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.
In the Real World
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For all humankind
If given the time
They'll blow up or walk on the moon
It's just what they do
For personal gain
On Thanksgiving Day
I stood at the top of the float
And threw out a rose
Watched a blast from the past
Indigenous dance
Started to laugh
And then I just started to cry
This world is waving goodbye
So cut a rug let's throw a party
Birthday cards for everyone
Swallow hard and say you're sorry
Just admit what you have done
I studied your work
Like architecture
Cathedral of words
The meaning's not easy to tell
Comes back around on itself
Admirers, your biographer
The odometer
There's no way to turn back the clock
It's gonna to run 'til it stops
So excited to play
Turned up all the way
Electric, ecstatic, psychotic
Jumped into the drums
Was pandemonium
So if it's time, let's go together
I will be your ballast now
Let's sail into that stormy weather
No matter how it turns out
I just want to stand by your side
When everyone calls you a lie
I'll be your shield
There's still some truth worth defending
Let's stroll to the edge of the cliff
Stop here and give me a kiss
Now we're walking on air
There's no hell beneath our feet
If it every occurred
Just once in the world
A love as absurd
As ours I would scream what we lost
From the mountaintop
Bright Eyes’s song “Just Once In The World” describes the existential dilemma of human life, as Conor Oberst sings about the contradictions inherent in human nature. He says that humans have a tendency towards destruction and creation which is aptly reflected in their ability to either “blow up or walk on the moon”. The lyrics signify two opposite poles and the possibility of either choices made by humanity.
The song also highlights the contradiction of celebrating Thanksgiving, a time that is supposed to be about giving thanks and sharing love with friends and family, but instead, people join a parade purely for personal gain. He stands at the top of the float and throws out a rose, this signifies the futility of such a meaningless act.
Further into the song, Oberst speaks openly and honestly about love- a love that is worth defending. He talks about the cathedrals of words constructed by admirers and biographers and how their love story is as absurd as theirs because it is sincere and unconventional. The song concludes with the idea that if love ever occurred just once in the world, as absurd as Oberst’s love might seem, he would scream about it from the mountaintop and it would be worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
Found the throughline
Discovered the common thread that runs through everyone's lives
For all humankind
Applies to every person on this planet
If given the time
With enough time and resources
They'll blow up or walk on the moon
People will either achieve great things or destroy themselves
It's just what they do
It's the nature of humans
For personal gain
Motivated by self-interest
On Thanksgiving Day
During a traditional American holiday
I joined the parade
Participated in a public celebration
I stood at the top of the float
Positioned myself at the highest point of the parade float
And threw out a rose
Tossed a flower to the crowd
Watched a blast from the past
Observed an ancient custom
Indigenous dance
Traditional dance native to the area
Started to laugh
Found it amusing
And then I just started to cry
Moved to tears by the beauty of it all
This world is waving goodbye
The world is changing and evolving
So cut a rug let's throw a party
Let's celebrate and have fun
Birthday cards for everyone
Marking milestones and special occasions with cards
Swallow hard and say you're sorry
Admit mistakes and apologize
Just admit what you have done
Take responsibility for your actions
I studied your work
Examined someone's body of work
Like architecture
Similar to the construction of buildings
Cathedral of words
A magnificent structure built of language
The meaning's not easy to tell
The intent behind the words can be elusive
Comes back around on itself
The meaning can be circular and self-referential
Admirers, your biographer
The person who records another's life is often a fan of their work
The odometer
The measure of distance travelled
There's no way to turn back the clock
We can't undo the things we've done
It's gonna to run 'til it stops
Time will keep moving forward until it comes to an end
So excited to play
Thrilled at the prospect of performing
Turned up all the way
The volume was at maximum
Electric, ecstatic, psychotic
Intense, overwhelming emotions
Jumped into the drums
Joined in playing percussion instruments
Was pandemonium
Chaos and disorder
So if it's time, let's go together
If the opportunity arises, let's face it together
I will be your ballast now
I will be your stabilizing force
Let's sail into that stormy weather
Let's face the challenges ahead
No matter how it turns out
Regardless of the outcome
I just want to stand by your side
I want to support you
When everyone calls you a lie
Amidst accusations of dishonesty
I'll be your shield
I'll protect you from harm
There's still some truth worth defending
There are still things worth fighting for
Let's stroll to the edge of the cliff
Let's go to the precipice and see what's beyond
Stop here and give me a kiss
Take a moment to display affection
Now we're walking on air
Feeling elated and euphoric
There's no hell beneath our feet
We are not weighed down by fear, guilt or regret
If it every occurred
In the rare event
Just once in the world
Happening only once in history
A love as absurd
A relationship that defies logic or convention
As ours I would scream what we lost
If our love was taken away, I would mourn the loss loudly
From the mountaintop
In a visible, public way
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Conor Oberst, MiWi La Lupa
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind