The Gospel According to The National: Lyrics That Preach Truth and Despair
The National, that purveyor of melancholic anthems and baritone confessions, isn’t exactly known for sunshine and rainbows. Their music is more likely to soundtrack a rainy Tuesday afternoon spent contemplating existential dread than a jubilant celebration. Yet, within their intricate soundscapes and Matt Berninger’s signature drawl, lies a certain kind of gospel – a gospel of honesty, of vulnerability, and of the shared human experience of feeling lost and adrift.
This isn’t your Sunday morning, hallelujah-filled gospel. This is a gospel of the everyday, the mundane, the messy realities of relationships, anxieties, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that often feels meaningless. The National’s lyrics, often cryptic and poetic, resonate because they tap into the unspoken truths we all carry within us.
Here are some key tenets of The National’s lyrical gospel:
1. The Confession of Imperfection:
The National doesn’t shy away from portraying flawed characters. Berninger often embodies a narrator wrestling with his own demons, admitting to mistakes, and grappling with self-doubt. This vulnerability is central to their appeal. Lyrics like:
- "I was afraid I’d eat your brains / ‘Cause I’m evil" ("Mr. November")
- "I’m trying to be holy / But I’m drinking in a parking lot" ("Bloodbuzz Ohio")
- "I’m not my body / I’m just somebody I’m standing beside" ("England")
These lines acknowledge the internal conflict, the struggle to reconcile our aspirations with our shortcomings. They offer a sense of solidarity in our own imperfections.
2. The Sacrament of Shared Pain:
The National’s music often explores the complexities of relationships, particularly the pain of miscommunication, the slow burn of resentment, and the fear of losing connection. They understand that suffering is a universal experience, and their lyrics provide a space for acknowledging and processing that pain. Consider these lines:
- "You must be exhausted / From staying up all night to fight" ("Fake Empire")
- "I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees / I never married but Ohio don’t remember me" ("Ohio")
- "All the very best of us string ourselves up for love" ("Pink Rabbits")
These lyrics capture the quiet desperation of everyday life, the sacrifices we make for love, and the lingering feeling of being misunderstood.
3. The Redemption of Honesty:
Despite the often-bleak subject matter, there’s a glimmer of hope in The National’s honesty. By confronting the darkness, by acknowledging the pain, they offer a path towards understanding and perhaps even acceptance. Lyrics like:
- "It takes an ocean not to break" ("About Today") – Implying the immense strength needed to endure.
- "Hold your breath for a minute and be brave" ("Slow Show") – A call to courage in the face of fear.
- "We’ll all arrive in heaven, we’ll be well-mannered and clean" ("Fake Empire") – A darkly humorous, yet ultimately hopeful, vision of a better future.
These lines, though often tinged with irony, suggest that there is value in facing our challenges head-on, in finding solace in shared experience, and in holding onto a flicker of hope, even in the darkest of times.
In Conclusion:
The National’s music isn’t about providing easy answers or offering simplistic solutions. Instead, it offers a space for contemplation, for acknowledging the complexities of life, and for finding solace in the shared experience of being human. Their lyrics, often delivered with a weary grace, preach a gospel of honesty, vulnerability, and the enduring power of human connection. It’s a gospel that resonates deeply with those who find comfort in the beauty of melancholy and the truth of shared pain. So, listen closely, and you might just find your own salvation in the somber hymns of The National.
