[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
The National — Slow Show
Album: Boxer
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2427









Released: 2007
Length: 4:02
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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 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 frightening
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 with 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 frightening
I'll overdo it

You know I dreamed about you
For 29 years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for, for 29 years

You know I dreamed about you
For 29 years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for, for 29 years
Comments (177)add comment
Hey Bill and Rebecca, you can play this song of love for 29 years without interruption, it will never be enough for me! Matt is a great singer,  just the tone the song needs! 
Some may prefer singers with velvety voices, but me, in my pantheon, there are Dylan, Tom Waits, Springsteen, and Matt Berninger.






What a line:
You know I dreamed about you
For 29 years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for, for 29 years

Arrrgh! Again. The national and especially this song are a violent and pleasant drug. And the latest record from Matt Bernnger is a masterpiece!

Jesus Christ. This song must be about my wife. I just raised it from 7 to 9.
My favorite National song.  Wonderful band.  
 Hippostar wrote:

Mumblerock?



No, thanks. I'll listen to this song instead.
Good song ruined by abhorrent vocals. Imagine you're a vocalist to a great band and decide to sing mostly one note
 jonahboo wrote:

agreed

like a shittier JOY DIVISION, if that's even possible

Singer (if you can call him that) needs a fucking Red Bull and a kick in the ass
 

What, pray tell, do you consider good music, my tone deaf friend?
 jonahboo wrote:

agreed

like a shittier JOY DIVISION, if that's even possible

Singer (if you can call him that) needs a fucking Red Bull and a kick in the ass
 

This demonstrates a lack of musical context. Joy Division shitty
 SmackDaddy wrote:

Dissing Joy Division, wow, you're opinion is worthless.
 

Anyone can diss anyone.  There are no rules about what music someone likes.  There are rules, however, for English; the possessive of "you" is "your", not "you're".
Just bumped this up to nine.
I guess if you've never been there you don't get it....but if you do this says it all
Is Mumblerock a thing?
Nice
I found the notation for the song:
thump thump mumble mumble thump thump mumble mumble
Alligator is without question my favourite National album. The lyrics wonderfully self-ironic and the songs wonderfully powerful.
Genius!  Love The National - my favourite US Band.
 jonahboo wrote:

agreed

like a shittier JOY DIVISION, if that's even possible

Singer (if you can call him that) needs a fucking Red Bull and a kick in the ass
 
Dissing Joy Division, wow, you're opinion is worthless.
Ndad 47 Great stuff
 planet_lizard wrote:

Sounds like Jonahboo needs a cup of tea (not the fucking variety) and a quiet sit down.

 
HA, Having a tea as i type........songs still sucks ass
Elevator music on the slow ride to hell
I always want to enjoy the National but I wish he'd change up a gear now and again.  He just sounds like my Dad (God rest his soul etc.)  singing along in the kitchen whilst peeling the spuds.  Plus a pianist that uses more than one finger - it's not the 80's.  
 jonahboo wrote:

agreed

like a shittier JOY DIVISION, if that's even possible

Singer (if you can call him that) needs a fucking Red Bull and a kick in the ass

 
Sounds like Jonahboo needs a cup of tea (not the fucking variety) and a quiet sit down.
 blotto wrote:
according to my comments, I was hating this song way back in 2010, and I am here to reaffirm my hatred towards it, and this band in general

 
agreed

like a shittier JOY DIVISION, if that's even possible

Singer (if you can call him that) needs a fucking Red Bull and a kick in the ass
according to my comments, I was hating this song way back in 2010, and I am here to reaffirm my hatred towards it, and this band in general
Stop playing this song : it's so good, it makes me cry... I can't understand the bad comments about this band, The National are the best band today! I think i was hearing them, 43 years before they play...

 DaidyBoy wrote:

This guy's no Leonard Cohen.  I like their music, but the gimmicky dourness just grinds me these days.

 
I will take some variety with that dourness.  Dourness is OK but not if it all sounds the same....

