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“Secret Meeting” seems to be about the awkwardness of meeting someone who you did not want to meet nor expect to meet in a public place or social gathering.
The singer seems to be trying to avoid someone who he once took for granted (most likely a past lover).
[Verse 1]
I think this place is full of spies
I think they're onto me
Didn't anybody, didn't anybody tell you?
Didn't anybody tell you how to gracefully disappear in a room?
[Chorus]
I know you put in the hours to keep me in sunglasses
I know
And so, and now, I'm sorry I missed you
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
And now, I'm sorry I missed you
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain
[Verse 2]
I think this place is full of spies
I think I'm ruined
Didn't anybody, didn't anybody tell you?
Didn't anybody tell you this river's full of lost sharks?
[Chorus]
I know you put in the hours to keep me in sunglasses
I know
And so, and now, I'm sorry I missed you
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
And now, I'm sorry I missed you
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain
(I'm talking ace this morning)
[Outro]
And now, I'm sorry I missed you
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
Secret Meeting was written by Matt Berninger & Aaron Dessner & Scott Devendorf.
Secret Meeting was produced by Peter Katis.
The National released Secret Meeting on Mon Aug 29 2005.
Frontman Matt Berninger has often acknowledged that the line is nonsense, usually via an aside after a live performance. Additionally, the moderator of the National’s American Mary Forum has stated that she doesn’t know what it means either.