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The National — Afraid of Everyone
Album: High Violet
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1388









Released: 2010
Length: 4:14
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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Then I'm radio and, then I'm television
I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone
They're the young blue bodies with the old red bodies
I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone

With my kid on my shoulders, I'll 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 shining new star-spangled tennis shoes on
I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone

With my kid on my shoulders, I'll 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

You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul
You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul
You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul
You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul

You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul, soul
You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul
You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul, soul
Soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul

You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul, soul
You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul, soul
You're the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul, soul
Soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul
Comments (110)add comment
 Jelani wrote:

Yeah oysters are in my soul soul soul?




LOL!  
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Yeah oysters are in my soul soul soul?
Posted 3 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
At a The National concert (in support of this album) one of the guitar players told a funny story about how he thinks its funny that he's in a band in which the nickname of the lead singer is "mumbles." The lead singer looked kind of embarrassed.
Posted 3 years ago by Kajukenbo    [ Reply ]
Anyone else get a little Anna Ternheim hit off that guitar lick?
Posted 3 years ago by cosmiclint    [ Reply ]
 Nerubo wrote:
It seems some listeners want their bands to do different things, to themselves be eclectic. The National is not that band, they have a way of doing songs they like and they stick to it. In my case, I really like one or two but would not listen to a whole album through. 

Also, this song feels very relevant right now, in a political sense.

 
 


Like 2020, both this song (from 2010), and Nerubo's comment (from 2016), make no sense to me.
Going to give the RP Rock Mix a shot.
Tooduh Loo ~

Posted 4 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
If you're going to test the gel pens that much, you really ought to buy them. It's simple courtesy.
Posted 4 years ago by danmc    [ Reply ]
High Violet are a revelation to me!
Wheels...and so!
Great
Posted 4 years ago by sashaly1968    [ Reply ]
Definitely takes on a different meaning in light of our current events.
Posted 4 years ago by bowerp64    [ Reply ]
 84MacGuy wrote:
Saw these boys a couple weeks ago at Edgefield in Portland -- in a driving rain storm.  Nobody left.  

That's the measure of a well-liked band. 
 
Or the measure of not wanting to get beat for the ticket price.
Posted 5 years ago by MrStatenIsle    [ Reply ]
Quite a bit of hate out there for this song, but I like it.  Maybe it was the excellent {IMHO} segue from Alt-J.
Posted 7 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]

In retrospect, I regret having spent the money and time seeing them live.


Posted 7 years ago by CafeRacer    [ Reply ]
I'm afraid of what their music is doing to my ears.
Posted 7 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of the Pet Shop Boys.  Couldn't hit PSD fast enough.
Posted 7 years ago by hschlossberg    [ Reply ]
shut up, shut up, shut up
Posted 7 years ago by blotto    [ Reply ]
I can't help but feel apathetic to this group and its nearly identical efforts on RP.... The singer seems too lazy to care, and it all suffers...
Posted 7 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 Steely_D wrote:
The National so much doesn't agree with me. And that drummer is one of the main reasons.

 
the drummer is toned down a bit here as compared to other The National tunes
most of the time he does sound like this{#Arrowd} 
 Image result for animal muppet drummer
Posted 7 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
The National so much doesn't agree with me. And that drummer is one of the main reasons.
Posted 7 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
Repetitive noise...
Posted 7 years ago by moonridge2001    [ Reply ]
Theme song of the day, no question.
Posted 8 years ago by Shmelo    [ Reply ]
It seems some listeners want their bands to do different things, to themselves be eclectic. The National is not that band, they have a way of doing songs they like and they stick to it. In my case, I really like one or two but would not listen to a whole album through. 

Also, this song feels very relevant right now, in a political sense.

 
Posted 8 years ago by Nerubo    [ Reply ]
RP has been hittin' the "The National" Kool-Aid hard of late.  My PSD finger has never had such a workout!

In this case, I would prefer hearing The Black Keys get overplayed, at least their music has a less droning, boring sound.
Posted 8 years ago by S-curvy    [ Reply ]
 contractor07 wrote:
Fantastic Album {#Mrgreen}

 
Yes, fantastic.
Posted 8 years ago by SchrodingersCat    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:

In your narrow little world where all progressions must resolve, there would be no Van Gogh, no Picasso, no Pink Floyd, no Beatles.

Taylor Swift songs always end on the base chord.