FWIW, I kinda like this The National song.  The others tend to make me think of the word 'tedious'.  
 DaidyBoy wrote:

This guy's no Leonard Cohen.  I like their music, but the gimmicky dourness just grinds me these days.

 
yep
 vesta0424 wrote:
What is a hardwired fish person?

westslope wrote:

No. I probably just think in sentence fragments.....  {#Lol}

Re-writing for publication is usually an arduous process as a result.   

Mind you, I'm a hardwired fish person so I reckon I must have something in common with the Japanese.

 

 
Since WS is a coastal person, it probably means he is related to an electric wolf-eel and he went to the Re:Fuse event.
 deepwoodskev wrote:
Did this cat take singing lessons from Leonard Cohen?

 
This guy's no Leonard Cohen.  I like their music, but the gimmicky dourness just grinds me these days.
The National always reminds me of Eeyore.
 Nerubo wrote:
Some bands are internally eclectic.  By that I mean, you never know what you're going to get from them in an album. Or even in a song!
That's great. BillG plays lots of people like that - the David Bowie Blackstar for instance.

This is not that band. And I say that as a big fan.

My takeway is that I will listen to The National as singles and I will not be likely to buy an album. If I do, I will not listen to the album in order.
 

 
Yeah, I have similar feelings about this band. Variety is not their forte. I enjoy them in small doses, though - like this song.
Some bands are internally eclectic.  By that I mean, you never know what you're going to get from them in an album. Or even in a song!
That's great. BillG plays lots of people like that - the David Bowie Blackstar for instance.

This is not that band. And I say that as a big fan.

My takeway is that I will listen to The National as singles and I will not be likely to buy an album. If I do, I will not listen to the album in order.


 
misterbearbaby wrote:
Another in a string of downer, wandering jams- wake me up when RP is playing some actual music...

 
lol "...some actual music..."
The first in your favorites-list is Beethoven...
Then i see Cat Stevens, Grateful Dead, Hendrix and so on.
It seems you like actual music {#Dancingbanana_2}
This song is only 4 minutes long...... some people have such a short little span of attention...
Again and again : one of the most beautiful song since 29 year. Yeap!
The poof : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyy2FfHA_I8
this song feels like it takes 29 years to finish.  i tried liking this band, i really did.  but no, they do nothing for me.  {#Cowboy}
Did this cat take singing lessons from Leonard Cohen?
Another in a string of downer, wandering jams- wake me up when RP is playing some actual music...
 ottojschlosser wrote:
I finally figured out what the National sounds like - it's REM on Lithium.

 
Hilarious.  I like The National but every song does sound roughly the same.
The National should make a conscious effort to find a unique sonic space for each song.  Other artists do. 
What is a hardwired fish person?

 — Somebody with Japanese, Norwegian or similar blood with a family history in some part of the fish business. 

EDIT:  That would also include most of the aboriginal communities in British Columbia and up and down the Pacific coast for that matter.

Most Canadians and Americans are not hardwired fish people and have a lot of difficulty understanding why fish are so important and why they shouldn't be wiped out or mismanaged for the benefit of highly subsidized agriculture, forestry, or industrial lots and condominiums.

Most North Americans believe that open-access policies for fish allocation are just fine.   
 vesta0424 wrote:
What is a hardwired fish person?
 

Musically i think it's all good what The National does, but that voice though... Ugh... It was a nice touch when Bloodbuzz Ohio came along, but to hear his mumbling every other song is, well, kind of funny i guess? But certainly not a good thing.
I finally figured out what the National sounds like - it's REM on Lithium.
Such a great song from such a great band.{#Notworthy}
Again! Again!
I cant stop listen this song since 5 years!
 westslope wrote:

No. I probably just think in sentence fragments.....  {#Lol}

Re-writing for publication is usually an arduous process as a result.   

Mind you, I'm a hardwired fish person so I reckon I must have something in common with the Japanese.

 

 vesta0424 wrote:
What is a hardwired fish person?  

That's probably a question best left unanswered.
{#Stop}
What is a hardwired fish person?

westslope wrote:

No. I probably just think in sentence fragments.....  {#Lol}

Re-writing for publication is usually an arduous process as a result.   

Mind you, I'm a hardwired fish person so I reckon I must have something in common with the Japanese.

 


 rdo wrote:

Dude, not to be "in yo face" too much, but what is up with the haiku-like formulations that you cultivate as a writing style?  Did you spend some time in Japan?

 
No. I probably just think in sentence fragments.....  {#Lol}

Re-writing for publication is usually an arduous process as a result.   

Mind you, I'm a hardwired fish person so I reckon I must have something in common with the Japanese.
ОК, I can distinguish the National from other bands, but how can I dinguish their particular songs, when they're mumbling the same three (sometimes two) notes in every song?
This song is so great, for those who are skeptical about this group, watch this unforgettable live version :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyy2FfHA_I8
 
What stands out most about The National is Matt Berninger's voice, IMO.


 westslope wrote:

Compelling.  I find much of the band's stuff is similar.  Too similar.

 

But one at a time on occasion, it is great!  Original.

 

Hats off to the DJ as always.  Nice follow from Coldplay.



 
Dude, not to be "in yo face" too much, but what is up with the haiku-like formulations that you cultivate as a writing style?  Did you spend some time in Japan?
 jamelch wrote:
I love the way the chorus of this song works with the words.  I really dig it. The middle part, "you know I dreamed about you" is just beautiful, I remember singing it when my daughter was born (yes, I was 29 at the time).

 

Your youth belies your age ;)


    
Wierd...(Weird spelled wrong intentionally).. just listened to these guys like a minute ago...maybe it's a Bloodbuzz? What do you think Ohio?
I love the way the chorus of this song works with the words.  I really dig it. The middle part, "you know I dreamed about you" is just beautiful, I remember singing it when my daughter was born (yes, I was 29 at the time).
The more I hear (OK, pay attention) I like these guys... words and arrangements are incredible in detail... But I'm slow to the party...
Lovely.  Just had a "what IS that song playing?" moment three quarters of the way through (in a good way), so had to look it up.  
 {#Eek}floydoftherocks wrote:
This eats it... Kinda like crash test dummies got trapped in an elevator with arcade fire.
 

This band gives me psd


lame


 floydoftherocks wrote:
This eats it... Kinda like crash test dummies got trapped in an elevator with arcade fire.
 
I rate the National and this song higher than that, and either of these, but floyd, that's funny. 
 floydoftherocks wrote:
This eats it... Kinda like crash test dummies got trapped in an elevator with arcade fire.
 
That is an extremely good description .... and probably why I like them so much!
I believe I rated this a 3 about a year or so ago....grew on me I guess, as I just bumped it to a 7.

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches loves this song...
 
Such a great band. Love this album.

Compelling.  I find much of the band's stuff is similar.  Too similar.

 

But one at a time on occasion, it is great!  Original.

 

Hats off to the DJ as always.  Nice follow from Coldplay.


Take the gun out of your mouth.
LOVE{#Heartkiss}
 84MacGuy wrote:
The best way to discover a new favorite music group is to hear a song that you never heard before.  Then when you hear it again you really, really like it and you start to search on iTunes and elsewhere for more of their music.  Then you listen to a sampling of some of their other music and you say, hey, they are really freakin' good.  Then you start downloading a crapload of their music and listening to it over and over.

Slow Show was the song that started me down that path with The National. 
 
YouTube has a lot too.  You can also do them on Pandora. 
Classy band with one of the most consistent outputs. Much love.
I love this.
I don't get this dreary song.   3 for now.  That's harsh.  Sorry.
This eats it... Kinda like crash test dummies got trapped in an elevator with arcade fire.
 84MacGuy wrote:
The best way to discover a new favorite music group is to hear a song that you never heard before.  Then when you hear it again you really, really like it and you start to search on iTunes and elsewhere for more of their music.  Then you listen to a sampling of some of their other music and you say, hey, they are really freakin' good.  Then you start downloading a crapload of their music and listening to it over and over.

Slow Show was the song that started me down that path with The National. 
 
I agree with this and it's why I love Radio Paradise.  My path began when they first started playing "Fake Empire"  here and I've bought all the albums of The National since.  One of my very favorite bands now.
 84MacGuy wrote:
The best way to discover a new favorite music group is to hear a song that you never heard before.  Then when you hear it again you really, really like it and you start to search on iTunes and elsewhere for more of their music.  Then you listen to a sampling of some of their other music and you say, hey, they are really freakin' good.  Then you start downloading a crapload of their music and listening to it over and over.

Slow Show was the song that started me down that path with The National. 
 

I don't ever get tired of these guys
The best way to discover a new favorite music group is to hear a song that you never heard before.  Then when you hear it again you really, really like it and you start to search on iTunes and elsewhere for more of their music.  Then you listen to a sampling of some of their other music and you say, hey, they are really freakin' good.  Then you start downloading a crapload of their music and listening to it over and over.

Slow Show was the song that started me down that path with The National. 
 LizK wrote:
These are the Ohio bee people?  He still has serious bronchial problems.  
 
aw, c'mon
 RKeaton wrote:
This is probably my favorite song off the album. I see some people debating whether The National are cool or not, or too cool, or whatever. I don't really care, I like this album a lot. And if you don't understand the vocals, buy some better headphones.
 
I could not agree more! This song is spectacular to me.
This is probably my favorite song off the album. I see some people debating whether The National are cool or not, or too cool, or whatever. I don't really care, I like this album a lot. And if you don't understand the vocals, buy some better headphones.
These are the Ohio bee people?  He still has serious bronchial problems.  
The beta 2 site does not add my comments in, wtf.

Anyways, the PSD button is awesome when it comes to the National, (and Mumford and Sons)

All hail the PSD button.

Goodbye the National.

Glad to hear this again! Great tune from a great band!
 Nerubo wrote:

How many hipsters does it take to screw in a light bulb?

It's a pretty obscure number, you probably haven't heard of it.  :-P

 
I don't get it.  ;)
What an awesome song!
 vandal wrote:


Pray tell, in which market is The National played frequently within the regular rotation?  I might consider moving if this was the worst possibility I faced whenever I turned on my car radio. . . 
 
Amen brother!

 SmackDaddy wrote:


San Diego FM94.9 plays them quite a bit. You can listen online
 

 Huh ? Now why in the hell would anyone wanna do that when they got it all ... right cheer ?^?
 I guess some folks just get off on commercials..  eeeuuuu !

I like the feel. Love the simple acoustic guitar arrangement. Nice changing chords over basic melody line that rarely changes. Tappin' my feet. I'm likin' this one!
Enunciate,  please.   English is such a lovely language, and you are mumbling. 
Great segue from the alt version of Coldplay "Talk". Nice mini-set for a Friday afternoon.
 socalhol wrote:

{#Roflol}   Right?!  I have NEVER heard The National played on commercial radio!

 

San Diego FM94.9 plays them quite a bit. You can listen online
 vandal wrote:
Pray tell, in which market is The National played frequently within the regular rotation?  I might consider moving if this was the worst possibility I faced whenever I turned on my car radio. . .
 
{#Roflol}   Right?!  I have NEVER heard The National played on commercial radio!

 h8rhater wrote:

Seriously,... nobody likes Hipsters.
 
How many hipsters does it take to screw in a light bulb?

It's a pretty obscure number, you probably haven't heard of it.  :-P

 fortyonejb wrote:

So, when the greater public begins to like a song, that means its now inherently bad and can't be played here?

Take the elitist attitude outside please, you're smelling up the place. 
 
Seriously,... nobody likes Hipsters.

 S-curvy wrote:
Switch goes the raydiddio selector when the National-ly waaayyyyy over-played hits the airwaves.  Sorry Bill, but when the songs are routinely in the Top-40, it's probably time to take 'em outta the rotation.
 

Pray tell, in which market is The National played frequently within the regular rotation?  I might consider moving if this was the worst possibility I faced whenever I turned on my car radio. . . 


