The National - City Middle Lyrics

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Karen in the song 'City Middle' by The National?

   Karen is a pseudonym for Carin Besser, Matt Berninger's wife. Berninger changed her name to 'Karen' in the song to protect her innocence. Carin has contributed to the band's songwriting and backup vocals and appears in several other songs by The National.

2. What is the Tennessee Williams reference in 'City Middle'?

   The song refers to Tennessee Williams's play 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.' The character Brick talks about drinking until he feels 'the click' that brings him peace. Berninger contrasts this by mentioning that he waits for 'the click' but it never 'kicks in' for him.

3. Which version of 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' influenced Matt Berninger?

   Matt Berninger was influenced by the 1958 movie version of 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,' which featured Paul Newman as Brick. Berninger admitted he knows more about Paul Newman than Tennessee Williams, and the line stuck with him because of the movie.

4. What does the line 'I want to go gator around the warm beds of beginners' mean?

   The line 'I want to go gator around the warm beds of beginners' appears multiple times in the song. While the exact meaning is open to interpretation, it evokes a sense of prowling or lingering around places where people are just starting out or learning something new.

5. Which other songs by The National feature references to Carin Besser?

   Other songs by The National that reference Carin Besser include 'Looking for Astronauts,' 'Conversation 16,' and 'I Need My Girl.' In 'Looking for Astronauts,' she is referred to as having 'a permanent piece of my medium-sized American heart.'

6. What inspired the line 'You said, I think I'm like Tennessee Williams' in 'City Middle'?

   The line reflects a feeling of waiting for a moment of clarity or peace that never arrives, similar to how Brick from Tennessee Williams's 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' talks about drinking until he feels 'the click.' Berninger uses this reference to express a sense of perpetual anticipation.