At fourteen years of age, Oberst became singer and guitarist of Commander Venus, an indie rock band. The former members of Commander Venus, Tim Kasher of Cursive, Robb Nansel (who now runs Saddle Creek), and Todd Fink of The Faint, would later go on to feature in many Saddle Creek recording groups. Conor was also a member of the band Park Ave, which he joined after terminating the difficult relationship he had with Megan Saienni, due to an affair with Maria Pantin.
Oberst was also guitarist and singer for the band Desaparecidos. The music and lyrics of Desaparecidos differ greatly from Bright Eyes, having more in common with punk rock than folk. The lyrics are generally social and political commentary on the state of affairs in America, the pitfalls of the suburban lifestyle, and America's love of capitalism as opposed to the more introspective lyrics of Bright Eyes.
Oberst is one of the founding members of the independent record label Saddle Creek Records, which hosts and has hosted bands including Cursive, Desaparecidos, The Faint, Rilo Kiley (who left to start their own label Brute/Beaute Records), Bright Eyes, Son Ambulance, Azure Ray, The Good Life, and Sorry About Dresden, among others.
Oberst is currently involved in a boycott of Clear Channel Communications. His broadcast television performances include a spot on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in March 2005, which sparked controversy with his performance of the incendiary "When the President Talks to God", The Late Show with David Letterman, on which he performed "The Trees Get Wheeled Away", and his guitar-smashing performance of "Road to Joy" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
Oberst was a member of the Vote for Change tour in 2004 with Bruce Springsteen and REM. He has recently started his own label, Team Love, which is currently hosting bands such as Tilly and the Wall, M. Ward, Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins, A Weather, Capgun Coup, and David Dondero.
Bands:
Commander Venus from 1995-97
The Magnetas in 1996
Park Ave. from 1996-98
Desaparecidos from 2001-2
Bright Eyes since 1995
Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band since New Year's Weekend 2007
Monsters of Folk since 2009
Better Oblivion Community Center since 2019
No One Changes
Conor Oberst Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't see nothing as she′s staring at the kitchen clock
Feels so bland in the eye of the storm it's a bedroom day
We should switch we should pass ourselves around
Meet me at the corner tear your dream home down
It's a goddamn shit-show out here now
Something to tell you ′bout that someone told me ′bout
I know I'm weak and this weekend you′ll find out
Yes, I sleep at that fucking whore's house now
But it′s cinematic, cinematic fades to black
Every day is a rodeo, man
No one's gonna change, nobody ever does
No one′s gonna change, no one is changing for you
No one's gonna change, nobody ever does
And I'm never gonna do what you want me to
Sitting here speaking Greek to a college blog
Every sentence is the same it′s just talk, talk, talk
I am one, I admit it, of a million
Who has it out for these soapbox idiots
The click clack of your high heels you′re away
Downstairs on a tic-tac stripper's break
Every dancer trying to sync to the beat
Every motherfucker in this place tells me the same shit
This whole world′s got to buy you a drink, man
Got to take you to the edge and watch you throw it up
Every morning I could give a damn what you did last night
Just tell me how far to kick this can
No one's gonna change, nobody ever does
No one′s gonna change, no one is changing for you
No one's gonna change, nobody ever does
And I′m never gonna do what you want me to
I don't wanna feel so jaded
Getting on a plane to work things out
When I'm alone, you′re all I think about
But I′m never alone very long
They say you got to love yourself first, that's a trip
I′ve been hating myself since I was a little kid
I know it's sad that the game′s rained out
And all the bleachers emptied out and the turnstiles spin
All the good ones in the world they keep dropping dead
Everybody's got a bullet flying at their head
I seen it coming, man, I seen it coming
I seen it coming, no
No one′s gonna change, hey, and that's the truth
No one's gonna change, oh, baby not for you
No one′s gonna change, hey, and that′s the truth
And I'm never gonna do what you want me to
The lyrics of Conor Oberst's song "No One Changes" depict a sense of disillusionment and a lack of hope for change. The first few lines depict a woman who has experienced something that has left her in a state of shock and unable to move on. She is caught between the storm that rages outside and the stillness inside her bedroom. The lines "We should switch we should pass ourselves around, Meet me at the corner tear your dream home down" suggest a desire to escape or change the current state of things. However, the following lines "No one's gonna change, nobody ever does, And I'm never gonna do what you want me to" suggest a sense of resignation and a realization that change is not always possible.
