow. I am imagining that now too.

abrooks148on August 03, 2010

wtf

maill112on March 25, 2012

@Brian902 lol

ofnothingon February 02, 2014
+2
General Comment
the national is so damn good

the national is so damn good

Reason:

jasono52on April 20, 2007 Link
- No Replies Log in to reply
There was an error.

@jasono52
+2
General Comment
"i leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away" i know it's kind of lame just to quote what's already been quoted above...but jesus. that line is GOOD. so funny and so humanly pathetic...what an album this is.

"i leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away" i know it's kind of lame just to quote what's already been quoted above...but jesus. that line is GOOD. so funny and so humanly pathetic...what an album this is.

Reason:

artformsnowon June 01, 2007 Link
- 3 Replies Log in to reply
There was an error.

@artformsnow

definitely my favorite line in the song

katiezon March 07, 2009

My favorite line in the song as well. really good

GroundsForDivorceon September 09, 2009

Rumor has it Branwell Bronte died leaning on a wall to prove he could.

antisinecuriston November 18, 2009
+2
General Comment
Standing at the punch table swallowing punch.... : Im at a party listening to all the bullshti being said around me with empty conversations that mean nothing to me that are not of any interest to me and im stuck here putting up with it. (punch has several meaning of getting drunk; punched by all this conversations that are going over my head) I made a mistake in my life today...: I got into a fight with youtoday and now im here at a party realizing how much i miss you and realizing that i dont and shouldnt be here and i shouldnt have foughten with you over it I wanna hurry home to you..(my fav part of the whole song) Hes saying that while hes at this party hes stuck at the only thing he wishes he could do is repair the fight he had with you and go back to being with you to make you laugh instead of being at theis akward party that is making me more frightened with every minute i spend away from you and frightened that you are still mad at me. I leaned on the wall adn the wall leaned away..: im looking for soem type of support but couldnt find it in any one of the people im surrounded by You could drive a car through my head..: Imagine driving through a dark tunnel; you are in the dark and the only thing you can see is the light at the end of the tunnel that you are dying to get to (the light is the person you want to make laugh. you want to be back at that happy point int eh relationship with that significant person You know I dremed about you for 29 years: You are everythign i ever desired and sought out in a person . This song is beautiful it cna be taken in so many directions. It can be a testament of love and apology to a significant other or it can be viewed as a song talkign about an akwardness of feeling like you havent reached your goals in life and you cant be happy and calm and sure of yourself or think about anything else until you achieve this goal.

Standing at the punch table swallowing punch.... : Im at a party listening to all the bullshti being said around me with empty conversations that mean nothing to me that are not of any interest to me and im stuck here putting up with it. (punch has several meaning of getting drunk; punched by all this conversations that are going over my head) I made a mistake in my life today...: I got into a fight with youtoday and now im here at a party realizing how much i miss you and realizing that i dont and shouldnt be here and i shouldnt have foughten with you over it I wanna hurry home to you..(my fav part of the whole song) Hes saying that while hes at this party hes stuck at the only thing he wishes he could do is repair the fight he had with you and go back to being with you to make you laugh instead of being at theis akward party that is making me more frightened with every minute i spend away from you and frightened that you are still mad at me. I leaned on the wall adn the wall leaned away..: im looking for soem type of support but couldnt find it in any one of the people im surrounded by You could drive a car through my head..: Imagine driving through a dark tunnel; you are in the dark and the only thing you can see is the light at the end of the tunnel that you are dying to get to (the light is the person you want to make laugh. you want to be back at that happy point int eh relationship with that significant person You know I dremed about you for 29 years: You are everythign i ever desired and sought out in a person . This song is beautiful it cna be taken in so many directions. It can be a testament of love and apology to a significant other or it can be viewed as a song talkign about an akwardness of feeling like you havent reached your goals in life and you cant be happy and calm and sure of yourself or think about anything else until you achieve this goal.

Reason:

oddlittleraraon September 14, 2007 Link
- No Replies Log in to reply
There was an error.

@oddlittlerara
+2
General Comment
I cried when I listened to the song.I don't know why. You know I dreamed about you for twenty-nine years before I saw you You know I dreamed about you. I missed you for for twenty-nine years I began to love the song, the band just because these lyrics.It's just beautiful...

I cried when I listened to the song.I don't know why. You know I dreamed about you for twenty-nine years before I saw you You know I dreamed about you. I missed you for for twenty-nine years I began to love the song, the band just because these lyrics.It's just beautiful...

Reason:

ArcAlexon April 25, 2011 Link
- No Replies Log in to reply
There was an error.

@ArcAlex

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Slow Show

The National

82 Comments

Add your thoughts

Most popular lyric tags

More The National Lyrics