This is one of my favourite tracks by The National for sure. I think this is quite obviously about depression, probably clinical depression ("Sorrow they put me on the pills"). I've always heard it as "don't leave my HYPER heart alone, on the water", possibly refering ADHD or something simialr? "Rag and bone sympathy" to me means sympathy with no real depth to it, like when you say "My dog died" or something and people always answer with "I'm so sorry", when they don't really know what you're going through or what they really should be saying... When I'm feeling sad I just want to be left alone... Just my thoughts on some of these lyrics.
This is one of my favourite tracks by The National for sure. I think this is quite obviously about depression, probably clinical depression ("Sorrow they put me on the pills"). I've always heard it as "don't leave my HYPER heart alone, on the water", possibly refering ADHD or something simialr? "Rag and bone sympathy" to me means sympathy with no real depth to it, like when you say "My dog died" or something and people always answer with "I'm so sorry", when they don't really know what you're going through or what they really should be saying... When I'm feeling sad I just want to be left alone... Just my thoughts on some of these lyrics.
I love your interpretation of "rag and bone sympathy." I never really got it til now. Thanks :)
I love your interpretation of "rag and bone sympathy." I never really got it til now. Thanks :)