You may be listening wrong. 
  
van Gogh, Floyd and the Beatles count as breadth? So be it. But this stultifyingly monotonous song doesn't come anywhere near the inventiveness and complexity of these artists. 
Posted 8 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
 FlatCat wrote:
The chords never resolve. You're supposed to end up on the dominant at SOME point, no? I really find this one tedious and gray.

 
In your narrow little world where all progressions must resolve, there would be no Van Gogh, no Picasso, no Pink Floyd, no Beatles.

Taylor Swift songs always end on the base chord.

You may be listening wrong. 
Posted 8 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
depressing? {#Whisper}
Posted 8 years ago by 4merdj    [ Reply ]
so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-sssooo-so-so-ss-oo-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-s-os-os-osso-osossooo-
etc,etc. :) 
Posted 8 years ago by ico    [ Reply ]
 FlatCat wrote:
The chords never resolve. You're supposed to end up on the dominant at SOME point, no? I really find this one tedious and gray.


 planet_lizard wrote:

You mean tonic?

And there are no rules....
 
 FlatCat wrote:

Yes, dominant. They are MY rules, and everyone must abide by them!

Well, actually, I'm just saying that's one of the reasons I really, really don't like this song.
 
The dominant is the fifth; the tonic is the first (and sometimes last) or "resolution".  It sounds like the last chord of every verse in this song is the subdominant (4th) — a D minor in a song in the key of A minor — which can make it sound unresolved.  All this talk of tonic and fifths is making me thirsty.
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
love this - and gotta Love that album cover! marker rendering at its finest lol
Posted 9 years ago by jocelynsart    [ Reply ]
 S-curvy wrote:
Didn't these ding-dongs get the memo, Morphine covered this ground 25-30 years ago?  That means their "oh-gee-I'm-so-serious" thing makes them out to be posers....
 
https://25.media.tumblr.com/403fe82396131ae055786914a3bf6b42/tumblr_mer0dsBrko1rdzuduo1_500.jpg
Posted 9 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
I enjoy this but, but, but....  The National's material is so 'similar' all the time.  From song to song; from the beginning of a song to the end of the same song.

War on Drugs, by comparison, offers a much more diverse musical palette.   
Posted 9 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Didn't these ding-dongs get the memo, Morphine covered this ground 25-30 years ago?  That means their "oh-gee-I'm-so-serious" thing makes them out to be posers....
Posted 9 years ago by S-curvy    [ Reply ]
I gotta pull this album out again.
Posted 9 years ago by dkwalika    [ Reply ]
Yep I like this as well as many other tunes off this great album!
Posted 10 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
Saw these boys a couple weeks ago at Edgefield in Portland -- in a driving rain storm.  Nobody left.  

That's the measure of a well-liked band. 
Posted 11 years ago by 84MacGuy    [ Reply ]
 stahlwerk wrote:
Great song from a great song sequence (on the album), judging by the comments it seems that standing alone it loses appeal. Love the horns, love the lyrics, love the band.
 
Well, that may explain the wierded-out lyrics -- a follow-on from previous musical scenes.  Some days, I'd agree with him: there's not enough drugs in the world to sort it out.
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Great song from a great song sequence (on the album), judging by the comments it seems that standing alone it loses appeal. Love the horns, love the lyrics, love the band.
Posted 11 years ago by stahlwerk    [ Reply ]
..although it's growing on me (3 >> 5), this tune still reminds me of its disc cover art..
Posted 11 years ago by cShaggy    [ Reply ]
There's that braying again. Have the mules gotten out of the fence?
Posted 11 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
I dunno, kinda so-so..
Posted 11 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
I don't have a drug store?
Posted 11 years ago by tbaloney619    [ Reply ]
Nice
Posted 11 years ago by sebsem    [ Reply ]
Whoever you are:  I LOVE YOU!!!!  MERRY EFFFING XMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
more Psychotic than Psychadelic
Posted 12 years ago by max_p    [ Reply ]
TERRIBLE-TERRIBLE!!!
Posted 12 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
This one makes everyone in my trailer park put their curtains down. {#Drummer}
 
Well played!

{#Roflol}
Posted 12 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
Stage Announcement:

Ok!  Everybody that took the brown acid.........

Posted 12 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
This one makes everyone in my trailer park put their curtains down. {#Drummer}
Posted 12 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
I've heard foghorns with greater range.
Posted 12 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
Being afraid of everyone seems to get in the way of music appreciation hour. 
Posted 12 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
I dream in meoldic
Posted 12 years ago by NatureDeficit    [ Reply ]
 planet_lizard wrote:

You mean tonic?

And there are no rules....

