Oblivions

The National

Another gorgeous one from the perfectly titled I AM EASY TO FIND — which has become my most played National record and my second favorite behind BOXER. In a good friendship or relationship, we should be easy to find. Not too easy, but we should be available. That’s one of our key jobs, right? To be there.

I love this arrangement — how the song begins with piano and competing drums and tempos. The Brooklyn Youth Chorus adds an epic element to the intimate feel. Haunting guest vocals from Mina Tindle on this track that Berninger wrote with his wife Carin Besser. Their call & response vocals are poetry that articulates the joys of their commitment and the endurance it takes to keep it meaningful and fulfilling. Each day they push away the fears and believe in the union.

Even though we die alone, the human condition seems best experienced with a partner in the end. But whether we’re with someone or not, the task doesn’t change. We strive to keep our lives meaningful and fulfilling. We push away the fears and hope for fulfillment.

And the fun part of any relationship, is that we get to help create meaning and fulfillment for the people we love. We aren’t responsible for their happiness, but we can come alongside and help make things easier. Our sacrifices and loyalties are how we love. And when we do it, we hope that it makes a difference. ❤️

It's almost like you're not afraid of anything I do
How I want you here
You don't know what it's like to be around you
I still got my fear

It's the way you say yes when I ask you to marry me
You don't know what you are doing
Do you think you can carry me
Over the threshold
Over and over again until oblivion?
It's the way that you're gonna stop needing to tell me
You want me as much as I want you to tell me
I'm over the threshold
Everything is gonna be totally okay until oblivion

I still got my fear
I still got my fear

It's still always you every morning I think of no matter what
How I want you here
I know I am easy to find but you know, it's never me
I still got my fears

It's like a tide in a city lifts me and carries me around
And oh, my mind is made up out of nothing, now
If nothing scares you about me and you, never put me down
Oh my mind is made up out of nothing, now

You won't walk away, won't you?
You don't walk away, don't you?
You won't walk away, won't you?
You don't walk away, don't you?

I still got my fear
I still got my fear
I still got my fear
I still got my fear