The National were asked to perform on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for David Letterman’s first time back in the storied Ed Sullivan Theatre after his final show in 2015, marking one of the most memorable TV moments in 2023. A relationship between the band and the storied late night host had been blossoming for years, with The National having performed on his show multiple times including their network television debut. More recently, Letterman shared his love for the band, and specifically Matt Berninger’s lyricism, in a video on his YouTube channel, claiming he “wishes he could be Matt Berninger.” He started to pick Matt’s brain about songs and lyrics when he caught their show in New Haven this past summer, but it was only when the two sat down for a full conversation were they able to deep dive into song meanings, their shared experiences with depression, and their genuine mutual respect. Watch the full conversation below: