Taylor Swift may be keeping Swifties waiting for her next "Taylor Edition" album, but she's giving them new music in other ways. On April 28, The National released "The Alcott," a new collaboration with Swift, as part of their ninth album , "The First Two Pages of Frankenstein." This is the band's second collaboration with the 12-time Grammy winner, following "Coney Island" from Swift's 2020 surprise album evermore . Their partnership stems from member Aaron Dessner, who collaborated with Swift on "Followre," the precursor to "Followre," as well as some tracks on "Midnights."
Like "Coney Island," the new duet with The National frontman Matt Berninger is a melancholy ballad about two former lovers looking back on their long-lost relationship, but this time, The stark piano chords and Swift's haunting harmonies only make it sound better. sorrow. Swift starts off singing just background vocals, then she turns said vocals into full verses and choruses, voicing concerns and asking questions as Berninger details their memories, leading into a scene of quiet passion A classic Swift passage. "Why don't you rain on my parade?" she asked. "Tear up my tux and read my sentences out loud because I love this curse on our house."
Eagle-eyed Swifties might even spot a connection to her 2022 Midnights hit single "Anti-Hero," in which she famously said, "It's me, hey! I'm the problem, the problem is me." On the In the second chorus, Swift speculates that she was one of the reasons the relationship ended. "You tell me your problems," the pair sang, before Swift asked alone, "Am I one of your problems?"
Swift co-wrote the lyrics with Berninger, who composed the music, but encountered creative blocks while making the entire album. Dessner told NME that after he sent Swift what Berninger was working on, it only took her half an hour to reply, fleshing out the song. "She had this work ethic and was curious about the creative process...she loved making things," he said. "And she's not cynical at all, she's as DIY as anyone else."
In the first section, Alcott is introduced as a bar or café where exes often meet and hope to reunite. The Alcott is actually unlikely to be Swift and Berninger's inspiration (unless they're referring to this apartment complex in Denver or this restaurant in Australia), but the lyrics make it feel like a place you can visit anytime.
Below are the full lyrics to "The Alcott" transcribed by Genius.
[Verse 1: Matt Berninger]
I racked my brains to get to Olcott and meet you.
I will go to the back corner where you are always there
There you are, sitting on your golden notebook as usual
write something about the person who once was me
[Chorus: Both, Matt Berninger ]
The last thing you want to do is the first thing I do
I tell you my problems and you tell me the truth
It's the last thing you want to do, it's the first thing I do
I'm telling you I think I'm falling in love with you again
[Section 2: Matt Berninger, Taylor Swift , both ]
I sit there quietly waiting for you to look up ( ah )
I see you smile when you see it's me
I gotta do something to break into your golden mind ( ugh )
How many times do I have to do this and you still believe it? ( ah )
[Chorus: Both, Taylor Swift ]
This is the last thing you want ( tell me, which side are you on, honey? )
It's the first thing you do ( give me some tips on forgetting about you )
You tell me your problems ( do I become one of your problems? )
I tell you the truth ( Is it easy this time? )
This is the last thing you want ( everything about me is a landmine )
This is the first thing I do ( Does my love help and abet you? )
I'm telling you I think I'm falling in love with you again
[Bridge: Both, Taylor Swift ]
I'll ruin everything ( ahhh ), I'll ruin everything for you ( ahhh )
I'll ruin it all ( ahhh), like always ( ahhh )
I'll ruin everything ( Why don't you make it rain on my parade? )
I'll ruin it for you ( shred my evening gown )
I'll ruin it all ( read my sentence aloud )
Ends like usual ( because I love this curse on our house )
[Chorus: Both, Taylor Swift ]
That's the last thing I want ( Tell me, whose side are you on, honey? )
This is the first thing I do ( give me some tips on forgetting you )
I tell you my problem ( Am I one of your problems too? )
You tell me the truth ( Is it easy this time? )
This is the last thing I want ( everything about me is a landmine )
This is the first thing I do ( Does my love help and abet you? )
I'm telling you I think I'm in love again ( Back in love )
fall in love with you again
