This is a great song - basically it's only 4 chords all around, but they keep adding new things through the song, and the suspense grows, it's just brilliant. I also like the fact that at Letterman's show artists perform live, not from some stupid playback.
I'm crying seeing this now. I love life for these moments. I've been abducted and locked up and tazed and pepper sprayed by my own family to make me stronger as a human as a child and music helps me escape to that place I used to go to when I escaped the pain. But now I find myself just sick and looking for that high to help me...
I still do too. Letterman had a couple performances with that same holy S factor. This and TVOTR wolf like me. Check it out. Time flies as I reply to a 11 year old comment. lol. Cheers
Absolutely love the New Order style guitar that starts about 2:45. From then on in it gets more Joy Division in style. Outstanding. The National are one of the best bands in the world right now.
I discovered them through my chronic paranoia when I was 16, now I’m 17, came back to this amazing band these people are amazing, when I watch amazing performers like these, I don’t wanna sing I’m afraid of everyone, I have a better trust in people after discovering this amazing band, less paranoia, anyways I love this so much ❤️exactly what the host said” I don’t know what to say”
I used to commute on the London Underground for one hour (each way). Often at 5 or 6am. I would always have the National on full blast. It got me really psyched for work
there's only 4 chords repeated on and on through the song, but there is so much action going on in it, that it gives the chills. simplicity is beautiful. this song, and the whole high violet proves it.
I've had to stop listening to The National on my iPod when I'm walking around in public. I can't help but start shaking/nodding my head and mouthing along to the words.
AMAZING. love the national. love sufjan. what a beautiful collaboration on a bone chilling song. High Violet is an album you can listen to over and over again~ BAM saturday!
WOW! I'll admit I didn't really know these guys existed for a long time and only recently started paying much attention so I'm not quite biased yet. That said, this is perhaps the most powerful late night TV musical performance I've seen. Great stuff!
@BeezoHow It's a harmonium, a sort of portable organ with a manual bellows. It's been used in folk music and classical music as well, such as Dvorak's Five Bagatelles for 2 Violins, Cello and Harmonium.
@mirstar holy crap i just saw this on a repeat of Letterman and I actually didn't notice Sufjan until I saw your comment. That's freaking crazy awesome. I thought you were talking about him working on his new album in their studio, but I can't believe I missed that.
Lyrics ❤️ Then I'm radio and then I'm television I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone Lay the young blue bodies, with the old red violets I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone With my kid on my shoulders I try Not to hurt anybody I like But I don't have the drugs to sort I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out I defend my family with my orange umbrella I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone With my shiny new star spangled tennis shoes on I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone With my kid on my shoulders I try Not to hurt anybody I like But I don't have the drugs to sort I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out I don't have the drugs to sort I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Soul soul soul soul soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Soul soul soul soul soul
No one is "too good" to be backing vocals for anyone. He's obviously doing this out of respect for a great band. I'm sure he feels honored to share the stage with them and they're all probably really good friends.
that's cool dude. It's nice to actually see one of those rare occasions when two people who disagree on the internet can actually come to an amicable and mature conclusion :D
I wish the band would put out official lyrics. I honestly can't tell if the final part is "Your voice is swallowing my soul," or "Your voice has stolen my soul." Plus the opening lyric: "Lay the young blue bodies, with the old red violets," or "Lay the young blue bodies, with the old red bodies." Ugh, so confusing. Amazing song though.
It's nice reading comments from listeners new to the National... here's what you do, get a big set of headphones... and listen to the album Alligator straight through...then do it with Boxer, you'll love this album even more.
I was waiting long time for the album like this. make play, and going to the another world . last time Kid A Radiohead or Amnesiac reset my brain like this album!!!!
@hightimesbruce The last line is "You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul and the other is "Lay the young blue bodies with the old red bodies."
A band so good, they can get Sufjan to be background vocals (the dude is a musical genius). Wow! Matt's vocal performance is dead-on here.
This is a great song - basically it's only 4 chords all around, but they keep adding new things through the song, and the suspense grows, it's just brilliant. I also like the fact that at Letterman's show artists perform live, not from some stupid playback.
Still I think one of the greatest live performances I've ever seen
whenever i'm having a shitty day... I like to click on this specific performance, turn my headphones up full blast, and get the chills.
