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.
Empty Canyon/Empty Canteen
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause this desert keeps growing, and we might never get out.
Besides, we're not even moving, we're just standing around.
But I must admit that when it comes to this, I'm as scared as the rest,
Feels like something's hunting me down.
It'll end up to be like the films that you've seen,
Where they they bury the bones that will never be found,
The lyrics of Bright Eyes' "Empty Canyon/Empty Canteen" paint a vivid picture of being lost in a desert with no sense of direction, no water, and a looming sense of fear. Conor Oberst, the songwriter and lead vocalist, urges the listener not to waste the water in their canteen because the desert keeps expanding and they may never escape. The apathy of the situation is emphasized by the line "we're not even moving, we're just standing around." The fear that something is hunting them down is palpable, and a sense of doom and impending danger hovers in the air.
The second verse evokes the imagery of films where bones are buried and never found. It's a bleak thought, but one that encapsulates the idea that without a clear sense of direction or purpose, they may meet their end in this vast, unforgiving desert. The repetition of "but I do" serves to emphasize the sentiment that despite the fear and dread, the singer will push forward and continue to try.
Overall, "Empty Canyon/Empty Canteen" is a haunting song that captures the terror of being lost and alone, with no end in sight. It's a meditation on fear and hopelessness, with a sense of resignation that makes it all the more poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't waste the water, don't drink it now.
We shouldn't consume this water since we're in a desert where water is scarce.
'Cause this desert keeps growing, and we might never get out.
The desert is expanding, and the possibility of us getting out of it is decreasing.
Besides, we're not even moving, we're just standing around.
We're not actively trying to leave this place; we're just stationary and not making any progress.
But I must admit that when it comes to this, I'm as scared as the rest,
I'll acknowledge that I'm just as frightened as everyone else in this situation.
Feels like something's hunting me down.
I feel like I'm being pursued by something.
It'll end up to be like the films that you've seen,
Our predicament may end up being like the ones you've witnessed in movies, where a group is stranded and unable to get out.
Where they they bury the bones that will never be found,
In these movies, people are often forced to abandon their dead and leave them behind, and their remains may never be located.
But I do, but I do, but I do,...
Despite the challenges and potential for danger, we'll still attempt to leave this place and find civilization.
Contributed by Aiden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.