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.
Messanger Birds Song
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the coffee is warm
And the suns coming up
The day has just begun
And your already bored
Bored of cheering me up
Bored of calming me down
But there once was a time
When you were the one
You were the blue of the sky
You came after the storm
You were the switch on the wall
In the dark of the hall
I'm still fumbling for
'Cause I'm lost in the black
I don't know where I am
And arms stretched out in front
And I'm calling your name
Just as loud as I can
And I know there's words that we will never speak
And the questions can't be answered easily
But I wanted to be easy so
Nod your head if the plans have changed
Shake it, love, if they stayed the same
Smile at me and I will stay
Start to cry and I'll go away
Just please don't leave me guessing
So you made me come
Then you sent me away
Like a messenger bird
So, I circled the earth
Blown away in the wind
But I always returned
With some new little song
Some sad story to tell
Of a brief love affair
With a girl I compared to you and she failed
You said you don't want me to beg
Then you said get down on your knees
'Cause you knew that I would
If I do any good
Satisfying your needs
And I know all about those things we cannot speak
And just so you know, well, they don't bother me
So you don't have to be worried
Just nod your head if the plans have changed
Shake it, love, if they stayed the same
Smile at me and I will stay
Start to cry and I'll go away
Just please don't keep me waiting
Oh, just nod your head if your mind's been changed
Shake it, love, if some hope remains
Just say the word and of course I'll stay
Roll your eyes and I'll go away
Just please don't leave me guessing
Just please don't keep me waiting
The lyrics of Bright Eyes's song "Messenger Bird's Song" convey a sense of desperation and longing for a lost love. The singer is caught in a mire of confusion; on the one hand, they are bored with their current state, but on the other, they are lost without the person they were with before. The opening lines ("The kitchen is cold, but the coffee is warm, and the sun is coming up") paint a picture of a morning that is both mundane and hopeful. However, the singer's frustration is palpable when they state "you're already bored." They then reminisce about the time when the other person was their everything ("You were the blue of the sky...the switch on the wall"), and now they can't imagine being without them ("I'm lost in the black...just as loud as I can").
The singer also acknowledges that there are things that they will never be able to say or understand about their relationship ("And I know there's words that we will never speak...But I wanted to be easy...Just please don't leave me guessing"). They are begging for some kind of clarity, some kind of resolution, but they can't seem to get it. The repeated refrain of "nod your head if the plans have changed" speaks to this desire for communication and mutual understanding, but it is also tinged with the fear of rejection ("Roll your eyes and I'll go away").
Line by Line Meaning
The kitchen is cold
The environment is uncomfortable and not welcoming.
But the coffee is warm
Despite the uncomfortable environment, there is a source of comfort and warmth in the form of coffee.
And the suns coming up
A new day is beginning.
The day has just begun
There is a whole day ahead of us with new opportunities and challenges.
And your already bored
Despite the new day and the possibilities it brings, one is feeling uninterested and unenthusiastic.
Bored of cheering me up
One is tired of trying to make the other person feel better.
Bored of calming me down
One is tired of trying to soothe the other person's emotions.
Bored of drying my eyes
One is tired of wiping away the other person's tears.
But there once was a time
In the past, things were different.
When you were the one
The other person was the most important thing in one's life.
You were the blue of the sky
The other person represented clarity and calm, like a clear blue sky.
You came after the storm
The other person provided comfort and relief after a difficult time.
You were the switch on the wall
The other person provided a source of light and guidance in a dark and confusing situation.
In the dark of the hall
A metaphorical representation of a difficult time that requires guidance and support.
I'm still fumbling for
One is still searching for that guidance and support.
'Cause I'm lost in the black
One is lost and confused in a dark and difficult situation.
I don't know where I am
One doesn't know how to navigate the difficult situation.
And arms stretched out in front
One is reaching out for help and support.
And I'm calling your name
One is seeking the other person's help and support.
Just as loud as I can
One is desperately calling for help and support.
