The National - This Isn't Helping (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) (Official Audio)

'This Isn't Helping (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)' taken from new album 'First Two Pages Of Frankenstein' out now via 4AD. thenational.ff...
Lyrics:
I cannot believe what you get away with
You find beauty in anything
Whenever you look down into a sewer
You see a diamond ring
It isn't fair how you never look like you're trying
As if you couldn't care any less
And I'm here kicking myself to keep from crying
You say you're impressed
But this isn't helping at all
It only makes me wanna get further off
This isn't helping at all
This isn't helping
You can say that this doesn't have to hurt
You're there if you need to be found
Can't you see that that makes it so much worse?
I'll always see you around
Maybe in time we can give it one more try
But let's think about what matters now
Keep kicking yourself to keep from crying
That you're so right about
Cuz this isn't helping at all
I know you think it's kindness but it's not
This isn't helping at all
This isn't helping
Don't say that it's all your fault
I know you're banking on it coming up
But would your life be so bad
If you knew every single thought I had
Cuz I only have two things to say to you
But you say two things about everything, babe
Well just when I thought you don't even notice me at all
But this isn't helping at all
It only makes me wanna get further off
This isn't helping at all
This isn't helping
This isn't helping at all
I know you think it's kindness but it's not
This isn't helping at all
This isn't helping

[@patmanson75]

Matt and Phoebe's voices are a perfect match!

[@irmagomez1989]

What a beautiful song, what a beautiful album.

[@shizu-chan3942]

So, according to my interpretation of this song, it is about having a partner who is trying to understand the mental or some other serious issues the speaker is dealing with, but just because they're trying to understand does not mean that they do. It's that feeling the people who suffer feel that anybody who hasn't been in their shoes could never understand what they're going through, and every time the person whom they think cannot understand them tries to give them solace or shows them they 'get it', they get kinda shut down by the sufferer because it doesn't seem genuine, perhaps. This paragraph is very interesting, "Don't say that it's all your fault, I know you're banking on it coming up, But would your life be so bad, If you knew every single thought I had," It seems the partner of the speaker is used to taking the blame which the speaker gives to them for things perhaps being harder for them, and they express how difficult it is to be with someone who has the tendency to blame them for their own issues, but the speaker feels that they don't tell them half the things they actually think which are way worse than they are relaying to their partner. This is so....................................idk. So sad. This album is so good jfc.

[@jimwilliams3816]

I know Matt has talked about his problems with depression, and many of these lyrics apply in that way. But this whole album, so far, feels SO much to me like it's about neurodivergence in general, especially being on the autism spectrum, maybe combined with ADHD...what's now being called AuDHD in some circles. If your brain works differently, being offered solutions and empathy based on what works for a neurotypical person can be deeply frustrating. It's the double empathy problem: people on the spectrum try to engage with others in the ways that our own brains work, and tend to get poor results, because what we do and say means something different to others. By the same token, solutions and empathy offered by a neurotypical person, even one who cares about us deeply, can come across differently to us than what the person offering it intended, or be solutions that don't work for our brains. That's a big part of what "I know you think it's kindness, but it's not" means to me. "Don't say it's all your fault" resonates with me as the speaker saying "I keep trying to explain how I'm feeling, but it always seems to be received as a criticism of you, and it's so frustrating because I know I created that dynamic, but it isn't what I wanted, and I don't know how to get out of this hole." The partner very likely got to that point because their attempts to communicate with the speaker went so badly so many times; learned helplessness leads to depression. It's likely that the speaker got to where they are in much the same way. Any type of mental health struggle is often treated as a moral failing by others, which it is not. It's a recipe for depression and anxiety, which we are often predisposed to anyway.

[@themysticmuse]

This. I got you. A million percent, I do.🙏

[@elibaumann9718]

Actually this is about a lawyer who fancies himself a liberal yet keeps going up before the Supreme Court to defend child slavery and the government stealing people's houses

[@spnhm34]

This is the album of the decade. I am in love.

[@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

"There are fears attached to happiness, the fear of losing it, the fear of not finding it and the fear of finding it. Don't let these fears undesire you. There is an expiration date on this milk jug, yes that's a bummer but the question it begs needs answering... Are you going to drink it or let it spoil?..because you only get one jug of milk and there isn't no drinking it even if it sours first." ,dan'

[@zakamoriarty]

Wow - Alexa just found this for me randomly. Had to Shazam it to replay it! Very very good!!

