It’s about two people with a long history returning to a place and trying to relive a certain moment in time. It’s got the feeling of a last-ditch effort to hold onto the relationship, but there’s a hint of something positive where you can see the beginnings of a reconnection.…I was writing about my wife, but, you know, it sets a scene of a person with a notebook writing in a bar basically. And she knew exactly, you know, she fit right into that spot and she knows.
– Matt Berninger (vocals and co-founder of the National) interview on Alt Ctrl Radio on Apple Music 1
The Alcott is yet another very modern song I first heard by the lovely Serbian twins – Alex and Jo (see image inset). Their rendition of this prominently piano ballad swept me away and I had to find the original. I have presented both versions below.
The Alcott is the third song to be presented here from The National after their previous entry Runaway. The single (featuring Taylor Swift) is from the National’s ninth studio album First Two Pages of Frankenstein.
Aaron Dessner (guitarists and co-founder) recalled in press materials: ‘Matt Berninger wrote the main part of the song to some music I had written which Taylor had heard and I knew liked, so I thought it might be something she would really click with. I sent it to her, and was a little nervous as I didn’t hear back for 20 minutes or so. By the time she responded, Taylor had written all her parts and recorded a voice memo with the lyrics she’d added in a dialogue with Matt, and everyone fell immediately in love with it. It felt meant to be“.
Matt Berninger added in the interview on Apple Music 1: “Well, I met Taylor a long time ago, and a long time ago we knew Taylor was a fan, and, eventually, we got to know her a little better. And then her work with Aaron was so brilliant, and I know that she was really, you know, interested in the writing process and how Carin [Besser] and I collaborate”.
Dessner has also joined Swift onstage in Tampa, Florida during her ‘Eras‘ Tour. He recalled that the gig was “the greatest show I’ve ever seen…The scale of the tour. And the music, the visual design, the choreography and her musicianship, it’s on a level that I’ve never seen anything like..To me, it’s something to aspire to: to be that ambitious with her music. I think sometimes people ask me questions about working with pop stars like it’s not an honour, but it’s a total honour. I learned way more from her than she’s learned with us“.
[Verse 1: Matt Berninger]
I get myself twisted in threads
To meet you at The Alcott
I’d go to the corner in the back
Where you’d always be
And there you are, sittin’ as usual
With your golden notebook
Writin’ something about someone
Who used to be me
[Chorus: Matt Berninger & Taylor Swift, Matt Berninger]
And the last thing you wanted
Is the first thing I do
I tell you my problems
You tell me the truth
It’s the last thing you wanted
It’s the first thing I do
I tell you that I think I’m fallin’
Back in love with you
[Verse 2: Matt Berninger, Taylor Swift, Both]
I sit there silently
Waitin’ for you to look up (Ah)
I see you smile
When you see it’s me
I had to do something
To break into your golden thinking (Ah)
How many times will I do this
And you’ll still believe? (Ah)
[Chorus: Matt Berninger & Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift]
[Bridge: Matt Berninger, Taylor Swift]
And I’ll ruin it all over
I’ll ruin it for you
I’ll ruin it all over
And over like I always do
I’ll ruin it all over
(Why don’t you rain on my parade?)
I’ll ruin it for you
(Shred my evening gown)
I’ll ruin it all over
(Read my sentence out loud)
And over like I always do
(‘Cause I love this curse on our house)
The Alcott reached No. 11, 90 and 26 on the US, UK and Australian charts respectively.
References:
1. The Alcott – Wikipedia
2. The National share lyric video for ‘The Alcott’ featuring Taylor Swift – NME
3. Taylor Swift Joins the National on New Song ‘The Alcott’ – Our Culture
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I only know The National by name. While I respect Taylor Swift, I’m not much into her music. With all that said, “The Alcott” is a beautiful ballad. I also like how Swift’s and Berninger’s vocals blend. Once again, Alex and Jo do a great job with their rendition, though in this case, I feel The National featuring Taylor Swift have a slight edge.
I prefer other National songs, but ‘The Alcott’ is pretty sweet. I thought the same as you: that the original pips Alex and Jo’s version because of the harmonisation between Matt and Taylor. But I’m still so grateful for the new music their channel has exposed me to.