Song · The National
“The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” by The National
From the album Sleep Well Beast (2017)
“The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” by The National appears on 6 radio countdowns from 5 stations between 2017 and 2026. It was first released in 2017 on the album Sleep Well Beast. Its best result is #4 on the WFUV Top 90 Songs of 2017. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #111 alternative song of 2017.
6countdowns
5stations
#4best position
0#1 finishes
1top 10 finishes
2017–2026years charted
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
Indie & Adult Alternative
All Rock Formats
Year-end countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 52 | 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana | 91X Top 91 Songs of 2017 | 91 |
| 2017 | 22 | The Current Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN | The Current Top 89 Songs of 2017 | 89 |
| 2017 | 4 | WFUV New York, NY | WFUV Top 90 Songs of 2017 | 90 |
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 494 | WXPN | WXPN The 885 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century (2024) | 885 |
| 2025 | 216 | The Current | 893 Essential Songs of The Current: 2005 to Now | 893 |
| 2026 | 519 | KXT | KXT 917 Song Countdown | 917 |
Also listed as: The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness.