A band so good, they can get Sufjan to be background vocals (the dude is a musical genius). Wow! Matt's vocal performance is dead-on here.

You know you're doing something right when Sufjan Stevens is your backing singer :)

whenever i'm having a shitty day... I like to click on this specific performance, turn my headphones up full blast, and get the chills.

Still I think one of the greatest live performances I've ever seen

I'm a bit late to the party, but these guys are outstanding. Letterman's appreciation is evident.

This is a great song - basically it's only 4 chords all around, but they keep adding new things through the song, and the suspense grows, it's just brilliant. I also like the fact that at Letterman's show artists perform live, not from some stupid playback.

Absolutely love the New Order style guitar that starts about 2:45. From then on in it gets more Joy Division in style. Outstanding. The National are one of the best bands in the world right now.

gotta love that drumming

i spontaneously erupted into a standing ovation immediately after this ended. I had no control over it. OH MY GOD this band.

Just saw the video, "Light Years." This group continues to be mind blowing. Here is where it all began for me.

How do I like this twice !

breathtaking performance. .. epic band and song.. unique vocals

I discovered them through my chronic paranoia when I was 16, now I’m 17, came back to this amazing band these people are amazing, when I watch amazing performers like these, I don’t wanna sing I’m afraid of everyone, I have a better trust in people after discovering this amazing band, less paranoia, anyways I love this so much ❤️exactly what the host said” I don’t know what to say”

I used to commute on the London Underground for one hour (each way). Often at 5 or 6am. I would always have the National on full blast. It got me really psyched for work

I've seen The National live twice now, and they're one of the few bands who are completely at their best live.

David Letterman is pleased. And he is a lord seldom pleased by the music of the surfs.

the national with sufjan stevens, eric clapton and john lennon

probably the most powerful performance i've ever seen on letterman

so eerie. i also like that Matt can still scream/sing when he needs to.

Goosebumps...

there's only 4 chords repeated on and on through the song, but there is so much action going on in it, that it gives the chills. simplicity is beautiful. this song, and the whole high violet proves it.

They touched me with this song like only saints can do. If there were still some tears left inside here, I would have started to cry.

i love it when a band sounds good live and recorded

Such a solid record. And it's so great to see Sufjan live!

Breathtaking

My personal favorite on the album and Sufjan is credited with backup arrangement for that song. Saw them Live in April and they were amazing!!!

I love the end yelling, "YOUR VOICE is swallowin' my soul soul soul!"

It's like the lyrics are hiding his tears. Such an amazing preformance, it makes me cry.

All-time favourite performance by The National.

two amazing artists

AMAZING. love the national. love sufjan. what a beautiful collaboration on a bone chilling song. High Violet is an album you can listen to over and over again~ BAM saturday!

Wow, this songs grows stronger for every listening. I'll love this live!

The National is so good at music.

for me it is one of the best bands of all time !!!

I'd say this is Letterman's best performance that he's had.

I've seen the live twice in Croatia. they were amazing. especially first time 2007 in Pauk.

I've had to stop listening to The National on my iPod when I'm walking around in public. I can't help but start shaking/nodding my head and mouthing along to the words.

WOW! I'll admit I didn't really know these guys existed for a long time and only recently started paying much attention so I'm not quite biased yet. That said, this is perhaps the most powerful late night TV musical performance I've seen. Great stuff!

This is the video that first put me on to The National. Grateful for the years of great music.

Lyrics ❤️ Then I'm radio and then I'm television I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone Lay the young blue bodies, with the old red violets I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone With my kid on my shoulders I try Not to hurt anybody I like But I don't have the drugs to sort I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out I defend my family with my orange umbrella I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone With my shiny new star spangled tennis shoes on I'm afraid of everyone, I'm afraid of everyone With my kid on my shoulders I try Not to hurt anybody I like But I don't have the drugs to sort I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out I don't have the drugs to sort I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Soul soul soul soul soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Your voice has stolen my soul, soul, soul Soul soul soul soul soul

"I don't know what to say. That was beautiful." Nice. Made Dave speechless.

This performance is out of this world, simply amazing

you're voice is swallowing my soul...great song

so touching that i could cry

I'm seeing them in November, and f they're anything like as good as this, I can't wait!

sooo soo good

holy shit.... one of the most powerful songs i have ever heard! with one word -amazing!

At 3:06, you can tell every member of the band is feeling the exact same beat. Like a freight train that can't be stopped.

Fantastic drums. Beautiful backing vox. Love that guitarist's tone. Wow. Epic.

I've never noticed that before, but you're totally right. Not that they sound or look alike, but the emotion and presence Ian and Matt bring.

The guy playing the harmonium looks like every Psych professor ever.

The National, God I love these guys...

mi guardare il video in loop, solo per rivedere il finale, quando la canzone finisce e Letterman irrompe, dicendo soddisfatto: "Wow! Wonderful!"

@BeezoHow It's a harmonium, a sort of portable organ with a manual bellows. It's been used in folk music and classical music as well, such as Dvorak's Five Bagatelles for 2 Violins, Cello and Harmonium.

Your soul is swallowing my voice...

Too good for words!

I Miss The David Letterman Show ....

just awesome! Congratulations!

SO awesome. Matt looks so dapper in this video. :)

just amazing

....awesome drums!!

superb

I like those 3 cymbal hits the drummer starts doing at 2:07 it fits the song perfectly. What a shame it's missing from the studio version.

What a performance.....

Letterman being blown away, ftw.

Great song/band!

best band in the world yall get into em before it's too late!!

beautiful

amazing preformance....

My favorite on their album.

Amazing performance, all-around. Even if Sufjan weren't there, I'd still have to say this is my favorite vid of this song.

No one is "too good" to be backing vocals for anyone. He's obviously doing this out of respect for a great band. I'm sure he feels honored to share the stage with them and they're all probably really good friends.

goosebumps

God, I love The National

Good stuff❤

Haunting...

I had to learn this song on acoustic guitar, Am C F Dm, awesome

this song is so true. hot damn

Letterman stunned yet again

Wow... that's a Harmonium. Never expected to see one of that here.

That was a damn strong live performance!

l love this.

so fucking fantastic I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM IN JUNE

The album might be the best album of the year for me!

how i wish i could hear this live

Best version

that's cool dude. It's nice to actually see one of those rare occasions when two people who disagree on the internet can actually come to an amicable and mature conclusion :D

best band ever

amazing........

so many awesome things about this video, but can i just add that i love the way matt dances to the beat at @2:10

Fantastic stuff! #musicisthekeytovictory

Bellissima!!!!!

So that's what Sufjan looks like without a cap.

Sufjan! The National! incredible

Very nice I must say!

It's Very effective

I love how Matt unintentionally claps his own band at the start...

my favorite off the new album

Often you can tell talk show hosts are totally indifferent to a guest band. I thought that was pretty cool how Letterman says "man... wow...." kind of to himself before going on to say "I don't know what to say. That was beautiful." That's The National for you. Each song is a raw beautiful glimpse at the human condition that is shared with you, if you just pay enough attention to hear it.

Mr Weasley u ROCK!!