The National release new single "Eucalyptus"

After announcing First Two Pages of Frankenstein with "Tropic Morning News" in January and following it up with "New Order T-Shirt" last month, The National have delivered a third preview of the record titled "Eucalyptus".

A press release reveals that Bryce Dessner sent the song to Matt Berninger a long time ago. Berninger added lyrics after remembering the song, and asked to play it during a soundcheck before their Capitol Theatre show last year. Berninger says, "We rehearsed it twice without ever having had a demo and played it to the audience that night, and what you hear on the album was partially recorded during that performance. It’s got this raw, immediate feeling, and it made sense to leave the rough edges instead of trying to perfect them."

He adds, "Throughout the record there’s a lot of looking into the abyss and wondering if a relationship has run its course. "Eucalyptus" is about a couple splitting up their possessions after a breakup - like, ‘What are we going to do with the spring water we get delivered, what’s going to happen to all these plants?’ It’s about all those little things you end up having to think about when you’ve become so connected to someone."

First Two Pages of Frankenstein was produced by The National at Long Pond Studios in upstate New York, and features guest appearances from Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens.