Saddle Creek also released Letting Off the Happiness in November 1998, a ten-track record that boasted a much more focused and clear sound than the previous album. According to the Saddle Creek press release, it features members of Lullaby for the Working Class, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Of Montreal. It was predominantly recorded in the Oberst family basement in Omaha on an analog eight track reel to reel; with some work also done at keyboardist Andy Lemaster's Athens, GA studio. Although almost all of the tracks feature a full band, June on the West Coast is performed with only acoustic guitar and vocals. Padraic My Prince gives a dramatic fictional account of the death of Oberst's imagined baby brother.
In 2000 Bright Eyes released Fevers and Mirrors, a demonstration of the immense improvement in production quality and musical vision of the band. New instruments such as flute, piano, and accordion were introduced into the song arrangements. After An Attempt to Tip the Scales, a mock radio interview takes place. The mock radio interview features Todd Fink of The Faint doing an impression of Conor Oberst while reading a script that Oberst wrote. The man interviewing is Matt Silcock, a former member of Lullaby for the Working Class. In this interview, the fake Oberst intentionally presents a strange, contradictory explanation of his attitude towards his music. The interview acknowledges criticisms of his lyrics as overblown and insincere, which had begun to appear as the popularity of the band increased, but responds by stating that the lyrics are meant for personal interpretation. In a 'real' interview with KittyMagik.com, Oberst stated about the mock one: "It was a way to make fun of ourselves because the record is such a downer. I mean, that's one part of who I am, but I also like laughing and fucking around."
2002 saw the release of Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground, and since then Oberst has released an almost constant stream of new material on collaborative EPs, split singles, tribute albums, and charity records. He ventured into the studio with Nebraska folk-pop outfit Tilly And The Wall, co-producing their debut album Wild Like Children and released it on his newly established record label, Team Love.
January 2005 saw the release of two albums: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, which is a country-tinged mélange of Conor’s finest acoustic songs, featuring guest vocal appearances from Emmylou Harris and Jim James of My Morning Jacket; and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, which is a more produced, electronic album featuring cameo appearances by Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
One single from each album, Take It Easy (Love Nothing) from Digital Ash and Lua from I'm Wide Awake took the top two slots on Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, the first time for any artist since 1997.
As had become expected of Bright Eyes recordings, the albums feature an array of talented comrades including members of Rilo Kiley, Tilly And The Wall, Cursive, Now Its Overhead, The Good Life, Azure Ray, The Faint, The Bruces, Neva Dinova, The Postal Service and Audrye Sessions.
In October 2006, Bright Eyes released a compilation of rare tracks called Noise Floor: Rarities 1998-2005.
Bright Eyes released their sixth studio album called Cassadaga on April 9, 2007, preceded by an EP entitled Four Winds on March 6, 2007.
A further 25-30 tracks have been recorded in Portland, Oregon and New York City, with another session planned in Omaha, Nebraska. Some of these tracks had already been performed at live shows.
On February 15, 2011, the band released their seventh studio album, The People's Key.
On June 22, 2020, they released Down In The Weeds Where The World Once Was, their first album on Dead Oceans after a long history with Saddle Creek.
- road to joy
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flowers sleeping in their beds
The city's cemeteries humming
I'm wide awake, it's morning
I have my drugs, I have my woman
They keep away my loneliness
My parents they have their religion
I read the body count out of the paper
And now its written all over my face
No one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter
Sometimes that's just the most comfortable place
So I'm drinking, breathing, writing, singing
Everyday I'm on the clock
My mind races with all my longings
But can't keep up with what I got
So I hope I don't sound too ungrateful
What history gave modern man
A telephone to talk to strangers
Machine guns and a camera lens
So when you're asked to fight a war that's over nothing
It's best to join the side that's gonna win
And no one knows how all of this started
But we're gonna make them certain how it's gonna end
Oh yeah we will
Well I could have been a famous singer
If I had someone else's voice
But failure's always sounded better
Let's fuck it up boys, make some noise
The sun came up with no conclusions
Flowers sleeping in their beds
The city's cemeteries humming
I'm wide awake, it's morning
The first verse of Bright Eyes's "Road to Joy" seems to describe a sunrise that is not as beautiful as expected. Instead, it describes the somber scene of flowers still asleep and the eerie hum surrounding nearby cemeteries. The second verse speaks to the loneliness of the singer and how they cope with it through drugs, women, and work. The next few lines present a contrast between the singer's parents and himself, and how religion does not offer the same comfort to him. Additionally, the lyrics suggest a deeper sense of depression with mentions of reading a body count from the paper and comfort in sleeping on the streets.
The third verse further highlights the singer's unease with the state of the world and how history has delivered modern man a telephone, machine guns, and a camera lens. There is then the mention of fighting for a side that is guaranteed to win rather than a side based on moral values. The final verse ties back to the beginning with the sunrise and injects some personal narrative. The singer passes on the chance of being a famous singer, understanding and even straightening himself with the acceptance of failure. Despite the gloom-lined subject matter of the song, there is a sense of triumphant energy that crescendos into the end.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun came up with no conclusions
The sunrise brought no answers or solutions to the problems of the world.
Flowers sleeping in their beds
The flowers are still and restful, unaware of the chaos and unrest in the world.
The city's cemeteries humming
The cemeteries in the city are filled with the deceased people and their memories, which are still present in the city.
I'm wide awake, it's morning
The artist is up and conscious, embracing the new day with all its uncertainty and potential.
I have my drugs, I have my woman
The artist has turned to drugs and a significant other to help him cope with his loneliness and pain.
They keep away my loneliness
The drugs and the woman make the singer feel less alone.
My parents they have their religion
The singer's parents have found solace and guidance in their faith.
