Songfacts®:

• Oh dearie
  Don't get near me
  Paralysis has me
  
  Berninger explained to Uncut magazine he wrote this track about the poor mental health of some dear friends, and to a lesser extent, himself. "That song is about genuine depression," he explained. "And I have some. I'd say I have average Midwestern white man's depression, no more or less. I've never been on antidepressants, but I know a lot of people who are."
• Berninger recorded this song for his debut solo album Serpentine Prison. He called in some friends to help him on the record, including on this track:
  
  Acoustic guitar: Harrison Whitford and Sean O'Brien, who also co-wrote the song with Berninger.
  Bass: Harrison Whitford
  Drums, percussion: Matt Barrick of The Walkmen and Fleet Foxes
  Hammond B3 and piano: Serpentine Prison producer Booker T. Jones
  Bass harmonica: Session harmonica player Mickey Raphael, who has also played with Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney and Chris Stapleton.
  Violin: Folk singer Andrew Bird
  Backing vocals: Gail Ann Dorsey, who is David Bowie's long-time bassist, and trumpeter Kyle Resnick, who is part of The National's live setup