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.
IWatchedYouTakingOff
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It begins with the flickering of cigarettes
In the darkness of a dorm room
Somewhere in the suffocated mid-west
And if this is real then I was mistaken
And if there is truth then why can't we find it?
Beauty comes to those who have been waiting for something
This is the sound of the hopeless kids
As they scream from the basements of the houses of their parents
And this is the sound of the hopeless ones
As they stare down at their books
And realize they have been lied to
But if this is real then I was mistaken
And the vision fades as quickly as it came
Consistency like that which I have craved
Is that people change so unexpectedly
And realization finds you in a drunken airport
Some planes depart and others never arrived
So with this in mind I don't plan on waiting
If its time to leave and break these old ties
Without something else this vision is fading
But until its gone the pain will make us try
But this is the hope
I have been searching for
As the wings catch the sunlight of this cold Nebraska skyline
This is the dream I am dying in
I will wake to find tomorrow
Be content without perfection
But if this is real then I was mistaken
And if the vision is gone then I was not aware
The lyrics of Bright Eyes's song "I Watched You Taking Off" explore the themes of disillusionment, searching for hope, and finding contentment without perfection. The opening lines suggest that sometimes the meaning behind a situation is difficult to discern. The scene is set in a dorm room in the middle of the mid-west, where the flicker of cigarettes can be seen in the darkness. The singer questions whether reality is what he thought it was and wonders why truth is so elusive. The idea of beauty coming to those who are waiting for something bigger than themselves implies the longing for a deeper purpose and meaning in life.
As the song progresses, the hopeless ones scream from basements and realize that they have been lied to, awakening to the sadness of reality. The singer realizes that people change unexpectedly and that life can be unpredictable, so he doesn't plan on waiting around. He's content with imperfection, but he still searches for hope. With new possibilities on the horizon, he sees the dream he's been dying for, and he's eager to wake up to a brighter tomorrow.
Overall, the song seems to be about coming to terms with the realities of life and finding hope in spite of disappointment. It's an introspective look into the singer's mindset, and the lyrics are packed with emotion and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Meaning is sometimes hard to spot
It's difficult to fully understand the meaning behind things.
It begins with the flickering of cigarettes
The journey to understanding the meaning can start in unexpected ways, such as the light of a cigarette.
In the darkness of a dorm room
The search for meaning often happens during solitary moments of introspection.
Somewhere in the suffocated mid-west
The location of where one searches for meaning is not specific, as meaning can be found anywhere, even in places where it may seem less likely.
And if this is real then I was mistaken
The search for meaning can be confusing and uncertain, and what one believes to be true may not be the case.
And if there is truth then why can't we find it?
The search for truth can be difficult and elusive.
Beauty comes to those who have been waiting for something
Those who are patient and persistent in their search for meaning are more likely to find beauty in it.
Bigger than themselves
The meaning one seeks should be something greater and more significant than just oneself.
This is the sound of the hopeless kids
The struggles of finding meaning and truth can be a common experience among younger generations.
As they scream from the basements of the houses of their parents
The search for meaning can often happen in private, personal spaces.
And this is the sound of the hopeless ones
The search for meaning can be a universal experience that spans across generations and individuals.
As they stare down at their books
Books and literature can play a significant role in the search for meaning and truth.
And realize they have been lied to
The journey to finding meaning can involve realizing that one has been misled or deceived about certain things.
But if this is real then I was mistaken
The search for meaning can involve changing one's beliefs and perspectives as new information is gained.
And the vision fades as quickly as it came
The path to finding meaning can be unpredictable and fleeting.
Consistency like that which I have craved
The search for meaning can involve a desire for stability and clear direction.
Is that people change so unexpectedly
Change is a constant factor in life and can affect one's search for meaning.
And realization finds you in a drunken airport
Realizations about life and meaning can happen in unexpected and unusual places or circumstances.
Some planes depart and others never arrived
The search for meaning can involve uncertain and unpredictable outcomes, with some paths leading to success and others leading to disappointment.
So with this in mind I don't plan on waiting
The search for meaning requires active participation and effort, rather than just waiting for it to come to you.
If its time to leave and break these old ties
Sometimes finding meaning requires breaking old habits and connections.
Without something else this vision is fading
The search for meaning needs to involve a larger vision or goal in order to be sustained.
But until its gone the pain will make us try
The journey to finding meaning can involve struggle and pain, but the desire to find it can keep one motivated.
But this is the hope
The search for meaning offers hope for a better, more fulfilling life.
I have been searching for
The search for meaning is a personal journey.
As the wings catch the sunlight of this cold Nebraska skyline
The search for meaning can be a beautiful and awe-inspiring experience.
This is the dream I am dying in
The search for meaning can be all-consuming and a defining feature of one's life.
I will wake to find tomorrow
Finding meaning offers hope for a better future.
Be content without perfection
Finding meaning doesn't require perfection or complete understanding, but rather a sense of contentment in the journey.
But if this is real then I was mistaken
The search for meaning can involve changing one's beliefs and perspectives as new information is gained.
And if the vision is gone then I was not aware
The journey to finding meaning can involve moments of uncertainty and confusion, with some realizations only coming after the fact.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind