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.
Persona Non Grata
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put on blue aftershave
Wore a kilt like a Celt
Hid the way that I felt
Combat boots, falling leaves
West village Halloween
To a Bollywood song
Taking shots 'til we're gone
Persona non grata
I'm the last of the best
I'm your thoughts
In the swamp
There's a playground of children
In the shadows of buildings
There's a line out the church
Where your homelessness works
Where your stain glass and crimson
Meets Ezekiel's visions
Saw a valley of bones
Where no man shall be saved
And now you
You come to me
Asking that
And now you
You come to me
And you're asking that
Oh how can we reconcile?
Left your innocence there
In Tienanmen square
You were filled with despair
Underfed and depressed
Vacant lot
Where a prison stood
God knows you never would
Lie to yourself
But you do every time
Made a life of deception
And passive aggression
I'm gonna scream when I sing
I'm gonna die in the rain
Turn me on you're a knock out
Climb up on my cloud
Do your worst to me now
Before I change my mind
And now you
You want to be true
To me once again
And you want me to be true
To you, once again
Oh yeah, you
You want to be true
To me, once again
And you want me to be true
To you once again
Getting dressed for a date
Preparing oneself for a romantic encounter
Put on blue aftershave
Applied a scented product to enhance one's appearance
Wore a kilt like a Celt
Sporting traditional Scottish attire to express cultural heritage
Hid the way that I felt
Concealing one's true emotions
Combat boots, falling leaves
Symbolizing resilience and the changing seasons
West village Halloween
Participating in the festive atmosphere of a specific neighborhood during Halloween
To a Bollywood song
Dancing or engaging with Indian culture through its vibrant film industry
Taking shots 'til we're gone
Drinking alcohol excessively until intoxicated
And we're gone in the autumn
Feeling disconnected or lost during the fall season
Persona non grata
Being regarded as unwelcome or undesirable
I'm the last of the best
Considering oneself as the final representation of something exceptional
I'm your thoughts
Serving as the embodiment of someone's innermost musings
In the swamp
Existing in a challenging or unpleasant environment
There's a playground of children
An area where innocent and carefree activities take place
In the shadows of buildings
Within the hidden corners or unnoticed spaces created by structures
There's a line out the church
A queue of people seeking help or support from religious institutions
Where your homelessness works
The circumstances where being without a permanent residence affects one's life
Where your stain glass and crimson
Referencing the vibrant colors found in religious stained glass windows
Meets Ezekiel's visions
Connecting a biblical reference to the situation at hand
Saw a valley of bones
Encountering a bleak and lifeless landscape
Where no man shall be saved
A place where rescue or redemption seems impossible
And now you
Referring to the current situation involving the listener
You come to me
Approaching the singer for communication or assistance
Asking that
Expressing a specific request or seeking clarification
Oh how can we reconcile?
Questioning the possibility of resolving a conflict or restoring harmony
Left your innocence there
Leaving behind a state of purity or naivety
In Tienanmen square
Referring to a location associated with political protests and subsequent violence
You were filled with despair
Overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness or despondency
Underfed and depressed
Experiencing malnourishment and deep sadness
Vacant lot
An empty space devoid of activity or purpose
Where a prison stood
A previously oppressive or confining environment has been removed
God knows you never would
Acknowledging that the listener would not deceive themselves
Lie to yourself
Not being truthful with oneself
But you do every time
Contrasting the listener's actions with their intentions
Made a life of deception
Creating a lifestyle centered around dishonesty
And passive aggression
Displaying covert hostility and resentment
I'm gonna scream when I sing
Expressing intense emotions and passion during musical performances
I'm gonna die in the rain
Facing a metaphorical demise while experiencing emotional turmoil
Turn me on, you're a knock out
Being attracted and enthralled by someone's captivating presence
Climb up on my cloud
Joining the artist in their imaginative or elevated state
Do your worst to me now
Challenging the listener to inflict their maximum harm or negativity
Before I change my mind
Taking action quickly before altering one's decision or perspective
And now you
Referring to the current situation involving the listener
You want to be true
Desiring authenticity or sincerity
To me once again
Aiming to restore a genuine connection or relationship
And you want me to be true
Expecting the artist to reciprocate the desired honesty
To you, once again
Returning the trust and loyalty as requested
Oh yeah, you
Expressing acknowledgment or agreement with the listener
You want to be true
Desiring authenticity or sincerity
To me, once again
Aiming to restore a genuine connection or relationship
And you want me to be true
Expecting the singer to reciprocate the desired honesty
To you once again
Returning the trust and loyalty as requested
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Conor Oberst
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alexander Langolf
I'm grateful that Bright Eyes accompanies me throughout my life. We're growing old together and there is a feeling of connectedness that will never be matched by anything else.
constantcompramise
@ClvrSwine who hurt you?
skeletons that fit
truly.
Tammy Keck
I hope will be here in 2021 I just discovered your music thank you
Raylee Irvine
Beautifully said
Sinn Sage
ditto
Corrie Van Mynen
This is way more bright eyes than I thought it was gonna be.
Robert Lopez
Haha yeah
Andrew K.
@Dana Hallengren yeah I suppose I see what you mean!
Dana Hallengren
@Andrew K. This song reminds me of something vague, the lyrics are sung in a similar pattern, the way it builds up is similar, and some of the instrumentation is as well. This is a bit faster though