 S-curvy wrote:
Switch goes the raydiddio selector when the National-ly waaayyyyy over-played hits the airwaves.  Sorry Bill, but when the songs are routinely in the Top-40, it's probably time to take 'em outta the rotation.
 
So, when the greater public begins to like a song, that means its now inherently bad and can't be played here?

Take the elitist attitude outside please, you're smelling up the place. 
Looking for mumble mumble mumble.
I don't want mumble mumble mumble.

awesome.
 S-curvy wrote:
Switch goes the raydiddio selector when the National-ly waaayyyyy over-played hits the airwaves.  Sorry Bill, but when the songs are routinely in the Top-40, it's probably time to take 'em outta the rotation.
 
Top-40? What's that? Many of us here do not listen to commercial radio so are not over exposed to what the music business thinks we want to hear. 

Actually. . . that is why most of us are here.  

Switch goes the raydiddio selector when the National-ly waaayyyyy over-played hits the airwaves.  Sorry Bill, but when the songs are routinely in the Top-40, it's probably time to take 'em outta the rotation.
Most mellow. Vocals remind me of the Tindersticks, what ever happened to the Tindersticks?
I think this song is warmingly nostalgic.
Great lyrics
Thanks RP for another great find.
 Sasha2001 wrote:
Here's a band people seem to really like - can sombody explain this to me? Are they the same people who also dislike radiohead and U2? Because that would make my shallow generalizing seem more cleaver.
 

I hate the National, love Radiohead(most of) and love/hate U2.
Hope that answers your question.
 madaxeman wrote:
A lovely, slow burning groove, and an expressive baritone. Wonderful.
 
Nice description.  I agree.

 Excelsior wrote:
meh meh meh mrm mhhm mrm mrm meh mrm meh meh mrm mhmmmm uhm murhm mrm mrm meh meh meh 29 years mrrm uhm meh mhmmm mrm mrm uhm
 
In a NY Times feature on The National (great read btw) it says that one of his band mates' nicknames for Matt Berninger is mumbleberry pie. Still chuckling when I think of it.

However, I love Matt's slurred, drunk-ish vocal delivery and probably wouldn't like if he changed it and started to enunciate (overly) clearly (like Michael Stipe on the last couple R.E.M. records, which feels awkward and kinda self-important to me). Sometimes I'm bummed that I don't understand half of Matt's mumbling, but overall I feel that it rather makes it more thrilling to try and figure out (or google) the wicked lyrics.


Yup. likes me this.
Here's a band people seem to really like - can sombody explain this to me? Are they the same people who also dislike radiohead and U2? Because that would make my shallow generalizing seem more cleaver.
 adroc wrote:
You wish you could have come up with a line half as good as "I dreamed about you for 29 years before I saw you." 
 
"i still owe money to the money to the money i owe"

...these guys really know how to say so much with so few words - outstanding lyrics...
One of the best National songs.  Don't know why, but I just love hearing it.
All of their songs are consistently dull  {#Sleep}. This one is no exception.

 Excelsior wrote:
meh meh meh mrm mhhm mrm mrm meh mrm meh meh mrm mhmmmm uhm murhm mrm mrm meh meh meh 29 years mrrm uhm meh mhmmm mrm mrm uhm
 
You wish you could have come up with a line half as good as "I dreamed about you for 29 years before I saw you."  I think Gin has a new challenger for the title of 'panty remover'.

 gratefulgator wrote:
Aren't these the brain eaters?
 
...'cause I'm evil!    Evil
A lovely, slow burning groove, and an expressive baritone. Wonderful.
Aren't these the brain eaters?
dunno
(somewhere between here and over there)
Posted: Aug 27, 2009 - 15:08 

this following sia's breathe me - excellent segue.


February 1, 2010 - 14:07

Same now - here

I just adore this song - I just hung up the phone so I could listen to it again!  Each time I hear Boxer I find something new to listen to in it - the layers of instruments are sublime.
Staying power, 7 {#Arrow} 8
One of my favorite tunes from the album.