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.
Driving Fast Through A Big City
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How many lights do you see?
How many lights do you see?
There's one to say that night has come
And there's one that guards this jagged shore
And there's one to call the children home
And there's one to light the path they take
How many lights do you see?
There's one to keep the shadows off
And there's one that tells me she got home
And there's one to read his novel by
And there's one that warms this dreary room
And there's one to watch the baby sleep
And there's one to count the blinking stars
And there's one that I just can't forget
And there's one that I remember too
How many lights do you see?
How many lights do you see?
There's one that waits for closing time
And there's one that gets left on all night
And there's one that marks the western sky
And it shines down on the quiet street
And there's one that floods the darker parts
And there's one that hurts my tired eyes
And there's one that says she's not asleep
And there's one that waits for her to wake
How many lights do you see?
How many lights do you see?
There is one that spills out on the beach
And it sparkles on the jetting rocks
And there is one that waits for tired ships
That sleep within this tired port
The lyrics of Bright Eyes's Driving Fast Through a Big City at Night evokes a sense of isolation and loneliness in the city as the singer drives through its bustling streets. The repeated question, "How many lights do you see?" creates a motif throughout the song, as the singer lists the different types of lights he encounters. The lights represent different aspects of the city and his life, with each light holding a particular significance to the singer's experience.
The first set of lights the singer describes are those that signify the transitioning of day to night, such as streetlights and lighthouses. These lights mark the passage of time, and while they may be insignificant to some, they hold a certain weight for the singer. Other lights mentioned in the song provide comfort and connection, such as the light that tells the singer his loved one made it home safely, or the light that watches his baby sleep.
As the song progresses, the singer also describes less positive aspects of the city, such as the harsh glare of a bright light that hurts his eyes, or the light that waits for closing time. These lights evoke a sense of finality, highlighting the city's transience and impermanence. Overall, the song presents an introspective look at the singer's experiences in the city, emphasizing the importance of small moments and connections in an often overwhelming and isolating environment.
Line by Line Meaning
How many lights do you see?
The singer is fixated on the many lights he sees while driving through the city at night.
There's one to say that night has come
One of the lights signals the arrival of nighttime.
And there's one that guards this jagged shore
One light provides security for the rocky coastline.
And there's one to call the children home
A light serves as a reminder for children to come home at night.
And there's one to light the path they take
Another light illuminates the way for the children as they make their way home.
There's one to keep the shadows off
A light helps to dispel the shadows on a dimly-lit street.
And there's one that tells me she got home
One of the lights reassures the singer that someone arrived home safely.
And there's one to read his novel by
A light provides enough brightness for someone to read a book.
And there's one that warms this dreary room
A light source provides warmth to an otherwise bleak environment.
And there's one to watch the baby sleep
A light enables someone to observe a baby sleeping.
And there's one to count the blinking stars
A light allows someone to count the twinkling stars in the sky.
And there's one that I just can't forget
One of the lights stands out to the artist as particularly memorable.
And there's one that I remember too
Another light is also ingrained in the singer's memory.
There's one that waits for closing time
One of the lights awaits the end of business hours.
And there's one that gets left on all night
Another light stays illuminated throughout the night.
And there's one that marks the western sky
A light points to the western horizon where the sun set.
And it shines down on the quiet street
This light illuminates a peaceful, deserted street.
And there's one that floods the darker parts
A light source completely brightens up the darker areas where it is located.
And there's one that hurts my tired eyes
A bright light becomes painful to the singer's eyes due to fatigue.
And there's one that says she's not asleep
A light alerts the artist that someone is not yet asleep.
And there's one that waits for her to wake
One of the lights patiently waits for someone to wake up.
There is one that spills out on the beach
A light spills out onto a nearby beach.
And it sparkles on the jetting rocks
This light glistens on some protruding rocks.
And there is one that waits for tired ships
A light anticipates the arrival of weary ships.
That sleep within this tired port
These ships dock in a similarly fatigued port.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OBERST, Conor Oberst
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind