I Need My Girl (2013) – The National

Posted on September 7, 2022 by observationblogger — 2 Comments

I Need My Girl is the first song to appear in the Music Library Project from the American alternative rock band The National. Someone wrote in the comments below, ‘I don’t have an ex-girlfriend but listening to this song makes me miss her‘. It’s a desolate modern ballad which I always enjoy listening to. The second verse below raises me a smile, but the song in general is wistful and meditative. Berninger the singer said, “It’s just a song about missing your wife, girlfriend, whoever.” I Need My Girl was originally recorded by the band in 2013 for their sixth studio album, Trouble Will Find Me, where it appears as the tenth track.

I am good, I am grounded
Davy says that I look taller
But I can’t get my head around it
I keep feeling smaller and smaller
I need my girl
I need my girl

Remember when you lost your shit and
Drove the car into the garden?
You got out and said “I’m sorry”
To the vines and no one saw it
I need my girl
I need my girl

The kicker in the song is the monotonous looping of the guitar. According to Songfacts: Aaron Dessner had to experiment with guitar sketches in his garage studio after the birth of his daughter. He told NME: “I almost didn’t send this to Matt (Berninger, vocals) as it was something I did quickly – it’s simple, but he loves that kind of thing. There’s something very heartfelt about it.
Berningar explained ‘I know I was the 45% of then‘: “It was, I think, about not totally being there for somebody. It’s probably about my wife, and I was gone so much‘.

The band, The National formed in Brooklyn, New York City in 1999. Leaving behind their day jobs, the National signed with Beggars Banquet Records and released their third studio album, Alligator (2005), to widespread critical acclaim. More will come from the National.

References:
1. I Need My Girl – Wikipedia
2. The National – Wikipedia