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.
Lila
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The dark outside can't hurt you
And I will never desert your bedside
So close them tight
The stars are so glad that they've found you
And on the blankets that surround you
They shine their light
Rest your head and I will be watching from the doorway
As you drift into a perfect, peaceful sleep
And morning will come in all its simple glory
And you will find the light
And I will be there
Standing in your shadow
Knowing that you once were mine
All mine
My baby
The lyrics to Bright Eyes' song "Lila" are a soothing comfort to help someone fall asleep. The singer tells Lila to close her eyes tight because the darkness can't hurt her. The stars are glad to have found her, and they shine their light on her as she sleeps. The singer assures her that he will be watching her from the doorway while she sleeps, and when morning comes, she will find the light. The song ends with the singer standing in Lila's shadow, knowing that she was once his baby.
The song starts with a gentle acoustic guitar and gradually builds up with more instruments, creating an atmosphere of calmness and beauty. "Lila" is a lullaby about a lover who is comforting their partner to help them sleep. The song is about the beauty that can be found in the simple moments of life, and how those moments can be cherished forever. The singer in the song is symbolic of the protective and nurturing qualities that are often associated with motherly love, and is a representation of the comfort that can be found in someone's presence.
Line by Line Meaning
Close your eyes
I want you to feel safe and secure while you sleep.
The dark outside can't hurt you
Don't worry about the darkness that surrounds you, it can't harm you.
And I will never desert your bedside
I promise to always be here for you and watch over you while you sleep.
So close them tight
Make sure you shut your eyes tight to keep the darkness out and let yourself fall asleep.
The stars are so glad that they've found you
Even the stars are happy to be above you and shining on you.
And on the blankets that surround you
The blankets you're wrapped in are warm and comforting.
They shine their light
The stars make everything around you feel bright and cheerful.
Rest your head and I will be watching from the doorway
As you rest, I'll make sure to watch over and protect you from harm.
As you drift into a perfect, peaceful sleep
You'll fall asleep soundly, knowing I'm here for you and you're safe.
And morning will come in all its simple glory
When you wake up, the morning light will be warm and bright.
And you will find the light
You'll feel happy and refreshed when you wake up with the morning light.
And I will be there
I'll always be here for you, no matter what happens.
Standing in your shadow
I'll support you from the background and always be there for you.
Knowing that you once were mine
I know that I hold a special place in your heart and that you once belonged to me.
All mine
I still hold a special place in my heart for you.
My baby
You'll always be my special little one, no matter how old you get.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind