How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

About

Genius Annotation

“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

What did The National say about "Brainy"?
Genius Answer

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.

Credits
Keyboards By
Flute By
Bassoon By
Additional Arrangements By
Orchestration By
Additional Recording by
Recording Assistants
Second Engineer
Additional Production By
Mixed By
Mastered by
Recorded At
Tarquin Studios, Bridgeport, CT/Brooklyn, NY/White Sulphur Springs, WV/Seaside Lounge, Brooklyn, NY/Benny's Was N' Dry, Brooklyn, NY
Release Date
May 22, 2007
Tags
Comments