England

The National's song 'England' delves into themes of longing, isolation, and the emotional distance that can exist between people and places. The repeated plea for someone to 'send a runner' through the weather signifies a desperate need to reconnect with a lost feeling or a person. This sense of loss is palpable and sets the tone for the rest of the song, highlighting the emotional turmoil the narrator is experiencing.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone in London, presumably a loved one, who seems to be thriving in the rain and walking down iconic streets like Abbey Lane. This imagery contrasts sharply with the narrator's own sense of displacement and melancholy. The mention of 'famous angels' never coming through England and the country getting 'the ones you never need' suggests a feeling of being overlooked or receiving less than what one desires. This could be a metaphor for unfulfilled expectations or dreams that never materialize.

The song also touches on the idea of physical and emotional separation, with lines like 'put an ocean and a river between everything, yourself, and home.' This separation is not just geographical but also emotional, creating a chasm that the narrator finds difficult to bridge. The reference to being in a 'Los Angeles cathedral' while 'minor singing airheads sing for me' further emphasizes the sense of disconnection and the hollow nature of the narrator's current surroundings. The closing lines about staying the night with sinners out of fear of the house suggest a reluctance to face one's own reality, opting instead for temporary distractions.