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.
Mushaboom
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But wait the babies haven't been born
Unpacking the bags and setting up
And planting lilacs and buttercups
But in the meantime I've got it hard
Second floor living without a yard
It may be years until the day
Old dirt road
Knee deep snow
Watching the fire as we grow old
I got a man to stick it out
And make a home from a rented house
And we'll collect the moments one by one
I guess that's how the future's done
How many acres how much light
Tucked in the woods and out of sight
Talk to the neighbors and tip my cap
On a little road barely on the map
Old dirt road
Knee deep snow
Watching the fire as we grow old
Old dirt road
Rambling rose
Watching the fire as we grow, well,
I'm sold
In Bright Eyes's song "Mushaboom," the lyrics describe the mundane aspects of everyday life, such as helping kids with their coats, unpacking bags, and setting up a home, while conveying a desire for a future where dreams match up with pay. The song's melody is soft and sweet, perfectly depicting the image of planting lilacs and buttercups in a garden. The song's theme centers around making a home and living a simple life, while appreciating the little moments and the people around us. The lyrics speak to the human need to find contentment in what we have, rather than always yearning for more.
The chorus, "Old dirt road, knee-deep snow, watching the fire as we grow old," expresses the comfort and familiarity of a simple life, with the company of loved ones and the warmth of a fire. There is a yearning for a life out of the city, "tucked in the woods and out of sight," where the pace is slower and the air is fresh. This song speaks to the human desire for a life that is simple, where we feel grounded and at peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Helping the kids out of their coats
Assisting children in taking off their jackets
But wait the babies haven't been born
However, the infants have not yet arrived
Unpacking the bags and setting up
Unpacking luggage and arranging items
And planting lilacs and buttercups
Sowing flowers like lilacs and buttercups in the soil
But in the meantime I've got it hard
In the meantime, I am struggling
Second floor living without a yard
Dwelling in a second-floor apartment without an area for outdoor activities
It may be years until the day
It could take years before the day arrives
My dreams will match up with my pay
My aspirations will be in agreement with my salary
Old dirt road
An ancient, unpaved path
Knee deep snow
Snow that reaches up to one's knees
Watching the fire as we grow old
Observing the flames as we age
I got a man to stick it out
I have a significant other who will persevere with me
And make a home from a rented house
And transform a rental home into a place of their own
And we'll collect the moments one by one
And we will accumulate experiences bit by bit
I guess that's how the future's done
I suppose that's how one builds their future
How many acres how much light
How many acres and how much sunlight?
Tucked in the woods and out of sight
Hidden amid the forests
Talk to the neighbors and tip my cap
Speaking with neighbors and nodding my head as a greeting
On a little road barely on the map
On a tiny street that is hardly marked on a map
Rambling rose
A wild rose that spreads or wanders in various directions
Watching the fire as we grow, well,
As we mature, observing the flames, well,
I'm sold
I am convinced
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leslie Feist
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
addictioner
WHY HAVENT I HEARD THIS BEFORE? THIS IS BEAUTIFUL !
TheGogogadget123
aww conor sounds so happy, I'm happy for him! :)
Taylor Ward
Conor Oberst. He's the artist covering the song. He goes as Bright Eyes.
D Haller
@ANONONTHEJEWTUBE Conor is putting emotion in this, the song is very well interpreted and his voice sounds so emotional and great. Has Dylan a good voice? But Dylan is better than Feist, we all know it. I only say that this is a very very good version. You can dislike it, but it's great.
AAARGH
Conor made this even more cute and lovely if you ask me. Most people don't though and that's fine.
Bernard
@DavidHallermusic I agree that Bob Dylan has had a greater impact on the world, but you should see the work put into Feist's album, The Reminder.
D Haller
@ANONONTHEJEWTUBE I think obviusly Dylan is better than Feist, just because, for example, Dylan has changed the world, he's near Picasso or Dalí, if you appreciate art you should now it. And in youtube there is a live with conor and feits singing this song both together. I like it, it's pretty good, they're the two pretty good.
Bernard
@DavidHallermusic If he was trying to make this song sound like a karaoke country bar recording, then he succeeded.
Tony Mckenzie
best version of this is Hettie Bunker with kidderminster college students........dont believe me ? go check it out on here.....
Bernard
Man that was one whole year ago. This song was written by Feist.