But sleep in separate houses
Despite their shared beliefs, the parents are not together or united in their beliefs.
I read the body count out of the paper
The artist is keeping up with the deaths and casualties of the world through the newspaper.
And now its written all over my face
The despair and tragedy of the world is clearly reflected in the artist's expression and emotions.
No one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter
No one intends to end up in dire circumstances, but sometimes it happens beyond their control.
Sometimes that's just the most comfortable place
Despite the discomfort and hardship of homelessness, it can sometimes seem easier to give in to defeat and remain in that state.
So I'm drinking, breathing, writing, singing
The singer is using various creative and therapeutic outlets to channel and confront his pain and troubled thoughts.
Everyday I'm on the clock
The singer is constantly working and keeping busy as a way to distract himself from his mental struggles.
My mind races with all my longings
The singer's mind is often filled with unfulfilled desires and cravings.
But can't keep up with what I got
Despite having certain things in his life, the artist still feels unfulfilled and restless emotionally and mentally.
So I hope I don't sound too ungrateful
The artist acknowledges that he has certain things to be thankful for and doesn't want to come across as unappreciative.
What history gave modern man
The singer is referring to the advancements and innovations that have shaped and defined the modern world.
A telephone to talk to strangers
One of the many technological advancements is the ability to communicate easily and instantly with strangers through phones and other devices.
Machine guns and a camera lens
The two contrasting inventions reflect the extremes of technology; from weapons of destruction to capturing and preserving moments of life.
So when you're asked to fight a war that's over nothing
The artist is referring to meaningless wars fought for the sake of power or territorial expansion.
It's best to join the side that's gonna win
The artist implies that it's better to align oneself with the winning side and reap the benefits, rather than suffer through the losing side's defeat and consequences.
And no one knows how all of this started
The origins of the problems and conflicts plaguing the world are unclear and convoluted.
But we're gonna make them certain how it's gonna end
The artist is hopeful that the future will bring clarity and closure to the current state of the world.
Oh yeah we will
The singer affirms their determination and power to shape and impact the future of the world.
Well I could have been a famous singer
The singer laments a lost opportunity or dream of becoming a celebrated musician.
If I had someone else's voice
The singer believes that his voice or talent is not as impressive or extraordinary as other successful musicians.
But failure's always sounded better
The artist is resigned to and accepting of his failure or lack of success, which has a raw and authentic quality that is appealing to some people.
Let's fuck it up boys, make some noise
The artist and his bandmates encourage each other to embrace chaos and imperfection in their music and performance, rather than striving for perfection.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tomascontreras4949
Lyrics
The sun came up with no conclusions
Flowers sleeping in their beds
The city's cemetery's humming
I'm wide awake, it's morning.
I have my drugs, I have my women
They keep away my loneliness
My parents, they have their religion
But sleep in separate houses
I read the body count out of the paper
And now it's written all over my face
No one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter
Sometimes that's just the most comfortable place.
So I'm drinking, breathing, writing, singing
Every day I'm on the clock
My mind races with all my longings
But can't keep up with what I've got
And so I hope I don't sound too ungrateful
What history gave modern man
A telephone to talk to strangers
Machine guns and a camera lens
So when you're asked to fight a war that's over nothing
It's best to join the side that's gonna win
And no one's sure how all of this got started
But we're gonna make them goddamn certain how it's gonna end
Oh yeah, we will,
Oh yeah, we will!
So I could have been a famous singer
If I had someone else's voice
But failure's always sounded better
Let's fuck it up, boys
MAKE SOME NOISE!!!
The sun came up with no conclusion,
Flowers sleeping in their beds,
The city's cemetery's humming,
I'M WIDE AWAKE, IT'S MORNING!
@AW-ez7zn
The sun came up with no conclusion
Flowers sleeping in their beds
This city's cemetery's humming
I’m wide-awake, it’s morning
I have my drugs, I have my woman
They keep away my loneliness
My parents they have their religion
But sleep in separate houses
I read the body count out of the paper
And now it’s written all over my face
No one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter
Sometimes that’s just the most comfortable place
So I’m drinking, breathing, writing, singing
Everyday I'm on the clock
My mind races with all my longings
But can't keep up with what I got
I hope I don’t sound too ungrateful
What history gave modern man
A telephone to talk to strangers
Machine guns and a camera lens
So when you’re asked to fight a war that’s over nothing
It’s best to join the side that’s gonna win
And no one’s sure how all of this got started
But we’re gonna make them goddam certain how its gonna end
Oh ya we will, oh ya we will!
Well I could have been a famous singer
If I had someone else’s voice
But failure’s always sounded better
Lets fuck it up boys, make some noise!
The sun came up with no conclusion
Flowers sleeping in their beds
This city's cemetery's humming
I’m wide awake, it’s morning
@theshewolf7932
"Well i could have been a famous singer if i had someone else's voice". Same.
@toxicchipmunk134
No one ever plans to sleep out gutter. Sometimes that's just the most comfortable place.
That line is just so relatable and lovely. 💗💗💖
@suecountryman3227
I thought he said "most convivial place". that's just a little darker
@shelbyrenicker1223
Especially in the winter time. It's not fun
@cr112784
VERY
@gianbaez2522
Yeah being homeless for 2 years in snow and desert heat makes you extremely grateful for the little things some take for granted
@1408Phantom
I'm actually floored that so many people see this as a lovely thought. How is having no better place to lay your head than a gutter a lovely thing? It sounds like about the lowest, most hopeless situation one could be in
@afortunatti
Elliott Smith and Connor make me believe that folk can be punk at the same time
@ron8256
Yes
@jriley8383
Listen to some Celtic, Gaelic, (whatever) fight songs. Those are definitely an origin for punk