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.
Land Locked Blues
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
First tell me which road you will take
I don't want to risk our paths crossing someday
So you walk that way I'll walk this way
And the future hangs over our heads
And it moves with each current event
Until it falls all around like a cold steady rain
And the moon's laying low in the sky
Forcing everything metal to shine
And the sidewalk holds diamonds like a jewelry store case
They argue "Walk this way", "No, walk this way"
And Laura's asleep in my bed
As I'm leaving she wakes up and says
"I dreamed you were carried away on the crest of a wave
Baby, don't go away, come here"
And there's kids playing guns in the street
And one's pointing his tree branch at me
So I put my hands up I say
"Enough is enough, if you walk away I walk away"
(And he shot me dead)
I found a liquid cure
For my landlocked blues
It will pass away like a slow parade
It's leaving but I don't know how soon
And the world's got me dizzy again
You'd think after twenty-two years I'd be used to the spin
And it only feels worse when I stay in one place
So I'm always pacing around or walking away
I keep drinking the ink from my pen
And I'm balancing history books up on my head
But it all boils down to one quotable phrase
If you love something give it away
A good woman will pick you apart
A box full of suggestions for your possible heart
But you may be offended and you may be afraid
But don't walk away, don't walk away
We made love on the living room floor
With the noise in the background from a televised war
And in the deafening pleasure I thought I heard someone say
If we walk away, they'll walk away
But greed is a bottomless pit
And our freedom's a joke we're just taking a piss
And the whole world must watch the sad comic display
If you're still free start runnin' away
'Cause we're comin' for ya
I've grown tired of holding this pose
I feel more like a stranger each time I come home
So I'm making a deal with the devils of fame
Sayin' let me walk away, please
You'll be free child once you have died
From the shackles of language and measurable time
And then we can trade places, play musical graves
Till then walk away, walk away, walk away, walk away
So I'm up at dawn, putting on my shoes
I just want to make a clean escape
I'm leaving but I don't know where to
I know I'm leaving but I don't know where to
The lyrics of Bright Eyes’s “Land Locked Blues” present the tension and uncertainty that exist in relationships. The singer starts by saying, “If you walk away I walk away, First tell me which road you will take. I don't want to risk our paths crossing someday, So you walk that way I'll walk this way.” The lyrics illustrate the dilemma of wanting to hold on but fearing getting hurt if the other person decides to leave. The singer is trying to ensure that they will not cross paths and, therefore, not cause any more pain or heartache.
The second verse, “And the future hangs over our heads, And it moves with each current event, Until it falls all around like a cold steady rain,” portrays the inevitable future that creates a sense of anxiety in the singer’s mind. The future’s uncertainty keeps moving and shaking, creating changes that the singer cannot anticipate. In the third verse, the artist reflects on the moment while he is leaving his lover. She wakes up and says, “I dreamed you were carried away on the crest of a wave. Baby, don't go away, come here.” This dream shows her fear of losing him.
The song reflects the changes, uncertainty and fear that exist in life and relationships. Throughout the song, references to past, present and future come to the forefront to show that no person, place or thing remains the same. This beautifully crafted song reflects reality and relationships in a relatable way.
Line by Line Meaning
If you walk away I walk away
If you are planning to leave, I do not want to be left behind, so I would leave as well
First tell me which road you will take
Before you go, please let me know which direction you're heading towards
I don't want to risk our paths crossing someday
I fear running into you in the future may cause unwanted emotions or complications
So you walk that way I'll walk this way
Since you are going in one direction, I will go a different way to avoid any potential encounter
And the future hangs over our heads
The future is uncertain and unpredictable, looming over our consciousness
And it moves with each current event
The future changes with every moment that passes, influenced by various factors
Until it falls all around like a cold steady rain
Eventually the future will come crashing down on us, similar to a melancholic rain
Just stay in when it's lookin' this way
When the future seems bleak, it may be best to stay idle and avoid making any major decisions
And the moon's laying low in the sky
The moon is positioned low in the sky casting a pale light on everything below
Forcing everything metal to shine
The moonlight reflects off metallic surfaces, causing them to gleam brightly
And the sidewalk holds diamonds like a jewelry store case
The reflection of the moon creates sparkling effects on the pavement similar to diamonds in a jewelry store
They argue "Walk this way", "No, walk this way"
People have differing opinions on which direction to take, causing disagreements and debates
And Laura's asleep in my bed
Laura is in a deep slumber in my bedroom
As I'm leaving she wakes up and says
Just as I am departing, Laura awakens and speaks to me
"I dreamed you were carried away on the crest of a wave
Laura had a dream where I was swept away by a large wave
Baby, don't go away, come here"
Not wanting me to leave, Laura pleads for me to stay with her
And there's kids playing guns in the street
Children are playing-harmless games in the streets with toy guns
And one's pointing his tree branch at me
One of the children is aiming a tree branch pretending it is a gun towards me
So I put my hands up I say
To avoid any conflict, I raise my hands up as a sign of surrender
"Enough is enough, if you walk away I walk away"
I put my foot down, saying that I will not stand for any more play fighting and I will leave if they continue
(And he shot me dead)
Unforeseeably, one of the children mimics shooting me dead with his toy gun
I found a liquid cure
I discovered a remedy to ease my emotional unrest
For my landlocked blues
To soothe my feelings of being trapped or restricted
It will pass away like a slow parade
Time will heal my emotional pain, but it will take a while to pass like a slow, somber procession
It's leaving but I don't know how soon
Although the remedy is working, I am unsure of how quickly it will fully take effect
And the world's got me dizzy again
The world, with its many changes and complexities, has left me feeling disoriented and confused once again
You'd think after twenty-two years I'd be used to the spin
After living for 22 years, I thought I would have grown accustomed to the chaos of the world
