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.
North of the City
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
reach out and touch you and the dark of the
back row this is a place where young lovers go
when they want to be alone perfection has never
crossed my lips but is there anyway to describe it
when two movie stars kiss. there is magic in the
air... there's magic in the air. there's magic in the air
dreaming of days long ago and their lonely, lonely
theater where tragic movies play, he didn't find out
that he loved her till she finally gone away
but they know that nothing lasts forever we should
be grateful for the time we have together.
is that enough to keep me from crying
is that enough to keep me from lying
The lyrics of "North of the City" express a mix of nostalgia, sadness and beauty, as the singer reminisces about an idyllic location, whose atmosphere is enhanced by the presence of the silver screen and the sparks of romance between two movie stars. The opening stanza paints a picture of distance and unrequited longing, as the singer feels "miles above" the person they address, separated by not only physical distance, but also by the screen that mediates their interaction. However, the singer also experiences a sort of vicarious intimacy by watching on the "dark of the back row" as two icons of fame and desire kiss, creating a sense of magic that pervades the air.
The second stanza shifts the focus of the song to a quieter, lonelier place "north of the city", where the singer finds solace in the memories of a bygone era, when they used to visit a theater that played "tragic movies" that mirrored the singer's own melancholy. The reference to a love story that was only realized belatedly, after one of the lovers had already left, adds another layer of poignancy to the song, underscoring the theme of missed opportunities and fleeting happiness. Yet, despite the inevitable transience of life and love, the singer tries to find comfort in the thought that we should cherish the moments we have together, even if they are tinged with sadness and unfulfilled desires.
Overall, "North of the City" can be read as a meditation on the power of memory and imagination to infuse the present with the hues of the past and the dreams of the future, and on the bittersweet beauty of the human longing for connection and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
feel blue, miles above you the silver screen
Feeling a sense of loneliness and distance from reality while watching movies on a big screen
reach out and touch you and the dark of the back row
The desire to connect and feel close to someone while in a secluded, intimate part of a movie theater
this is a place where young lovers go when they want to be alone
The dark, back row of the movie theater is a popular place for young couples to find privacy and intimacy
perfection has never crossed my lips but is there anyway to describe it
Acknowledging that true perfection is unattainable, but there are moments that feel close to it, such as watching two movie stars share a kiss
when two movie stars kiss. there is magic in the air... there's magic in the air. there's magic in the air
Describing the feeling of enchantment and awe that can be felt when witnessing a romantic moment on screen
north of the city, on the quiet, quiet road, i find myself dreaming of days long ago and their lonely, lonely theater
Reflecting on memories of a lonely theater, possibly one that is no longer around, while traveling on a quiet road outside of the city
where tragic movies play, he didn't find out that he loved her till she finally gone away
Recalling a bittersweet memory of realizing love too late, after someone has already left
but they know that nothing lasts forever we should be grateful for the time we have together.
Acknowledging the impermanence of life and relationships and the importance of cherishing the moments we have with loved ones
is that enough to keep me from crying
Questioning whether the acceptance of impermanence and gratitude for life's moments is enough to keep from feeling sadness and pain
is that enough to keep me from lying
Questioning whether the same acceptance and gratitude can keep from feeling the need to avoid or hide the truth
Contributed by Lila P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Safiya Alexandra
I love this song so much. Thanks for posting
JordanJParsons
Haha at 3:12. He squealed. I still love Bright Eyes.