The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness

"The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness"
Single by The National
from the album Sleep Well Beast
ReleasedMay 11, 2017
Genre
Length3:56
Label4AD
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Aaron Dessner
  • Bryce Dessner
  • Matt Berninger
  • Peter Katis
The National singles chronology
"I Need My Girl"
(2014)
"The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness"
(2017)
"Guilty Party"
(2017)
Music video
"The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness" on YouTube

"The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness" is a song by American indie rock band The National. It was released as the lead single for their seventh studio album, Sleep Well Beast, at 12:01 am Eastern Time on 11 May 2017. The song was written by Aaron Dessner, Matt Berninger, and Bryce Dessner and produced by Aaron Dessner (with co-production by Bryce Dessner, Matt Berninger, and Peter Katis). A music video for the song was released on the same day and was directed by Casey Reas.[1] It was the band's first song to appear on any airplay chart in the United States, ultimately topping Billboard's Adult Alternative Songs chart in August 2017 and peaking at No. 33 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart early the following month. The song is featured in soundtrack of the EA Sports video game FIFA 18.[2]

  1. ^ "The National unveil new single 'The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness' & announce 2017 UK tour". NME. 11 May 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  2. ^ Connick, Tom (14 September 2017). "The FIFA 18 soundtrack is here". NME. Retrieved 24 December 2017.