The National - 'Don't Swallow the Cap'

Illustration and video by Azar Kazimir / Michelberger Hotel

[NYPDBLUE]

Lyrics from album sleeve:

Gold light breaks behind the houses,
I don't see what's strange about this.
Tiny bubbles hang above me.
It's a sign that someone loves me.
I can hardly stand up right.
I hit my head upon the light.
I have faith but don't believe it.
It's not there enough to leave it.

Everything I love is on the table.
Everything I love is out to sea.

I have only two emotions,
careful fear and dead devotion.
I can't get the balance right,
with all my marbles in the fight.
I see all the ones I went for,
all the things I had it in for.
I won't cry until I hear,
because I was not supposed to be here.

Everything I love is on the table.
Everything I love is out to sea.
I'm not alone.
I'll never be.
And to the bone,
I'm evergreen.

I'm tired. I'm freezing. I'm dumb.
When it gets so late I forget everyone.
I need somewhere to stay.
I don't think anybody I know is awake.
Calm down, it's alright,
keep my arms the rest of the night.
When they ask what do I see,
I say a bright white beautiful heaven hanging over me.

I'm not alone.
I'll never be.
And to the bone,
I'm evergreen.
And if you want (dead seriously)
to see me cry (don't swallow the cap),
play Let It Be (pat yourself on the back)
or Nevermind (dead seriously).

Is it time to leave? Is it time to think about
what I want to say to the girls at the door?
I need somewhere to be,
but I can't get around the river in front of me.
Calm down, it's all right,
leave my arms the rest of the night.
When they ask what do I see,
I say a bright white beautiful heaven hanging over me.

I'm not alone (dead seriously).
I'll never be (don't swallow the cap).
And to the bone (pat yourself on the back),
I'm evergreen (dead seriously).
And if you want (dead seriously)
to see me cry (don't swallow the cap),
play Let It Be (pat yourself on the back)
or Nevermind (dead seriously)

[aaronmadden]

I discovered The National back in 2013. The strange yet wonderful thing about this band is that I almost have a relationship with them and their music. They are not just easy for me to listen to, they give me an experience. Very haunting songs that cut right to the core for me. Their songs are abstract yet so relatable. This is absolutely my favorite band. Never has any musical artist or group affected me as much as the National

[WestBreezer]

This song is a work of art.

"I have only two emotions,
Careful fear and dead devotion.
I can't get the balance right"

[saraeliz]

this song has helped me through some of the darkest points of my life. when i felt like i couldn’t do this anymore, i turned this song on and let the words wash over me. truly a beautiful song from an amazing band <3

[aarnoalikoski]

I can not stop listening this song. Hypnotic, warm and beautiful music. My favorite band.

[turtlelord]

The fact that the title of the song is said almost subliminally really adds to the feel it was going for. I feel empty and completely tranquil at the same time.

[devinstrayer]

I truly love how many people still enjoy music like this amazing one!

[nicosmith]

This song and this whole album is a very important part of my life right now

[brunogrolton]

I knew this band because of Foo Fighters. It was a Foo Fighters concert for the first time in Mexico, The National was the opening band and it was f#*%Ing awesome!! and this song was the first in the concert. it's almost two years ago but I still remember my chest vibrating the whole concert because of the bass drum and because my site was one of the front ones. I hope one day can go to another great concert like that again.

[vaeridia]

And if you want to see me cry, play "Don't Swallow the Cap"

[vz]

"I have only two emotions,
Careful fear and dead devotion."

[marqueemark]

I truly understood the national when I was in a depression. Their music captures the beauty of the music with haunting lyrics that show how temporary everything is. Everything we love we will lose in either life or death.

[Lizios]

Lyrics

Gold light breaks behind the houses
I don't see what's strange about this
Tiny bubbles hang above me
It's a sign that someone loves me
I can hardly stand upright
Hit my head upon the light
I have faith but don't believe it
It's not there enough to leave it

Everything I love is on the table
Everything I love is out to sea

I have only two emotions
Careful fear and dead devotion
I can't get the balance right
With all my marbles in the fight
I see all the ones I went for
All the things I had it in for
I won't cry until I hear
'Cause I was not supposed to be here

Everything I love is on the table
Everything I love is out to sea

I'm not alone
I'll never be
And to the bone
I'm evergreen

I'm tired, I'm freezing, I'm dumb
When it gets so late I forget everyone
I need somewhere to stay
Don't think anybody I know is awake
Calm down, it's alright
Keep my arms the rest of the night
When they ask, what do I see?
I say a bright white beautiful heaven hanging over me

Ah
Ah-ah-ah

I'm not alone
I'll never be
And to the bone
I'm evergreen

And if you want (too seriously)
To see me cry (don't swallow the cap)
Play "Let It Be" (pat yourself on the back)
Or "Nevermind" (too seriously)
There's a time to leave, there's a time to think about
What I wanna say to the girls at the door
I need somewhere to be
But I can't get around the river in front of me
Calm down, it's alright
Lead my arms the rest of the night
When they ask, what do I see?
I say a bright white beautiful heaven hanging over me

Ah
Ah-ah-ah

I'm not alone (too seriously)
I'll never be (don't swallow the cap)
and to the bone (pat yourself on the back)
I''m evergreen (too seriously)
And if you want (too seriously)
To see me cry (don't swallow the cap)
Play "Let It Be" (pat yourself on the back)
Or "Nevermind" (too seriously)
🖤

[AetherSpirit]

Listened to this song on repeat for three hours now while laying in my room alone... I don't know if I'm really sad and lonely or just a super dedicated and adoring fan... or both... haha

[leahdeleon]

I love how this song layers his high and low voice.

[Roger_Cheeto]

I just want to say, that this song really helped me through a tough time. It really speaks to the depths of my being, emotional, moving, but also so true. i <3 national

[ABrookeByTheTree]

The deep lagged out mumbling of lyrics in the background is the best! Every time I listen to this song, I catch something new. Mmm.. <3!

[steveym]

With a good set of headphones you can hear Matt has recorded the vocals twice (and does in many of the songs I've found, but it's especially prevalent here), and that quiet, rich baritone during the versus is so, so bloody good.

[tjdrummer]

I think this is one of the most powerful, intelligent but beautifully simple and most importantly HONEST albums I've ever heard. They've been a totally organic and independent band for 14 years, and this album is the peak of showing that. In an interview Matt said that they've just stopped giving a shit what people think about them, and about what kind of band they are or want to be. They just go embrace what they are and great music comes out of that. You're not alone :)

[giants]

It's all about the goosebumps. That is the litmus test when it comes to great music.  I get it with these guys.