Runaway

This might be because I'm relating it a little too much to a recent personal situation, but here's how I interpret it:

It's about a relationship with someone you love deeply but which is just not working. Even though you know it's doomed ("There's no saving anything"), you can't bring yourself to leave ("I won't be no runaway, 'cause I won't run").

How I see it, is that the reason that they don't want to leave is that things are not always bad, they love the person and things are great unless they start arguing ("We don't bleed when we don't fight"). The "throw your arms in the arm/lose our shirts in the fire" bit would be when they don't fight and instead have a wild and fun time.

I think the references to the sun are just abstract allusions to the fire you can feel in an intense relationship, as if you've swallowed this huge flaming thing and it's burning away inside of you; it hurts, but it's magical.

"What makes you think I'm enjoying being led to the flood?" is pretty self explanatory. It's just expressing that don't want to be travelling towards the end of the relationship.

I might be completely wrong, but that's how I see it.

I think this song is about a relationship that in the midst of a big argument. The relationship looks very bleak and they are at the point that he doesn't see it being resolved ("There's no saving anything. Now we're swallowing the shine of the sun.")

However bad things are, he still has feelings and does not want to quit ("But I won't ne no runway cause I won't run.")

He does not like when she brings the argument to the forfront and he feels like things are piling on top of the main argument.("What makes you think I'm enjoying being led to the flood. We've got another thing coming undone. And its taking us over.")

He would much rather set aside their differences and move on with the relationship.("we don't bleed when we don't fight. Go ahead put your arms I'm the air tonight".) And would rather kiss and make up.("Go ahead lose our shirts in the fire tonight.")

She keeps bringing up the argument while he tries to move past it.("I'll go braving everything with you swallowing the shine of the sun.")

In my opinion, Berninger is lamenting the future of society.

Many people I've talked to feel that we're headed towards a destructive outcome. I really don't think Berninger concedes that there is any hope left at all for mankind. However, I feel that it is a very powerful song emotionally (even if it is about Global Warming), because despite his incredibly ominous foresight, he is determined to see it through.

Also, although I think "No, I won't be no runaway" can implicate a variety of actions. Sometimes I think he's talking about suicide, and some days I think he means going to some dark corner of the world where he won't be reminded of our collective monstrosity.

Chills every time he sings "What makes you think I'm enjoying being led to the flood?"

This song is about standing up for one's beliefs in society. It's tough to speak up against those in power and would be safer if we didn't ("We don't bleed when we don't fight") but if we don't fight we're going to lose what we have; if you throw your arms in the air (give up) we'll lose our shirts in the fire. He doesn't enjoy getting beat down by his fight but it's important and he wants you to join him and stop letting things get worse around you, because you're afraid.

Holy hell this song is good. The lift in the music that goes along with "what makes you think I enjoy being led to the flood" is something else.

My fav song right now. I heard it in the Zombie movie and shazammed it right in the theater. I love this song because to me it means facing life. It always calms me. It means that no matter what we will keep going towards life and what we believe and that is what life is about. Almost like a "meet joe black" movie or the song by Stevie Nicks, "Landslide". LOVE THIS SONG...

Here is a song where the lyrics are crushing, and if read like a poem it could only be interpreted as a tragedy. Yet songs are more than words alone and I can't help but feel uplifted by the end. The way the music rises quietly throughout.... It is as if the facts of the situation have not changed and everything is still awful, but you find some reason to hope for a better future despite everything. I think this song is similar to Blood by The Middle East and Arcade Fire's Wake Up in that it is able to speak honestly about terror and darkness and within that, discover hope.

there's no savin' anything (and) i was swallowing the shine of the sun there's no savin' anything from the shine of the sun

but i won't no runaway 'cause i won't run no, i won't be no runaway what makes you think i'm enjoyin' being led to the flood? we got another thing comin' undone and it's takin' us over

we don't bleed when we don't fight go ahead go ahead throw your arms in the air tonight we don't bleed when we don't fight go ahead go ahead throw your shirts in the fire tonight

(but) what makes you think i'm enjoyin' being led to the flood? we got another thing comin' undone

but i won't be no runaway 'cause i won't run no, i won't be no runaway 'cause i won't run no, i won't be no runaway what makes you think i'm enjoyin' being led to the flood? we got another thing comin' undone and it's taking forever

we don't bleed when we don't fight go ahead go ahead throw your arms in the air tonight we don't bleed when we don't fight go ahead go ahead lose our shirts in the fire tonight

what makes you think i'm enjoyin' being led to the flood? we got another thing comin' undone we got another thing comin' undone and it's takin' us over

i'll go bravin' anything with you swallowing the shine of the sun i'll go bravin' everything with you swallowing the shine

but i won't be no runaway 'cause i won't run no, i won't be no runaway 'cause i won't run no, i won't be no runaway (but) what makes you think i'm enjoyin' being led to the flood? we got another thing comin' undone and it's taking us over

we don't bleed when we don't fight go ahead go ahead throw your arms in the air tonight we don't bleed when we don't fight go ahead go ahead lose our shirts in the fire tonight

(but) what makes you think i'm enjoyin' being led to the flood? we got another thing coming undone we got another thing coming undone and it's takin' us over and it's taking forever

i changed your lyrics a little bit after listening to the song. maybe we heard different version, cause the songs for the new album are unfinished and the national are known for being perfectionists and changing parts of their songs until they fit perfectly. i love the song. can't wait for the new album to come out...

i would think part of it's connected with matt berninger's new fatherhood