And it only feels worse when I stay in one place
Remaining stagnant in one place makes my feelings of disorientation and confusion more intense
So I'm always pacing around or walking away
To combat these sensations, I am always on the move, walking or pacing around
I keep drinking the ink from my pen
I continue to write and express myself through writing, using up ink from my pen
And I'm balancing history books up on my head
I am trying to keep up with the past, learning from history and carrying the knowledge with me throughout my life
But it all boils down to one quotable phrase
Despite all of my writing and reading, everything can be simplified to one memorable quote
If you love something give it away
The quote is "if you love something, let it go", meaning that true love comes with sacrificing and letting go
A good woman will pick you apart
Being with a good woman means being dissected and analyzed, as she knows you intimately
A box full of suggestions for your possible heart
From her analysis, she has a box of ideas and suggestions to help with matters of the heart
But you may be offended and you may be afraid
Although these suggestions are meant to help, they may come across as insensitive or frightening
But don't walk away, don't walk away
Despite these fears, do not run away from a good woman's advice and love
We made love on the living room floor
Intimate acts were performed on the floor of the living room
With the noise in the background from a televised war
Amidst the act, sounds from a television broadcasting a war can be heard in the background
And in the deafening pleasure I thought I heard someone say
In the midst of pleasure, I imagined hearing someone speak to me
"If we walk away, they'll walk away"
The imagined voice reminds me that if I leave, others may follow suit
But greed is a bottomless pit
Greed knows no bounds and can consume people infinitely
And our freedom's a joke we're just taking a piss
Our sense of freedom holds no true value, we treat it flippantly
And the whole world must watch the sad comic display
The world is forced to watch our foolish, tragic charade
If you're still free start runnin' away
If you value your freedom and sanity, start distancing yourself from us
'Cause we're comin' for ya
Our desperation and toxic energy may taint those around us and we will attempt to bring them down with us
I've grown tired of holding this pose
I am weary of pretending and maintaining a certain image or persona
I feel more like a stranger each time I come home
Even in my own familiar environment, I feel disconnected and distant
So I'm making a deal with the devils of fame
In an attempt to escape this feeling, I am willing to make compromises with the negative aspects of fame and recognition
Sayin' let me walk away, please
My plea is to be released from the expectations and pressures that come with success
You'll be free child once you have died
True freedom can only be achieved through death and the release from worldly attachments
From the shackles of language and measurable time
Our communication and sense of time can be restrictive and confining, obscuring true freedom
And then we can trade places, play musical graves
Once we are freed from the constraints of language and time, our souls can be exchanged and buried in different places
Till then walk away, walk away, walk away, walk away
Until that time of true freedom can be achieved, it is best to keep moving away from the constraints of society and our own limitations
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONOR OBERST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Orphan-mh6db
If you walk away I walk away
First tell me which road you will take
I don't want to risk our paths crossing someday
So you walk that way I'll walk this way
And the future hangs over our heads
And it moves with each current event
Until it falls all around like a cold steady rain
Just stay in when it's lookin' this way
And the moon's laying low in the sky
Forcing everything metal to shine
And the sidewalk holds diamonds like a jewelry store case
They argue "Walk this way", "No, walk this way"
And Laura's asleep in my bed
As I'm leaving she wakes up and says
"I dreamed you were carried away on the crest of a wave
Baby, don't go away, come here"
And there's kids playing guns in the street
And one's pointing his tree branch at me
So I put my hands up I say
"Enough is enough, if you walk away I walk away"
(And he shot me dead)
I found a liquid cure
For my landlocked blues
It will pass away like a slow parade
It's leaving but I don't know how soon
And the world's got me dizzy again
You'd think after twenty-two years I'd be used to the spin
And it only feels worse when I stay in one place
So I'm always pacing around or walking away
I keep drinking the ink from my pen
And I'm balancing history books up on my head
But it all boils down to one quotable phrase
If you love something give it away
A good woman will pick you apart
A box full of suggestions for your possible heart
But you may be offended and you may be afraid
But don't walk away, don't walk away
We made love on the living room floor
With the noise in the background from a televised war
And in the deafening pleasure I thought I heard someone say
If we walk away, they'll walk away
But greed is a bottomless pit
And our freedom's a joke we're just taking a piss
And the whole world must watch the sad comic display
If you're still free start runnin' away
'Cause we're comin' for ya
I've grown tired of holding this pose
I feel more like a stranger each time I come home
So I'm making a deal with the devils of fame
Sayin' let me walk away, please
You'll be free child once you have died
From the shackles of language and measurable time
And then we can trade places, play musical graves
Till then walk away, walk away, walk away, walk away
So I'm up at dawn, putting on my shoes
I just want to make a clean escape
I'm leaving but I don't know where to
I know I'm leaving but I don't know where to
@MrShahid0072
Always prefer listening to music on YouTube than Spotify. Love reading comments by all of you wonderful people. Makes me feel less alone.
@dizzytel
I agree!!!
@apeaks3559
That's why they should add a comment section to Spotify.
@melanieresutek1403
@@dizzytel I absolutely love this comment.
@gustavouchida1
We are not alone. We're just too far. Too many mountains and rovers and buildings and roads and oceans on the way.
@jaredsullivan7136
I liked this comment and a like disappeared. I apparently liked it before
@val77701
"I feel more like a stranger each time I come home"
Holy shit
That hit me so hard I don't know how to handle it..
@Snowbomb6
This is the type of song that every time you listen to it, a different part will catch your attention because the lyrics are just incredible.
@jefflangenberg2411
Mel Vernis it only gets worse when I stay in one place..
@therastamonsays
never heard this song described this way.. beautiful and so true.