Brainy Lyrics
I've been dragging around
From the end of your coat for two weeks
Everywhere you go is swirling
Everything you say has water under it
You know I keep your fingerprints
In a pink folder in the middle of my table
You're the tall kingdom I surround
Think I better follow you around
[Chorus]
You might need me more than you think you will
Come home in the car you love, brainy, brainy, brainy
[Verse 2]
I've been dragging around
From the end of your coat for two weeks
You keep changing your fancy, fancy mind
Every time I decide to let it go
I was up all night again
Boning up and reading the American dictionary
You'll never believe me what I found
Think I better follow you around
[Chorus]
You might need me more than you think you will
Come home in the car you love, brainy, brainy, brainy
You might need me more than you think you will
Come home in the car you love, brainy, brainy, brainy
About
“Brainy” is the third song on The National’s 2007 album, Boxer.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
This song is about someone trying to pretend they’re smarter than they are and also maybe trying to catch up with somebody who they believe is way ahead of them, much smarter. I think the idea is, ‘there are things I’m learning that maybe you don’t know and you need me, and you should trust me because I was reading the American dictionary last night.’ The part about boning up is also a mixed metaphor, for um, you know, lust, and also studying. That song has a lot of weird details like keeping fingerprints in folders as though you’re collecting information about someone. But not just about someone in an investigative sense. It’s more like, ‘There are things you might not know, and I’m finding these things out so that you’ll need me more than you think you do."
Matt Berninger in an interview with Paste Magazine.
- 1.Fake Empire
- 3.Brainy
- 5.Green Gloves
- 6.Slow Show
- 8.Start a War
- 9.Guest Room
- 11.Ada
- 12.Gospel