I'm crying seeing this now. I love life for these moments. I've been abducted and locked up and tazed and pepper sprayed by my own family to make me stronger as a human as a child and music helps me escape to that place I used to go to when I escaped the pain. But now I find myself just sick and looking for that high to help me...
I still do too. Letterman had a couple performances with that same holy S factor. This and TVOTR wolf like me. Check it out. Time flies as I reply to a 11 year old comment. lol. Cheers
You know you're doing something right when Sufjan Stevens is your backing singer :)
The elusive
hahaha
dinnt even see im therr
I'm a bit late to the party, but these guys are outstanding. Letterman's appreciation is evident.
gotta love that drumming
Absolutely love the New Order style guitar that starts about 2:45. From then on in it gets more Joy Division in style. Outstanding. The National are one of the best bands in the world right now.
David Letterman is pleased. And he is a lord seldom pleased by the music of the surfs.
breathtaking performance. .. epic band and song.. unique vocals
Just saw the video, "Light Years."
This group continues to be mind blowing.
Here is where it all began for me.
I discovered them through my chronic paranoia when I was 16, now I’m 17, came back to this amazing band these people are amazing, when I watch amazing performers like these, I don’t wanna sing I’m afraid of everyone, I have a better trust in people after discovering this amazing band, less paranoia, anyways I love this so much ❤️exactly what the host said” I don’t know what to say”
How do I like this twice !
Still as good!
How do you like this a hundred times is what i'm asking.
how has this not got more views ?
Create two accounts and like from both
Jim Kelly I love that you came back 4 years later to point out it still doesn’t have enough views.
I've seen The National live twice now, and they're one of the few bands who are completely at their best live.
I used to commute on the London Underground for one hour (each way). Often at 5 or 6am. I would always have the National on full blast.
It got me really psyched for work
probably the most powerful performance i've ever seen on letterman
Beautiful.
2024 they’re still amazing and killing it
the national with sufjan stevens, eric clapton and john lennon
Oh my God you're right
+Sergio Cabrera except that is actually sufjan... pitchfork.com/news/38803-the-national-bring-sufjan-stevens-to-sing-backup-on-letterman/
Sufjan actually recorded some stuff on a couple of their albums I think, definitely one of them; Boxer. He played “the difficult piano parts” lolz
Yaaaaaaaaaas
Breathtaking
Goosebumps...
there's only 4 chords repeated on and on through the song, but there is so much action going on in it, that it gives the chills. simplicity is beautiful. this song, and the whole high violet proves it.
so eerie. i also like that Matt can still scream/sing when he needs to.
My personal favorite on the album and Sufjan is credited with backup arrangement for that song. Saw them Live in April and they were amazing!!!
Wow, this songs grows stronger for every listening. I'll love this live!
All-time favourite performance by The National.
Such a solid record. And it's so great to see Sufjan live!
i love it when a band sounds good live and recorded
It's like the lyrics are hiding his tears. Such an amazing preformance, it makes me cry.
I've had to stop listening to The National on my iPod when I'm walking around in public. I can't help but start shaking/nodding my head and mouthing along to the words.
AMAZING. love the national. love sufjan. what a beautiful collaboration on a bone chilling song. High Violet is an album you can listen to over and over again~ BAM saturday!
This is the video that first put me on to The National. Grateful for the years of great music.
I've seen the live twice in Croatia. they were amazing. especially first time 2007 in Pauk.
i spontaneously erupted into a standing ovation immediately after this ended. I had no control over it. OH MY GOD this band.
you're voice is swallowing my soul...great song
The National is so good at music.
two amazing artists
This performance is out of this world, simply amazing
WOW! I'll admit I didn't really know these guys existed for a long time and only recently started paying much attention so I'm not quite biased yet. That said, this is perhaps the most powerful late night TV musical performance I've seen. Great stuff!
"I don't know what to say. That was beautiful." Nice. Made Dave speechless.
holy shit.... one of the most powerful songs i have ever heard! with one word -amazing!
Fantastic drums. Beautiful backing vox. Love that guitarist's tone. Wow. Epic.
I'm seeing them in November, and f they're anything like as good as this, I can't wait!
@BeezoHow
It's a harmonium, a sort of portable organ with a manual bellows. It's been used in folk music and classical music as well, such as Dvorak's Five Bagatelles for 2 Violins, Cello and Harmonium.
for me it is one of the best bands of all time !!!
just awesome!