The song also touches on themes of disillusionment with society and the individuals who make up society. The lyrics "Sitting here speaking Greek to a college blog, Every sentence is the same it's just talk, talk, talk, I am one, I admit it, of a million, Who has it out for these soapbox idiots" suggest a weariness with the same conversations and discussions that go on without any real change being made. The lines "Every motherfucker in this place tells me the same shit, This whole world's got to buy you a drink, man, Got to take you to the edge and watch you throw it up" also suggest a disillusionment with the party culture and the superficial relationships that are fostered within it.
Overall, "No One Changes" is a song that speaks to a sense of disillusionment and a lack of hope for change. It touches on themes of escapism, peripheral relationships, and the futility of trying to change things that feel impossible to change.
Line by Line Meaning
Mind is blown but her body's still in shock
She is in a state of shock and cannot comprehend anything happening around her.
Can't see nothing as she's staring at the kitchen clock
She is staring blankly at the clock and is unable to comprehend time or day.
Feels so bland in the eye of the storm it's a bedroom day
Life seems mundane even during difficult times, making it feel like a regular day at home.
We should switch we should pass ourselves around
We should change our lifestyles and explore new opportunities.
Meet me at the corner tear your dream home down
Meet me at the corner and let's destruct the dream house.
It's a goddamn shit-show out here now
The world is in chaos and everything seems to be spiraling out of control.
Something to tell you 'bout that someone told me 'bout
I have a rumor to share that I heard from someone else.
I know I'm weak and this weekend you'll find out
I am aware of my weakness, and you'll notice or bring it up this weekend.
Yes, I sleep at that fucking whore's house now
I now sleep with that prostitute.
But it's cinematic, cinematic fades to black
It's just a fictional movie-like romance, and it ends with a dramatic conclusion.
Every day is a rodeo, man
Every day is a new challenge or struggle.
Sitting here speaking Greek to a college blog
I'm expressing myself in a language that's hard for most people to understand.
Every sentence is the same it's just talk, talk, talk
Every sentence is mundane and repetitive.
I am one, I admit it, of a million
I am just one of many who share the same thoughts and beliefs.
Who has it out for these soapbox idiots
We all dislike those who only speak for attention.
The click clack of your high heels, you're away
I can hear the sound of your high heels as you walk away.
Downstairs on a tic-tac stripper's break
Downstairs are strippers on a break, mints in mouth, refreshing their breath.
Every dancer trying to sync to the beat
Every dancer is trying to move in rhythm to the music.
Every motherfucker in this place tells me the same shit
Everyone around me say the same thing, and it's frustrating.
This whole world's got to buy you a drink, man
Everyone has to please you, and you have high expectations from them.
Got to take you to the edge and watch you throw it up
People push you beyond your limit, and you end up getting sick.
Every morning I could give a damn what you did last night
Every day, I don't care about your previous night's activities.
Just tell me how far to kick this can
Just tell me how far you want me to kick this can.
I don't wanna feel so jaded
I don't want to be cynical about life experiences.
Getting on a plane to work things out
Taking a flight to resolve issues and find a solution.
When I'm alone, you're all I think about
When I'm by myself, you're the only thing on my mind.
But I'm never alone very long
I'm not alone for an extended period.
They say you got to love yourself first, that's a trip
It's said that you should put yourself first, but it's hard to believe it.
I've been hating myself since I was a little kid
I've had self-hatred for a long time, starting from my childhood.
I know it's sad that the game's rained out
It's depressing that the event got canceled due to the rain.
And all the bleachers emptied out and the turnstiles spin
Everyone left the event, and the turnstiles are turning while they are leaving.
All the good ones in the world they keep dropping dead
All the good people in the world keep dying, and it's painful.
Everybody's got a bullet flying at their head
Everyone is a victim of violence, and it's a constant threat.
I seen it coming, man, I seen it coming
I knew this was going to happen, and I saw it coming.
No one's gonna change, hey, and that's the truth
It's the truth that nobody's going to change.
No one's gonna change, oh, baby not for you
Nobody will change, and it's not because of you.
And I'm never gonna do what you want me to
I'll never do what you want me to.
Contributed by David S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.