And I know there's words that we will never speak
There are some thoughts and feelings that cannot be expressed through words.
And the questions can't be answered easily
There are some questions that have complex answers.
But I wanted to be easy so
Despite the difficulty, one wants the other person to make things easier.
Nod your head if the plans have changed
Agree if things have changed from the original plan.
Shake it, love, if they stayed the same
Disagree if things have remained the same as the original plan.
Smile at me and I will stay
One wants to stay and be part of the other person's life if they show a positive sign of affection.
Start to cry and I'll go away
One will leave if the other person shows sadness or emotional distress.
Just please don't leave me guessing
One wants clear communication and not to be left confused.
So you made me come
The other person compelled one to come to them.
Then you sent me away
The other person then pushed one away.
Like a messenger bird
One is being used as a messenger.
So, I circled the earth
One traveled all over the world to deliver the message.
Blown away in the wind
One moved freely but without direction or control like the wind.
But I always returned
One keeps coming back to the other person.
With some new little song
One brought new experiences and stories to share with the other person.
Some sad story to tell
One brought stories of heartbreak and disappointment that they had experienced.
Of a brief love affair
One had a short-lived relationship with someone else.
With a girl I compared to you and she failed
One dated someone else who failed to be as important and meaningful to them as the other person.
You said you don't want me to beg
The other person doesn't want one to plead for their love or attention.
Then you said get down on your knees
However, the other person still wants one to show their devotion and commitment.
'Cause you knew that I would
The other person knows that one is willing to do whatever they ask.
If I do any good
One is willing to do anything to make the other person happy.
Satisfying your needs
One wants to make sure that the other person is content and fulfilled.
Just nod your head if the plans have changed
Agree if things have changed from the original plan.
Shake it, love, if they stayed the same
Disagree if things have remained the same as the original plan.
Smile at me and I will stay
One wants to stay and be part of the other person's life if they show a positive sign of affection.
Start to cry and I'll go away
One will leave if the other person shows sadness or emotional distress.
Just please don't keep me waiting
One wants clear communication and to not be left wondering.
Oh, just nod your head if your mind's been changed
Agree if the other person's mind has been changed about something.
Shake it, love, if some hope remains
Disagree if there is still hope for something.
Just say the word and of course I'll stay
One is willing to stay if the other person asks them to.
Roll your eyes and I'll go away
One will leave if the other person shows disinterest, frustration, or annoyance.
Just please don't leave me guessing
One wants clear communication and not to be left confused.
Just please don't keep me waiting
One wants clear communication and not to be left wondering.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OBERST, Conor Oberst
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nancy Cruz
"Solo asienta, por favor,
con la cabeza sí
los planes han cambiado,
si los planes han cambiado,
solo niega, sin razón,
con la cabeza sí,
hoy se han quedado,
si igual se han quedado,
pero por favor,
no me dejes dudando" - Porque todavía podemos decir una vez más - Panda
KT Pat
I obsessively listened to Conor throughout high school and then slowly stopped in college. Then whenever I come back to him, I'm hit with a wave of emotion and realize that the reason I can't do it anymore is all I can do is pretend I'm happy and Conor reminds me that I'm not.
t E
God your in my head. I feel the same. Hope you are well.
Yashaswini Joshi
I'm currently in high school and it's scary how accurate this is. Much love. Hope you're doing good.
Bryce Z
@Michael Moses amen
Kung Fu Jiu Jitsu Flip Trick
"I know a girl who cries when she practices violin because each note sounds so pure it just cuts into her, and then the melody comes pouring out her eyes. Now, to me, everything else just sounds like a lie."
Ashley Kresser
Stop being so accurate
Beckah Turner
it's 2013 and I still need this song to keep going.
Leonardo Ulhoa
@ah pick 2021 and keep going with this song...
ah pick
Yeaa its 2020 now and still this song never stop playing in my head
Jan Wilson
I think this is my favorite bright eyes song he ever made.