Afraid of Everyone

Afraid of Everyone

The National

The ghostly and brassy “Afraid of Everyone” features Sufjan Stevens on background vocals, and builds patiently in typical National style. Its key refrain is evocative of the midlife issues Matt Berninger’s baritone chronicles so aptly.

In an interview, guitarist Aaron Dessner explained:

Sufjan came in one day when we were struggling with ‘Afraid Of Everyone’ – that song was very difficult to make happen – and he just started playing the harmonium and singing along with it. He made up this little melody and he layered it four times – that gave the song a whole different dimension. That was his contribution.