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.
No One Would Riot for Less
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or in a holy wall of fire
In the breath between the markers
On a black I-80 mile
from the madness of the governments
To the vengeance of the sea
Yeah everything is eclipsed
so love me now, hell is coming
Yeah kiss my mouth, hell is here
little soldier, little insect
You know war it has no heart
It will kill you in the sunshine
Or happily in the dark
where kindness is a card game
And a bent up cigarette
In the trenches, in the hard rain
With a bullet and a bet
he says help me out, yeah, hell is coming
Could you do it now? hell is here
see the sterile soil pours in the sky
Dirty water final scraps of light
Bring a new tear
so wake, baby, wake
But leave that blanket round you
There's nothing as safe
I'm leaving this place
There is nothing I'm planning to take
Just you, just you
The Bright Eyes song "No One Would Riot for Less" is a poignant commentary on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death, set against the backdrop of a world in chaos. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, introducing the theme of death and the uncertainty of its arrival. The imagery of a "holy wall of fire" and the "black I-80 mile" add a sense of foreboding and danger to the lyrics.
The following lines describe the world in turmoil, from the madness of governments to the unrelenting power of the sea. The concept of destiny is introduced, suggesting that all of humanity's struggles are ultimately futile in the face of a predetermined fate. The chorus urges the listener to love and be loved in the present, as hell may be coming at any moment.
The verses that follow describe the horrors of war, where even acts of kindness are reduced to mere card games and cigarettes. The soldier is likened to an insect, disposable in the face of the soulless violence of war. The second chorus reiterates the urgency of cherishing love in the face of an uncertain future.
The final section of the song shifts to a more apocalyptic tone, with descriptions of a world in decay and twisted remnants of light. The final lines of the song convey a sense of resignation and acceptance, with the singer leaving everything behind except for the person they love.
Overall, "No One Would Riot for Less" is a haunting reflection on the human condition, offering no solace or escape from the inevitability of death and destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Well death may come invisible
Death can come unexpectedly and silently
Or in a holy wall of fire
Or it can come in a destructive and catastrophic manner
In the breath between the markers
In that brief moment between life and death
On a black I-80 mile
On a dark stretch of road, possibly symbolic of a journey towards death
from the madness of the governments
Beginning of a list of things that can lead to chaos and destruction
To the vengeance of the sea
The destructive power of nature
Yeah everything is eclipsed
All these things overshadow other aspects of life
By the shape of destiny
All these things are ultimately determined by destiny
so love me now, hell is coming
Embrace the present before the inevitable chaos ensues
Yeah kiss my mouth, hell is here
Chaos has arrived and it's time to face it head on
little soldier, little insect
People are insignificant in the grand scheme of things
You know war it has no heart
War is not guided by compassion or empathy
It will kill you in the sunshine
War can ambush you at any moment, regardless of the circumstances
Or happily in the dark
War can take your life in any circumstances, and doesn't discriminate
where kindness is a card game
When everything is chaos, even showing kindness becomes a calculated action
And a bent up cigarette
A small pleasure in a world of destruction
In the trenches, in the hard rain
This could be a literal reference to war, or a metaphorical description of grim circumstances
With a bullet and a bet
Risking one's life with the possibility of not gaining anything in return
he says help me out, yeah, hell is coming
As chaos approaches, we all need to band together to face it
Could you do it now? hell is here
It's time to act and confront the chaos that has arrived
see the sterile soil pours in the sky
There is a sense of hopelessness in the world
Dirty water final scraps of light
Very little good remains
Bring a new tear
Brings forth emotions of sadness or despair
so wake, baby, wake
A call to reality, urging the listener to awaken to what is happening around them
But leave that blanket round you
Despite the chaos, you can still hold onto a sense of comfort and protection
There's nothing as safe
Safety is an illusion and nothing can truly protect you from the chaos of the world
I'm leaving this place
The singer is moving on from this world, perhaps leaving behind the chaos
There is nothing I'm planning to take
There is nothing material that holds any value
Just you, just you
The only thing that truly matters is the loved one beside them
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONOR OBERST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
NathFilms
Would listen to this in 2008 when I didn’t want to live anymore, 2019 I’m still here alive, memories of a bad time in my life when I listen to this song, glad I never gave up on life, wish 20 year old me could see 31 year old me being happy
clay4444
crazy im 31 and would listen to this not knowing where I fit in life. I was also 20. Maybe we listened to this at the same time. Im doing much better now.
Rachel Rathman
well i first heard this in highschool, & now i’m 24 & i am proud of my resilience. i am happy to hear about your experience as well
P. Wynn Markstall
I'm so glad you're still here
Jacob Orwin
Im in the same boat minus the resolution never came; borderline suicidal for a decade but hey im still here. Bright eyes helps make this world bearable. If my 20 year old me could see the future, I prolly would have done it. wooo
Teresa S.
The 20 year old is still in you;). Glad you made it🔮.
Kris Ekman
Absolutely beautiful. Painful, perfect. Even in a world crumbling, be in the moment. Love is literally the answer to everything and all, even if we have to be the ash that grows our new generation, so long its built on love.
XxIndividualxX
The drop around 3:38 ALWAYS sends chills down my spine. Bright Eyes never fails to induce intense feelings like that
Knightscroft Squire-Muldoon
For real!
Robert Miller
Saw him play this live last week. Wish I could go back.