England

I've always heard this song as being about writer's block, and the pressure the band (and in particular the lyricist) feel to provide new albums. It all harks back to the line 'The English are waiting' in 'Mr November'. The English are of course the band's label (4AD/Beggars):

'Feeling I've lost today' - Writer's Block

'You must be somewhere in London,you must be loving your life in the rain' - forlorn feelings about the label, and resentment at the pressure they are causing.

'Walking Abbey Lane' - a further image of music in England, he meant of course Abbey Road, hence the next line, 'I don't even think to make corrections.'

'Famous angels never come through England, England gets the ones you never need' - a dig at the England's Anglicanism; saying that all the well known saints are revered by (or come from) other countries and other religions.

Carrying on the religious theme, the lyricist is now 'in a Los Angeles cathedral' and the choir is singing ('minor singing airheads sing for me').

The lyricist then realises that the problem isn't the record label in England, but himself:

'Put an ocean and river between everybody ever, between everything, yourself and home' — it is his own difficulties at relating to people.

'Afraid of the height cause they're desperate to entertain' - his fear of having to perform and the fame it might bring.

(The lyricist then goes on to write 'High Violet'. Much to England's delight.)

Summer sent her running through the weather at her mother for the feeling that I lost today Summer sent her running for the feeling that I lost today Summer sent her running through the weather at her mother for the feeling that I lost today Summer sent her running for the feeling that I lost today

You must be somewhere in London You must be loving your life in the rain You must be somewhere in London Walking every lane

I don't even think to make I don't even think to make I don't even think to make corrections

Famous angels never come through England England gets the ones you never need I'm in a Los Angeles cathedral Minor singing airhead, sing for me

Put emotion in a river between everybody else, and everything you sent from home Put emotion in a river between everything you sent from home

You must be somewhere in London You must be loving your life in the rain You must be somewhere in London Walking every lane

I don't even think to make I don't even think to make I don't even think to make corrections

Famous angels never come through England England gets the ones you never need I'm in a Los Angeles cathedral Minor singing airhead, sing for me

Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the house, 'cause they're desperate to entertain Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the house, 'cause they're desperate to entertain Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the house, 'cause they're desperate to entertain Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the house, 'cause they're desperate to entertain

Someone send a runner through the weather that i'm under for the feeling that I lost today.

I sure do love the ending of this wonderful song, I just wish they would repeat the final phrase in the song once more before the song ends.

"You must be somewhere in London You must be loving' your life in the rain You must be somewhere in London Walking Abbey Lane"

• I interpret this song as being about a guy from LA falling in love with a girl from London, England. They had a great time, together in the US, he felt genuine affection for her whether it was mutual or not we don't know. But either way, she is now living her life back in England.

"Famous angels never come through England England gets the ones you never need"

• This suggests that no one appreciates her back in England which is why she's still single or always heartbroken. That England gets the angels they never need and take for granted.

"Put an ocean and a river between everybody else Between everything, yourself and home Put and ocean and a river Between everything, yourself and home"

• I think this means she always has her guard up, no one can get in close. Perhaps she's been hurt before. Either way, he imagines her walking the streets of London in the rain in all her beauty and sadness.

"Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the house, 'cause they're desperate to entertain"

• The house being the man she left in the US and the sinners are the people of London. She is afraid of the house because, maybe things got too real and the house came on too strongly. Either way she's gone back to a place where she's comfortable.

This song might have absolutely nothing to do with what I just said; all I know is that I just explained something based on an experience I once had. That girl's name is Nav. And I do hope she's still walking the streets of London, because so am I. Maybe we'll bump into each other again one day.

I hear "Minor singing airheads" but that's with no certainty at all.

i'm pretty sure it's

"summer sent a runner for the feeling that i lost today"

I need to get a life. Based on these two links:

news.qthemusic.com/2010/05/thenational-_high_violet_int.html youtube.com/watch

I think the lyrics are:

Someone send her running through the weather that I'm under for the feeling that I lost today Someone send her running for the feeling that I lost today Someone send her running through the weather that I'm under for the feeling that I lost today Someone send her running for the feeling that I lost today

You must be somewhere in London You must be loving your life in the rain You must be somewhere in London Walking Abbey Lane

I don't even think to make I don't even think to make I don't even think to make corrections

Famous angels never come through England England gets the ones you never need I'm in a Los Angeles cathedral Minor singing airheads, sing for me

You put an ocean and a river between everybody else between everything yourself and home You put an ocean and a river between everything yourself and home

You must be somewhere in London You must be loving your life in the rain You must be somewhere in London Walking Abbey Lane

I don't even think to make I don't even think to make I don't even think to make corrections

Famous angels never come through England England gets the ones you never need I'm in a Los Angeles cathedral Minor singing airheads, sing for me

Afraid of the heights, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the heights, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the heights 'cos they're desperate to entertain

Afraid of the heights, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the heights, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the heights 'cos they're desperate to entertain

Afraid of the heights, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the heights, stay the night with the sinners Afraid of the heights 'cos they're desperate to entertain

I think the lyrics that are currently posted at -- lyrics.wikia.com/The_National:England -- are 100% correct for the album version of the song. "Summer sent a runner ..." makes a lot of sense to me.

This and "Lemonworld" are my favorites from the new album.

"Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sitters" makes a hell of a lot of sense to me, however much I like the "heights...sinners" option. And the rest:

Someone send a runner through the weather that I’m under for the feeling that I lost today Someone send a runner for the feeling that I lost today Someone send a runner through the weather that I’m under for the feeling that I lost today Someone send a runner for the feeling that I lost today

You must be somewhere in London You Must be Loving your life in the rain You must be somewhere in London Walking every lane I dont even think to make, I dont even think to make I dont even think to make corrections

Famous angels never come through England England gets the ones you never need I’m in a Los Angeles catherdral mine is singing out, sing for me

Put a motion and a river in between everybody else, between everything yourself and home Put an ocean and a river between everything yourself and home Put a motion and a river in between everybody else between everything yourself and home Put an ocean and a river between everything yourself and home

You must be somewhere in London You Must be Loving your life in the rain You must be somewhere in London Walking every lane I dont even think to make I dont even think to make I dont even think to make corrections

Famous angels never come through England England gets the ones you never need I’m in a Los Angeles catherdral mine are singing out, sing for me

Afraid of the house stay the night with the sitters Afraid of the house cause they’re desperate to entertain

(It makes me think you’re still in London. That this never happened. That you’re still here in this world.)