"The Alcott" is a soaring ballad that tells the tale of a rediscovered romance. As penned by The National's frontman, Matt Berninger, the track chronicles the chance encounter between two lovers in the bustling hub of a hotel bar. Berninger guides us through the raw and unbridled emotions of two souls rekindling their passion in this most public of spaces.
The song boasts not only The National's sonic wizardry, but also the inimitable talents of pop powerhouse Taylor Swift. The union came about thanks to the longstanding creative connection between Swift and The National multi-instrumentalist Aaron Dessner. As a frequent collaborator, Dessner was uniquely positioned to pitch the idea of the superstar participating on "The Alcott" directly to her, which she readily accepted.
"I thought it might be something she would really click with," said Dessner. "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."
The track was born out of some music that Dessner had sent to Berninger. Speaking to Apple Music, The National frontman revealed that his wife and fellow writer, Carin Besser, inspired the lyrics. When Swift was invited to lend her vocals to the track, she was able to fully embody the role of the person Berninger was describing, crafting a stirring response that came straight from the perspective of his beloved partner.
"When Carin heard that one, and heard Taylor Swift embodying her character in a song, writing responses to me, that was really fun for everybody," Berninger told Apple Music. "It was a really cool moment. It was like walking down a path and thinking you're alone, and all of a sudden somebody appears out of nowhere and joins you on this path."
"The Alcott" represents a special venue that holds a place of deep significance in Beringer and Swift's romance. The haunting imagery of a lone figure scribbling away in a notebook at the bar sets the scene for a tale of redemptive love
And there you are, sittin' as usual
With your golden notebook
Writing something about someone
Who used to be me
"It very much is a perspective of one person sort of coming to try to reconnect with the other person in a hotel bar," Berninger told Apple Music's Zane Lowe. "I'd written all that side of it and Aaron sent it to Taylor Swift right away and I think she jumped right into the role of the other voice, the other perspective. It sets a scene of a person with a notebook writing in a bar... and she fit right into that spot."
The chosen location serves as a powerful metaphor for the fleeting nature of life and the importance of holding on to the people who matter most. As Berninger and Swift meet in this place, they lay bare their innermost thoughts and feelings, revealing their fears and insecurities in a way that is both vulnerable and brave.
And the last thing you wanted
Is the first thing I do
I tell you my problems
You tell me the truth
The sense of busyness and distraction that permeates the song creates a feeling of urgency, as if Berninger and Swift are acutely aware that time is slipping away and that they must seize the opportunity to reconnect. Beringer's perspective especially poignant, as he struggles with the fear of not being able to make a meaningful change and the worry that this will only lead to more problems down the line.
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
Swift doesn't appear to have high hopes for a positive outcome, yet she isn't outright rejecting him either.
Cause I love this curse on our house
Despite these challenges, the song ultimately stands as a testament to the power of love and the enduring emotional connection between two people who have hurt each other in the past but are still drawn to one another.
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"
As Berninger declares his feelings and admits that he is "fallin' back in love" with his partner, the listener is left with a sense of hope and possibility, a feeling that anything is possible regarding matters of the heart.
The National recorded "The Alcott" for their ninth studio album First Two Pages Of Frankenstein. The band laid down he record at Long Pond studio in upstate New York and produced it themselves.
The National first collaborated with Swift on "
Coney Island," a track from her 2020
Evermore album. The band also admitted that two of the pop star's songs - "
Cardigan" and "
Willow" - were initially intended for them.
Taylor Swift appeared on Billboard's Rock & Alternative Airplay chart for the first time when "The Alcott" debuted at #45 on the June 10, 2023 listing.
