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.
Napoleon’s Hat
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The next century crashed hard with a loud sound like a starting gun
It's race for acquisition and to make more things that glow
I got a knack for dodging bullets and flying zeros
So I act like I am rich, try and make it my whole look
Cause poor people don't exist when times are good
Mozart's foster parents put cigarettes out in his ears
The eloquence of traffic, yeah the milk ponds sad lament
It's a requiem of moments I keep living through them
But where's the monster in the closet? I can't find the hangman inside his hood
I guess evil don't exist when times are good
Doctor Oppenheimer winced when he felt the broken piece of his pace-maker
Unbuttoned his shirt on a subway platform clutching his chest while his vision blurred
He saw the bane of his creation, the destroyer of the world
Yeah, truth can leap to solace or a life long bender
It's like wading through a wasteland where a town you love once stood
You just cry each time you think of when times were good
Napoleon's tailor dressed him in a giant hat and funny platform shoes
Saying anyone can be a hero you just got to force people to look up to you
So when you're talking on a hotline to a suicidal soul
Don't let your voice sound like hot coffee more like a scented pillow
And strive for understanding over being understood
Just don't let yourself forget when the times get good
When the times get good [repeat]
The lyrics of Bright Eyes's song "Napoleon's Hat" ponder over the idea of how evil and destruction are often consequences of societal progress and growth. The first verse talks about how the desire for acquisition and the need to make more things have fueled many of the world's biggest wars and conflicts. The singer admits that he has a knack for dodging bullets and avoiding failures, which is why he pretends to be rich and successful all the time. He believes that when times are good, the idea of poverty ceases to exist.
In the second verse, the focus shifts to the struggles of the legendary musician Mozart, who was mistreated and abused by his foster parents. Despite his obvious stuttering, Mozart could hear the sad and compelling music of the world around him. The bane of his creation echoes in the "eloquence of traffic, " and his life becomes a "requiem of moments" that he keeps living through. But in a society that is constantly stressing on material gain, who will acknowledge the monstrous injustices that people keep facing every day?
The third and final verse talks about Dr. Oppenheimer, who felt the consequences of his actions when he held the broken piece of his pacemaker unbuttoned on a subway platform. He realizes the destruction that he has caused while creating the atomic bomb, which led to the deaths of millions. The song ends with a reference to Napoleon's tailor, who forced him to wear a giant hat and funny platform shoes to stand out and look like a hero. It urges people not to forget the times when things were good, to strive for understanding instead of being understood, and to remember that evil exists even when times are good.
Line by Line Meaning
The barons of industry put inspiration on Hitler's tongue
The people with a lot of money and power influenced and inspired a dangerous dictator.
The next century crashed hard with a loud sound like a starting gun
The start of the next century brought major changes that were abrupt and jarring.
It's race for acquisition and to make more things that glow
People are in a competition to accumulate more things, especially shiny and impressive ones.
I got a knack for dodging bullets and flying zeros
I am good at avoiding danger and financial troubles.
So I act like I am rich, try and make it my whole look
I pretend to be wealthy and make it a big part of my image.
Cause poor people don't exist when times are good
People only seem to recognize the existence of poor people when things are bad and they need someone to blame.
Mozart's foster parents put cigarettes out in his ears
Mozart's guardians mistreated him and caused him physical pain.
When he got old enough to stutter he said I don't listen but I-I-I can hear
Mozart may have had difficulty speaking, but he was still able to understand and perceive things around him.
The eloquence of traffic, yeah the milk ponds sad lament
The beauty of the ordinary and mundane can be profound and melancholy.
It's a requiem of moments I keep living through them
The past experiences that shaped us continue to echo within us and influence who we are.
But where's the monster in the closet? I can't find the hangman inside his hood
It's difficult to identify and understand the sources of our fears and anxieties.
I guess evil don't exist when times are good
People tend to ignore and downplay the existence of evil when things are going well for them.
Doctor Oppenheimer winced when he felt the broken piece of his pace-maker
The creator of a powerful and destructive weapon experienced pain and vulnerability.
Unbuttoned his shirt on a subway platform clutching his chest while his vision blurred
Oppenheimer was in physical distress and unable to see clearly.
He saw the bane of his creation, the destroyer of the world
Oppenheimer realized the terrible consequences of his creation, which could bring about the end of the world.
Yeah, truth can leap to solace or a life long bender
The truth can bring relief and healing, or it can lead to long-lasting pain and damage.
It's like wading through a wasteland where a town you love once stood
Facing reality and truth can be devastating, like walking through the ruins of a place you once loved.
You just cry each time you think of when times were good
The memory of happier times can be painful and evoke grief.
Napoleon's tailor dressed him in a giant hat and funny platform shoes
Napoleon's image was carefully crafted and designed to make him appear powerful and impressive.
Saying anyone can be a hero you just got to force people to look up to you
Becoming a hero or leader requires making others admire and respect you, even if it's through manipulation.
So when you're talking on a hotline to a suicidal soul
When you're trying to help someone who is feeling suicidal and hopeless
Don't let your voice sound like hot coffee more like a scented pillow
Take care to speak soothingly and calmly, like a comforting object, to help the person feel better.
And strive for understanding over being understood
Focus on trying to comprehend and empathize with the other person, rather than insisting on being right or heard.
Just don't let yourself forget when the times get good
Remember to appreciate and cherish the good times, even when there are challenges and difficulties as well.
When the times get good [repeat]
The chorus emphasizes the importance of keeping in mind the idea that good times will come again, even after hardships.
Contributed by Elizabeth S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.