[@luz1089]

i think i’m already in love with this album

[@iasmincarvalho4302]

This song is a masterpiece ❤

[@saphricpcgaming5182]

My favorite of the album

[@leticiabarreto6406]

i'll never be the same after this masterpiece

[@davefarias2912]

I just realized that this is a song that my wife would dedicate to me. I´m crying and I´m delighted with your music, you are art ❤

[@varoprats_erodprati]

Before listening I already knew it will like me... Can't explain it, as I told since I read the album's name and heard "Once upon..." became a supporter of this album... One knows when something is close to your soul💙

[@elizabetho.8027]

Best song on the album! Flawless

[@muratisik6956]

One of the best for sure.

[@blakemc90]

A highlight from the album.

[@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

"Drinking with a pen in your hand and a piece of paper in front of you can be just as dangerous as drinking with a steering wheel in your hand and a road in front of you." ,dan'

[@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

"Understanding isn't contagious it's a contact sport." ,dan' (silence speaks louder than clarity)

[@1955Woodys]

So beautiful

[@stephane1623]

The vocals…❤

[@NoPrimate]

У the national - не бывает неудачных композиций! Я не понимаю, о чём песня, но чувствую 100% гармонию! Здесь, всё - на своих местах: музыка, голоса, мелодия и моё настроение. Очень круто!

[@ardhiynwa556]

Best album the national ever. Love from indonesian 🤗❤️

[@pascalbolot6688]

J’écoute l’album en boucle, mais cette chanson est la meilleure de tout l’album ! Superbe

[@bridgetdillenkoffer5138]

Absolutely beautiful yet completely heart wrenching

[@lourdesgonzalez27]

this song is beautiful

[@mai.m.]

in love with your music and lyrics

[@patriciootero2620]

Beautiful as always

[@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

"Acronyms against opposition." ,dan' (fluoridization is like trading consciousness for confidence) "Here are the keys to my confidence. I can trick myself into smiling and that's all the proof I need."

[@themysticmuse]

Nice unexpected surprise.🔥✨

[@PrinceCryBaby]

Img this is the sexiest voice in the universe 😭😭😭😍😍😍

[@maudquinaud6295]

Beautiful

[@mattayre7746]

This song is deep

[@mochos76]

Beautiful back vocals😊

[@Somestuffgood]

❤❤❤

[@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

"The seed of a circle is a dot. Serendipity is a busted clock telling the truth. ." ,dan'

[@amandaevelin259]

💗💗💗💗

[@Maryam-oj9wc]

Lyrics ❤

[@ssaaaaaaaad7504]

🎶🎶🎶

[@eleonoralilithd.2203]

💖

[@aaronlsuton]

I like the slightly faster tempo in all the live recordings

[@whiteoleanderish]

I thought I was hallucinating over the video at first

[@BinhoTiger]

This is cruel 😢

[@MrRichman4000]

Fantanto roasted this album but I like this song and the pool song.

[@Matija993]

1st after 1st

[@AngelaBiondo-ws3vl]

Is this a cover song?

[@robguttridge6591]

No, this is an original.

[@myozawtun4783]

1st after 1st after 1st lol

[@mimagp3179]

now that i think about it, it feels like hearing the other side of "renegade" by Big Red Machine (ft. Taylor Swift)

[@jimwilliams3816]

It works that way, I agree, though I would say it is first and foremost the other side of “Hey Rosey,” a song Carin wrote about Matt.

[@Ploutze]

1st

[@ray-of-august]

I don't understand what this song is about?

[@user-js2cg7xs6c]

i think its about a breakup where one person is having a much harder time getting over it than the other

[@ray-of-august]

@@user-js2cg7xs6c i guess that make sense I wish it wasn't that vague

[@BatshitVashti]

You are the truth, this is Matthew’s kindness to Taylor Swift.

[@Violet316]

I like "The Alcott" better. This is good though.

[@sirsimonthesentry4787]

All the Queens wear crowns. No comparison needed.

[@Violet316]

@@sirsimonthesentry4787 I wasn't comparing Taylor to Phoebe, it was the song, The Alcott that I preferred. I loved Phoebe with Taylor on "Nothing New".

[@muratisik6956]

This song is better. Top-3 on the album.

[@dilligaf2818]

i luved phoebe until she bad mouthed our aussie Margaret Court... Still luv the national !!!

[@tbwatch88]

she wants to cancel EVERYONE.

[@Cb._ale]

Mid

[@gryjss9167]

This could have been Part I Part II with Eucalyptus. Arcade Fire like, actually Arcade Fire suck now.

[@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

Actually Arcade Fire is awesome, I can't wait for your comparable body of artistic work. We'll be waiting like.. sarcastically. ,dan'

[@gryjss9167]

Imigine being the female this was written and sung about . Enjoy your life with whoever fuk wit you left this for .