 
Yes, dominant. They are MY rules, and everyone must abide by them!

Well, actually, I'm just saying that's one of the reasons I really, really don't like this song.

Posted 12 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
 Tamster wrote:

I agree and I quite like this tune.......very flowing and melodic........ I am afraid of everyone ....what a great thought
 
But it's the way the rest of the musicians create such a listenable recording, i think
Posted 12 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
 number7 wrote:
Like most great music it takes repeated listens then not hearing it for a while then fall in love with it.
Why is that I wonder?
 
I agree and I quite like this tune.......very flowing and melodic........ I am afraid of everyone ....what a great thought
Posted 12 years ago by Tamster    [ Reply ]
 blotto wrote:
crap
 
Correction.

Total crap
Posted 12 years ago by iTuner    [ Reply ]
crap
Posted 12 years ago by blotto    [ Reply ]
I just saw them in concert this week. It was an excellent show. Definitely worth seeing if you are a fan
Posted 12 years ago by clwguy    [ Reply ]
 FlatCat wrote:
The chords never resolve. You're supposed to end up on the dominant at SOME point, no? I really find this one tedious and gray.
 
You mean tonic?

And there are no rules....

Posted 12 years ago by planet_lizard    [ Reply ]
Like most great music it takes repeated listens then not hearing it for a while then fall in love with it.
Why is that I wonder?
Posted 12 years ago by number7    [ Reply ]
 heatherchickenlady wrote:
I love the whole album.
 

Definitely my favorite Band right now. I like Boxer a little better, but this one is fantastic. And, not sure if its been uploaded, but their song used in the credits of "Win, Win," which is not on this CD, is excellent too.

Posted 13 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
I love the whole album.
Posted 13 years ago by heatherchickenlady    [ Reply ]

seen these mopes a couple times. not too impressed. sounds like they raided pops 80s record collection and amateurishly aping Ian Curtis.


Posted 13 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
The chords never resolve. You're supposed to end up on the dominant at SOME point, no? I really find this one tedious and gray.
Posted 13 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
Two thumbs up.  Way up.

{#Dance}
Posted 13 years ago by 84MacGuy    [ Reply ]

Yea, their 20 or 30 mins. is up now.......next!



Posted 13 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 macbags wrote:
give me a break.  Thiis is music these days?
 
Did you just crawl out of a cave? Hey it could be worse, you could have stepped out of the darkness in the 80s. {#Wink}
Posted 13 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
give me a break.  Thiis is music these days?
Posted 13 years ago by macbags    [ Reply ]
 Steve wrote:
Amazon has the entire album download for $1.99.
 
Must have been a short term dealy - it's $6.99 now {#Sad}
Posted 13 years ago by raelic    [ Reply ]
Amazon has the entire album download for $1.99.
Posted 13 years ago by Steve    [ Reply ]
 gailcal4 wrote:
Bill plays this A LOT.  Trying to tell us something ? 
 
Yes.  The National is hot.  So give it a listen.  

Posted 13 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Fantastic Album {#Mrgreen}
Posted 13 years ago by contractor07    [ Reply ]
Funny, this track sounds better on RP than it does on the CD.

The track on the CD sounds clipped, like the gain was set too high and it's saturating. I read on a fan site that this was intentional (although unpleasant to my ears).

The other tracks are fine. Maybe I'll splash out on an MP3 of just this one for comparison.
Posted 14 years ago by lewie221    [ Reply ]
These guys are so good - saw them once when they arrived late to a big festival, they had to take a slot at a secondary stage but it didn't stop them from blowing to roof off of the joint.  So excellent live!

This song allows them to show off their soft skills, what an awesome cut. . .

{#Meditate}

Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
Atmospheric...good stuff.
Posted 14 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
 tutakea wrote:
utterly boring.
 
Agreed, your comment is utterly boring. This song, however, is excellent!

Posted 14 years ago by Droidac    [ Reply ]
Nice!

Posted 14 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
I know there's a lot of hype but I like this album a LOT. Never heard of them until I saw them open up for Pavement in May on the European tour and will go back and see them headline in November...

Posted 14 years ago by jamc    [ Reply ]
 Bazooka wrote:
"I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out" 

Drugs are not for sorting.
In my humble opinion, that is.

Snorting perhaps? {#Whistle}

Posted 14 years ago by fingerpin    [ Reply ]
So far my favorite CD for 2010, they just keep getting better and better!
Posted 14 years ago by lattalo    [ Reply ]
 h8rhater wrote:

monotonous soulless commentary

 
monotonous soulless, witless, hate spewing fuckwad h8rhater troll remark

Posted 14 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
I am hearing depeche mode in the mix, plus a funky beat, which are good things
Posted 14 years ago by drews    [ Reply ]
This album is outstanding.
Posted 14 years ago by dewinter    [ Reply ]
"I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out" 

Drugs are not for sorting.
In my humble opinion, that is.

Posted 14 years ago by Bazooka    [ Reply ]
Bill plays this A LOT.  Trying to tell us something ? 
Posted 14 years ago by gailcal4    [ Reply ]
 h8rhater wrote:

monotonous soulless commentary

 
Too short for a commentary. Monotonous soulless clause.

Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 DaveInVA wrote:
monotonous soulless generic lite-rock {#Sleep}
 
monotonous soulless commentary

Posted 14 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
Perhaps a bit less melancholy than the other releases I have heard from this band. Not to my immediate taste, but it does have an edge. 
Posted 14 years ago by black321    [ Reply ]
Well now. Seems He can actually cover more than one octave, this is an improvement.
And complete sentences!

The sosososo stuff is a bit soso though.
It's a 5 for now.

Posted 14 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
monotonous soulless generic lite-rock {#Sleep}
Posted 14 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
To my ears, the end of this song sounds exactly like an updated version of a band I used to listen to in the 80s. I think it's Icicle Works or maybe Talk Talk or The The.
Posted 14 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
TREMENDOUS !!!! Thanks RP for broadcasting this wonderful song I would never discover without you !
Posted 14 years ago by tatooin    [ Reply ]
utterly boring.
Posted 14 years ago by tutakea    [ Reply ]
 shutter wrote:
The song is kinda dark but the frenetic ending is an interesting counterpoint I thought.  I like the drums and the guitar.
 
You guys see what I see.  Peace

Posted 14 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
The song is kinda dark but the frenetic ending is an interesting counterpoint I thought.  I like the drums and the guitar.
Posted 14 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
 keller1 wrote:

Too dark for me.

 
It is dark. It gets a little bit humorous here and there, and I haven't decided if it ends up being positive or not. Also not sure if it's as good as Boxer or not. But it's a very good record.

Posted 14 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
This is the first time I would say that I have experienced what I believe to be "overplay" on RP.  Too bad for me I guess because The National was beginning  to grow on me but now, not so much.  Not a bad tune, just getting tired of hearing it.  I suppose when it comes on I should just turn it down or find an alternative.
Posted 14 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
Maybe you don't need the drugs to sort it out. Or something like that.
 
Posted 14 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
 keller1 wrote:


Took yer advice.

Too dark for me.

My own "best release top to bottom that I've heard for a while" is Courtyard Hounds.

Over and out.
  

It's definitely brooding, for certain.

Glad to see you back here.
Posted 14 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
 sirdroseph wrote:
My head hurts, I am afraid of this song!{#Stop}
 

Go away to listen to the freakin' Eagles then.
Posted 14 years ago by Fables85    [ Reply ]
My head hurts, I am afraid of this song!{#Stop}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
Boring and strident.
Posted 14 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
8
Posted 14 years ago by jkhandy    [ Reply ]
 Bosami wrote:
Catch it while you can: The entire record streaming at NPR:
One of the best releases top to bottom that I have heard in awhile.

 

Took yer advice.

Too dark for me.

My own "best release top to bottom that I've heard for a while" is Courtyard Hounds.

Over and out.


Posted 14 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
OUTSTANDING.

Posted 14 years ago by Fables85    [ Reply ]
Ewwwwwww!{#Stop}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 Bosami wrote:
Catch it while you can: The entire record streaming at NPR:
One of the best releases top to bottom that I have heard in awhile.

 
I have to agree. I'm pretty obsessed. Been listening to it non-stop for weeks now. Happy tomorrow, when it releases!

Posted 14 years ago by victoryluna    [ Reply ]
Catch it while you can: The entire record streaming at NPR:
One of the best releases top to bottom that I have heard in awhile.

Posted 14 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
Nice!
Posted 14 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]

7 at first listen, but may well up my rating when I've heard it a couple of times.

Looking forward to the new album, should be in the mail shortly...


Posted 14 years ago by le_colonel    [ Reply ]
OK, we're gettin' there. One of the weakest tunes on the album, I thought.


Posted 14 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
I Like this band, always have. Heard them here first with The Boxer and this is good too.
Posted 14 years ago by LuvWilloughby    [ Reply ]