“City Middle” — The National
Although the National’s breakout album “Boxer” deservingly dominated year-end lists, I think their somewhat overlooked previous album “Alligator” is just as strong, and has some of my favorite National songs, such as the brilliant opener “Secret Meeting” and “Baby, We’ll Be Fine” and the fiery closer, “Mr. November.”
Lately, I’ve had the lilting melody of deep cut “City Middle” stuck in my head. The song’s good, but it really kills me at the climax about 3/4 the way through, in what I’ll refer to as the “Tennessee Williams part.”
The band has a great sense of dynamics, and in addition to their cryptic, brooding lyrics, I find the slow-bruning intensity of their music captivating.
I’ve got five hundred in twenties
And I’ve got a ton of great ideas
I’m really worked up
I’m on a good mixture, I don’t want to waste it
I’m on a good mixture, I do not want to waste it
I wanna go gator around the warm beds of beginners
I’m really worked up …
… Parking your car, you said, I’m overwhelmed
You were thinking out loud, you said, I’m overwhelmed
You were parking your car, you said, I’m overwhelmed
You were thinking out loud, you said, I’m overwhelmed
You said, I think I’m like Tennessee Williams
I wait for the click
I wait, but it doesn’t kick in
I think I’m like Tennesse Williams
I wait for the click
I wait, but it doesn’t kick in
The National — “Mistaken For Strangers” (Video)
