Afraid of Everyone by The National Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Layers of Modern Anxiety
Lyrics
I’m afraid of everyone, I’m afraid of everyone
Lay 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 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
Yellow voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul
Yellow voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul
Yellow voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul
Yellow voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul
Yellow voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul
Yellow voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul
Yellow voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul, soul, soul
Soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul
Yellow voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul, soul
Yellow voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul, soul
Yellow voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul, soul, soul
Soul, soul, soul, soul, soul, soul
The National has long been known for their haunting melodies and emotionally charged lyrics that tap into the depths of human experience. ‘Afraid of Everyone’ off their 2010 album ‘High Violet’ is no exception. The song paints a stark portrait of personal anxiety and societal paranoia, set against a backdrop of political and cultural unrest.
The melodic dissonance and lyrical depth of ‘Afraid of Everyone’ provide a compelling canvas for exploring themes of fear, protection, and the struggle to maintain personal identity amidst widespread societal pressures. This track delves into the psyche of an individual facing the vast anonymity of the modern age.
The Threat of Modern Media: Venom in the Airwaves
The opening lines, ‘Venom radio and venom television,’ suggest a palpable fear of the media landscape. The National frontman Matt Berninger uses ‘venom’ to denote the toxicity that can emanate from our daily consumption of news and entertainment, which often fosters anxiety rather than informed enlightenment.
This metaphor sets the tone for the song’s narrative, where the media is portrayed as a pervasive force, spewing hostility and fear that seeps into the lives of individuals, leaving them in a state of constant defense against a seemingly threatening world.
Protective Instincts and the Orange Umbrella
As the lyrics unfold, ‘I defend my family with my orange umbrella,’ the song articulates a deep-seated need to shield loved ones from external dangers. The ‘orange umbrella’ serves as a poignant symbol, representing fragile and possibly futile attempts to create a barrier between one’s family and the overwhelming forces of the world.
The image of an umbrella also embodies the vulnerability of such defenses. It’s a temporary and easily destroyed safeguard, further emphasizing the lingering sense of inadequacy and dread that permeates the song’s atmosphere.
The Paradox of Star-Spangled Shoes: A Struggle with National Identity
The mention of ‘shiny new star-spangled tennis shoes’ hints at a conflicted relationship with American identity. These shoes, adorning the symbols of the nation, could represent pride or irony—or perhaps both—as they are worn by someone who remains ‘afraid of everyone.’
This juxtaposition raises questions about how one navigates personal patriotism in a country fraught with internal tensions. The protagonist seems caught between the ideal of the American dream and the harsh realities that challenge its very core.
A Haunting Chorus of Yellow Voices: Decoding the Hidden Meaning
The repetition of ‘Yellow voices swallowing my soul’ marks one of the most enigmatic and discussed moments of the song. The color yellow often symbolizes cowardice or caution, and in the context of the track, these voices could signify overwhelming anxieties and societal judgments drowning the individual’s essence.
It’s as if an endless echo chamber of fear is consuming the narrator’s inner peace, reflecting a common experience where one’s sense of self is overshadowed by the collective noise of an anxious society.
Notable Lyrics Reveal Personal Struggle Against Anonymity
Amidst the discussion of societal and existential dread, it’s the personalized confession, ‘With my kid on my shoulders, I try not to hurt anybody I like,’ that resonates with universal relatability. The line captures the paradox of navigating personal connections in a world where maintaining them requires effort against unnamed, pervasive forces that push people apart.
The National’s ability to blend such deeply personal admissions within broader social critiques is a hallmark of their lyrical craftsmanship, rendering ‘Afraid of Everyone’ a strikingly evocative composition that continues to challenge and comfort listeners grappling with the complexities of modern life.
