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.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
The blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Fear not said the angel
Let nothing you affright
This day is born a savior
Of the pure virgin bright
To free all those who trust in him
From Satan's power and might
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear savior lay
They found him in the manger
Where oxen feed on hay
His mother Mary kneeled down
And to the Lord did pray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our savior
Was born on Christmas day
The iconic Christmas carol “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is one of the oldest and most beloved holiday songs. The song’s opening line wishes for comfort and rest to “merry gentlemen,” immediately setting up a tone of joy and celebration. The lyrics then quickly shift to a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Christ as our savior. The song emphasizes how Christ's birth was a triumph over the power of Satan, and brings hope and salvation to those who trust in him.
The second verse refers to the biblical story of the angel announcing Jesus’s birth to the shepherds, showing how the good news is accessible to everyone, even those on the margins of society. The angel reassures the shepherds not to be afraid, as this is a moment of celebration and liberation for all. The final verse depicts Mary praying at the manger, showing the humility and reverence of Christ’s birth, and the hope for peace and grace that it represents.
Line by Line Meaning
God rest ye merry gentlemen
May God grant you, merry gentlemen, rest and peace
Let nothing you dismay
Do not let anything trouble or discourage you
Remember Christ our savior
Recall and acknowledge that Jesus, our savior, was born
Was born on Christmas day
He was born specifically on the day we celebrate as Christmas
To save us all from Satan's power
He came to rescue us from the grip of Satan's influence and authority
When we were gone astray
When we were lost or led away from the right path
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
This news brings comfort and happiness
From God our heavenly father
An angel blessed by God came to bring the news
The blessed angel came
The messenger of God arrived
And unto certain shepherds
The angel went specifically to some shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
He shared the same news as before - the birth of the Savior
How that in Bethlehem was born
He explained that Jesus was born in Bethlehem
The Son of God by name
He was named the Son of God
Fear not said the angel
The angel reassured them to not be afraid
Let nothing you affright
Do not let anything frighten you
This day is born a savior
Today, a savior has been born
Of the pure virgin bright
He was born of a bright and pure virgin
To free all those who trust in him
He came to deliver all those who believe in him
From Satan's power and might
He came to save them all from Satan's authority and power
And when they came to Bethlehem
When they arrived in Bethlehem
Where our dear savior lay
Where our beloved savior was lying
They found him in the manger
They located him lying in the feeding trough
Where oxen feed on hay
The spot where the animals usually eat and drink
His mother Mary kneeled down
His mother, Mary, knelt down
And to the Lord did pray
She prayed to the Lord
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
This message brought comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Again, this news brings comfort and happiness
Contributed by Vivian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ratm3413
This is insane, I've never even known this came out. If anyone can make me like christmas music it's conor.
qwertygrl31597
conor. the only christmas music i will listen to. <3
Supercords Music
What about Sufjan Stevens?!?!?!?!?
Pestesoidubutor
Best non-classical music version of this song, hands down.
CJ Barbour
Tidings of comfort of comfort and joy 🙂
Arielle Aiken
This album and FF5 christmas album <3
Dan2020
Happy Christmas
Timothy Weltgeist
Here in 2021
ilylac
dude are you rocketgirl from nexopia