Congratulations!
so touching that i could cry
I've never noticed that before, but you're totally right. Not that they sound or look alike, but the emotion and presence Ian and Matt bring.
I'd say this is Letterman's best performance that he's had.
Your soul is swallowing my voice...
....awesome drums!!
just amazing
Too good for words!
SO awesome. Matt looks so dapper in this video. :)
@mirstar holy crap i just saw this on a repeat of Letterman and I actually didn't notice Sufjan until I saw your comment. That's freaking crazy awesome. I thought you were talking about him working on his new album in their studio, but I can't believe I missed that.
The National, God I love these guys...
Amazing performance, all-around. Even if Sufjan weren't there, I'd still have to say this is my favorite vid of this song.
The guy playing the harmonium looks like every Psych professor ever.
Lyrics ❤️
Then I'm radio and then I'm television
I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone
Lay the young blue bodies, with the old red violets
I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone
With my kid on my shoulders I try
Not to hurt anybody I like
But I don't have the drugs to sort
I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out
I defend my family with my orange umbrella
I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone
With my shiny new star spangled tennis shoes on
I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone
With my kid on my shoulders I try
Not to hurt anybody I like
But I don't have the drugs to sort
I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out
I don't have the drugs to sort
I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out
Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul
Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul
Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul
Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul
Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul
Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul
Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul
Soul soul soul soul soul
Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul
Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul
Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul
Soul soul soul soul soul
sooo soo good
Wow... that's a Harmonium. Never expected to see one of that here.
At 3:06, you can tell every member of the band is feeling the exact same beat. Like a freight train that can't be stopped.
best band in the world yall get into em before it's too late!!
No one is "too good" to be backing vocals for anyone. He's obviously doing this out of respect for a great band. I'm sure he feels honored to share the stage with them and they're all probably really good friends.
Great song/band!
I had to learn this song on acoustic guitar, Am C F Dm, awesome
l love this.
beautiful
that's cool dude. It's nice to actually see one of those rare occasions when two people who disagree on the internet can actually come to an amicable and mature conclusion :D
What a performance.....
That was a damn strong live performance!
mi guardare il video in loop, solo per rivedere il finale, quando la canzone finisce e Letterman irrompe, dicendo soddisfatto: "Wow! Wonderful!"
amazing preformance....
how i wish i could hear this live
so fucking fantastic I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM IN JUNE
superb
Sufjan!
Berringer does a little of his raw shit here...which I love. Him at Bonnaroo this year was the most unbridled gritty frontman stuff I ever saw.
Good stuff❤
My favorite on their album.
Fantastic stuff! #musicisthekeytovictory
Is that soufflé stevens 🥰🥰
I wish the band would put out official lyrics. I honestly can't tell if the final part is "Your voice is swallowing my soul," or "Your voice has stolen my soul."
Plus the opening lyric: "Lay the young blue bodies, with the old red violets," or "Lay the young blue bodies, with the old red bodies." Ugh, so confusing. Amazing song though.
9 years late time. "Yellow voices swallowing my soul"
Best version
I like those 3 cymbal hits the drummer starts doing at 2:07 it fits the song perfectly. What a shame it's missing from the studio version.
Letterman being blown away, ftw.
holy shit this is powerful. with one word, amazing.
@Rambersiki He does, doesn't he... The National are so awesome live, and those strange drum undercurrents are one of the things that makes them so.
Hur kan man inte gilla detta !! So good !
So that's what Sufjan looks like without a cap.
I Miss The David Letterman Show ....
They touched me with this song like only saints can do. If there were still some tears left inside here, I would have started to cry.
It's nice reading comments from listeners new to the National... here's what you do, get a big set of headphones... and listen to the album Alligator straight through...then do it with Boxer, you'll love this album even more.
I was waiting long time for the album like this. make play, and going to the another world . last time Kid A Radiohead or Amnesiac reset my brain like this album!!!!
@hightimesbruce The last line is "You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul and the other is "Lay the young blue bodies with the old red bodies."
God, I love The National
goosebumps
excellent.
this song is so true. hot damn
so many awesome things about this video, but can i just add that i love the way matt dances to the beat at @2:10
Sufjan Stevens singing backup?
i was thinking the same thing! XD
Yup. That's actually Sufjan Stevens.
He dont need to back up xD