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 ↴
Then the century crashed hard with a loud sound like a starting gun.
It's a race for acquisition and to make more things that glow.
I've got a knack for dodging bullets and flying zeroes.
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 pond's sad lament.
It's a requiem of moments. I keep living through them.
But where is 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 pacemaker.
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 lead to solace or a lifelong bender.
It's like wading through a wasteland where a town you loved 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.
He said, Anyone can be a hero, you just gotta force people to look up to you.
So when you're talking on the 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 times get good.
When times get good.
The lyrics of Bright Eyes' song "Napoleon's Hat" provide a biting commentary on the state of the world and human nature. The first verse describes how the rich and powerful manipulate and inspire evil, using Hitler as an example. It's also a commentary on capitalism and the desire for acquisition and wealth at any cost. The singer admits to acting rich to fit in and avoid being seen as poor, reflecting how our society values wealth and status over everything else.
The second verse references Mozart and his abuse at the hands of his foster parents. This illustrates how even geniuses and artists can suffer at the hands of those who should have cared for them. The singer reflects on how he can hear beauty in everyday things like traffic, but wonders where the true monsters and evil lie. He can't find them because in times of plenty and ease, society chooses to ignore or downplay the existence of evil.
The final verse is perhaps the most powerful, referencing Oppenheimer's realization of the destructive nature of the atomic bomb, which he helped create. The lyric "truth can lead to solace or a lifelong bender" refers to the idea that sometimes reality is too difficult to handle and can drive one to despair or addiction. The singer cries at the memory of a world that once existed before destruction.
Overall, the lyrics of "Napoleon's Hat" criticize human greed and suggest that we often choose to ignore evil because it's easier to do so. The song implores the listener to remember the past and not forget the darker parts of human history.
Line by Line Meaning
The barons of the industry put inspiration on Hitler's tongue.
Powerful businessmen manipulated political leaders for their own gain.
Then the century crashed hard with a loud sound like a starting gun.
The world changed abruptly and dramatically, setting off a new era of competition.
It's a race for acquisition and to make more things that glow.
The economy relies on the constant creation and consumption of new products.
I've got a knack for dodging bullets and flying zeroes. So I act like I am rich.
I've learned how to avoid financial insecurity, so I pretend to be wealthy.
Try and make it my whole look 'cause poor people don't exist when times are good.
Society tends to exclude and overlook those who are struggling when everything seems to be going well.
Mozart's foster parents put cigarettes out in his ears.
Even great artists have suffered from abuse and neglect.
When he got old enough to stutter, he said, I don't listen but I-I-I, I can hear
He may struggle to communicate verbally, but he's still perceptive and aware of his surroundings.
The eloquence of traffic, yeah, the milk pond's sad lament.
There's poetry in the ordinary, and even mundane things can be beautiful or poignant.
It's a requiem of moments. I keep living through them.
Memories, both good and bad, form a kind of mournful symphony that you can't escape from.
But where is the monster in the closet? I can't find the hangman inside his hood.
Sometimes the source of your troubles is elusive or hard to identify.
I guess evil don't exist when times are good.
When you're content and prosperous, it's easy to overlook or deny the existence of evil.
Doctor Oppenheimer winced when he felt the broken piece of his pacemaker.
Even those who are brilliant or accomplished may face health problems or other difficulties.
Unbuttoned his shirt on a subway platform, clutching his chest while his vision blurred.
He's in pain and distress, but surrounded by strangers who are unaware or indifferent.
He saw the bane of his creation. The destroyer of the world.
Dr. Oppenheimer was one of the creators of the atomic bomb, which had devastating consequences.
Yeah, truth can lead to solace or a lifelong bender.
Facing reality and acknowledging painful truths can be liberating, but also overwhelming or even destructive.
It's like wading through a wasteland where a town you loved once stood.
Coming to terms with loss or trauma can be like navigating a desolate, unfamiliar landscape.
You just cry each time you think of when times were good.
Nostalgia and longing for the past often bring up feelings of sadness or regret.
Napoleon's tailor dressed him in a giant hat and funny platform shoes.
Appearances can be deceiving, and those who seem powerful or impressive may actually be ridiculous or foolish.
He said, Anyone can be a hero, you just gotta force people to look up to you.
Leaders often rely on manipulation or coercion to gain support or admiration.
So when you're talking on the hotline to a suicidal soul.
When confronted with someone who is struggling or in crisis...
Don't let your voice sound like hot coffee, more like a scented pillow.
...try to provide comfort and empathy rather than harshness or indifference.
And strive for understanding over being understood.
In relationships or conversations, focus on listening and empathizing with others rather than simply seeking validation.
Just don't let yourself forget when the times get good. When times get good. When times get good.
Remember the struggles and hardships you faced during harder times, and don't take current blessings or successes for granted.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind