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.
Cleanse Song
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is older than Rome and all of this sorrow
See the new Pyramids down in old Manhattan
From the roof of a friend I watched an empire ending
Heard it loud and long, the river's song
Time marching on, to a mad man's drum
Don't forget what you've learned
And if life seems absurd
What you need is some laughter
And a season to sleep
And a place to get clean
Maybe Los Angeles
Somewhere no one's expecting
On a detox walk
Over Glendale Park
Over sidewalk chalk
Some rope read "start over"
So I muffle my scream
On an Oxnard beach
Full of fever dreams that scare me sober
Into saltless dinners
Take the fruit from the tree, break the skin with your teeth
Is it bitter or sweet all depends on your timing
Like a meeting of chance
With the train station glance
Many lifetimes have passed in a instant reminded
Of a millstone house in a seaside town
When your heart gave out in a mission bed
So your wife gave birth to a funeral dirge
You woke up purged as a wailing infant
In Krug Thep, Thailand
Hear the chimes, did you know that the wind when it blows
It is older than Rome and our joy and our sorrow
The Bright Eyes song Cleanse Song is a reflection on the passing of time, the cyclical nature of life, and the need for renewal. The lyrics begin with a reminder of the ancient origins of the wind, which has blown for centuries, long before the rise and fall of empires like Rome. The singer observes the modern-day equivalent of pyramids, towering skyscrapers in Manhattan, from the roof of a friend's building. He hears the "river's song," the sound of time marching on, even as society seems to be falling apart at the seams.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the chimes, did you know that the wind when it blows
Have you ever noticed the sound of the wind chimes? Do you know that the wind's existence precedes even the ancient city of Rome, and it carries with it everything that makes us happy or sad?
It is older than Rome and all of this sorrow
The wind has been present for longer than Rome has existed and carries with it feelings of joy and sorrow that have been present for centuries.
See the new Pyramids down in old Manhattan
In New York City, there are now new towering structures that rival the majesty of the ancient pyramids of Egypt, all in a place that was once called New Amsterdam.
From the roof of a friend I watched an empire ending
Sitting atop a friend's rooftop, I witnessed the collapse of a great empire, watching as it crumbled to the ground.
Heard it loud and long, the river's song
I listened closely to the song of the river, which was both powerful and moving.
Time marching on, to a mad man's drum
Time moves forward continuously to the beat of a drummer who seems insane or irrational in his conduct.
Don't forget what you've learned
It's important to remember and apply the lessons and knowledge that you have acquired throughout your life.
All you give is returned
The energy and actions you put out into the world tend to come back to you over time in some way.
And if life seems absurd
Sometimes life can seem meaningless or ridiculous in its occurrences.
What you need is some laughter
To combat the feeling of absurdity or depression, it's useful to find and embrace moments of joy and humor.
And a season to sleep
Everyone needs a break from the demands of daily life and should allow themselves some restful moments.
And a place to get clean
It's important to have a spot or sanctuary to go when you need to refresh and clear your mind or spirit.
Maybe Los Angeles
One such place could be California's big city of Los Angeles.
Somewhere no one's expecting
It's possible to find these spots off the beaten path where people won't expect to find you.
On a detox walk
Going for a walk is an effective way to detoxify or clear the body.
Over Glendale Park
Walking over Glendale Park in southern California.
Over sidewalk chalk
Passing by drawings and designs made in chalk drawn on the concrete.
Some rope read "start over"
A rope tied in a knot around something marked with the words 'start over', perhaps as a reminder to let go of the past and begin anew.
So I muffle my scream
To stifle my cry of frustration or pain.
On an Oxnard beach
Lying on a beach in the city of Oxnard, California.
Full of fever dreams that scare me sober
Experiencing surreal and vivid dreams that shake me awake and leave me feeling more alert and present.
Into saltless dinners
Eating a plain and flavorless meal at home.
Take the fruit from the tree, break the skin with your teeth
Enjoy the fruits of nature and bite into their outer layer to get to the sweet inner flesh.
Is it bitter or sweet all depends on your timing
Whether the fruit tastes sweet or bitter depends on when and under what circumstances you eat it.
Like a meeting of chance
Sometimes two people meet by pure coincidence and chance.
With the train station glance
They share a fleeting look as they pass each other in a busy train station.
Many lifetimes have passed in an instant reminded
Seeing each other briefly in a public place can bring back memories of time seemingly long past.
Of a millstone house in a seaside town
This memory takes them back to a small coastal town with an old house featuring a heavy millstone.
When your heart gave out in a mission bed
Furthermore, it leads back to a time when you fell seriously ill in a large sleeping room.
So your wife gave birth to a funeral dirge
Your spouse recalls giving birth to a melody that symbolizes mourning and solemnity.
You woke up purged as a wailing infant
After a surprising awakening, you groan and whimper like a newborn baby who has just been born.
In Krug Thep, Thailand
This dream occurred while in the city of Krung Thep, also known as Bangkok, Thailand.
It is older than Rome and our joy and our sorrow
The wind that blows predates even the foundation of Rome and continues to carry our emotions, whether happy or sad.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONOR OBERST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind