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.
Road to Joy
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flowers sleeping in their beds
The city's cemeteries humming
I'm wide awake, it's morning
I have my drugs, I have my woman
They keep away my loneliness
My parents they have their religion
I read the body count out of the paper
And now its written all over my face
No one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter
Sometimes that's just the most comfortable place
So I'm drinking, breathing, writing, singing
Everyday I'm on the clock
My mind races with all my longings
But can't keep up with what I got
So I hope I don't sound too ungrateful
What history gave modern man
A telephone to talk to strangers
Machine guns and a camera lens
So when you're asked to fight a war that's over nothing
It's best to join the side that's gonna win
And no one knows how all of this started
But we're gonna make them certain how it's gonna end
Oh yeah we will
Well I could have been a famous singer
If I had someone else's voice
But failure's always sounded better
Let's fuck it up boys, make some noise
The sun came up with no conclusions
Flowers sleeping in their beds
The city's cemeteries humming
I'm wide awake, it's morning
Bright Eyes’ song “Road to Joy” is a powerful and insightful reflection on the struggles of life and the human condition. The opening lines set the stage for the rest of the song, describing a world that is uncertain and fraught with danger. The sun rises without any clear answers or solutions, and even the flowers are silent in their sleep. Meanwhile, the city’s cemeteries hum with the energy of those who have passed on.
From there, the verse continues by exploring the ways in which people cope with the harsh realities of life. For the singer, drugs and a woman form the foundation of his life, keeping his loneliness at bay. His parents have religion, but they no longer share a home, which suggests that even religion cannot keep families together.
The verse then takes a darker turn as the singer reads about the body count in the paper. The futility of war and violence is apparent, and the singer recognizes that sometimes it is better to be in the gutter than to be caught up in someone else’s war. Despite all this, he continues to create art, writing, singing, and playing, realizing that sometimes the creative process is the only thing that keeps us going.
Overall, “Road to Joy” is a song that explores the complexities of the human experience. The lyrics are poignant and thought-provoking, and the music is powerful and emotive. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest moments of our lives, there is still beauty to be found.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun came up with no conclusions
Another day has begun without any answers or solutions to life's big questions.
Flowers sleeping in their beds
Nature is at rest, unaffected by human life.
The city's cemeteries humming
Even the dead have a presence in the bustling city.
I'm wide awake, it's morning
Despite the world's troubles, the artist is alert and present in the moment.
I have my drugs, I have my woman
The artist seeks refuge in substances and a relationship to combat their loneliness.
They keep away my loneliness
Drugs and a significant other serve as a distraction from the singer's isolation, but cannot completely eliminate their pain.
My parents they have their religion
The singer's parents find solace in their faith.
But sleep in separate houses
The artist's parents do not have a strong connection or relationship.
I read the body count out of the paper
The media constantly reports on death and destruction.
And now its written all over my face
The artist is affected deeply by the tragedy they read about, as shown through their expression.
No one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter
Despite best-laid plans, sometimes things take a turn for the worse.
Sometimes that's just the most comfortable place
In hardship, the artist has found a strange sense of ease or familiarity.
So I'm drinking, breathing, writing, singing
The singer engages in creative outlets to cope with their emotions.
Everyday I'm on the clock
Despite their struggles, the singer must continue living and facing the day.
My mind races with all my longings
The singer has many desires and wishes, yet struggles to reconcile them with reality.
But can't keep up with what I've got
Despite feeling unfulfilled, the artist acknowledges that they have some things to be grateful for.
So I hope I don't sound too ungrateful
The artist feels guilty expressing discontent, as others have it worse.
What history gave modern man
Humanity's advancements over time.
A telephone to talk to strangers
One of the many aspects of the modern world that fosters connection and communication.
Machine guns and a camera lens
Inventions that can be used for both violence and documentation.
So when you're asked to fight a war that's over nothing
War without clear purpose or goals is not worth fighting.
It's best to join the side that's gonna win
In times of uncertainty, people may choose to align with whoever has the greatest chance of succeeding.
And no one knows how all of this started
The origins of conflict and unrest are often murky.
But we're gonna make them certain how it's gonna end
Despite uncertainty, the artist and others are determined to create a conclusion to the ongoing struggle.
Well I could have been a famous singer
The singer muses on what could have been.
If I had someone else's voice
The singer is aware that certain qualities or opportunities could have changed their life.
But failure's always sounded better
Rather than wonder about what could have been, the singer has found a sense of acceptance and even comfort in the face of failure.
Let's fuck it up boys, make some noise
Embracing imperfection and accepting one's flaws is empowering and perhaps even joyful.
The sun came up with no conclusions
The day continues without answers or resolution to life's biggest questions.
Flowers sleeping in their beds
Nature remains unaffected, undisturbed by human life and its many troubles.
The city's cemeteries humming
Even the dead have a presence in the energetic, sprawling urban landscape.
I'm wide awake, it's morning
Despite everything, the artist is still present and alert in the moment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONOR OBERST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tomascontreras4949
Lyrics
The sun came up with no conclusions
Flowers sleeping in their beds
The city's cemetery's humming
I'm wide awake, it's morning.
I have my drugs, I have my women
They keep away my loneliness
My parents, they have their religion
But sleep in separate houses
I read the body count out of the paper
And now it's written all over my face
No one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter
Sometimes that's just the most comfortable place.
So I'm drinking, breathing, writing, singing
Every day I'm on the clock
My mind races with all my longings
But can't keep up with what I've got
And so I hope I don't sound too ungrateful
What history gave modern man
A telephone to talk to strangers
Machine guns and a camera lens
So when you're asked to fight a war that's over nothing
It's best to join the side that's gonna win
And no one's sure how all of this got started
But we're gonna make them goddamn certain how it's gonna end
Oh yeah, we will,
Oh yeah, we will!
So I could have been a famous singer
If I had someone else's voice
But failure's always sounded better
Let's fuck it up, boys
MAKE SOME NOISE!!!
The sun came up with no conclusion,
Flowers sleeping in their beds,
The city's cemetery's humming,
I'M WIDE AWAKE, IT'S MORNING!
@AW-ez7zn
The sun came up with no conclusion
Flowers sleeping in their beds
This city's cemetery's humming
I’m wide-awake, it’s morning
I have my drugs, I have my woman
They keep away my loneliness
My parents they have their religion
But sleep in separate houses
I read the body count out of the paper
And now it’s written all over my face
No one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter
Sometimes that’s just the most comfortable place
So I’m drinking, breathing, writing, singing
Everyday I'm on the clock
My mind races with all my longings
But can't keep up with what I got
I hope I don’t sound too ungrateful
What history gave modern man
A telephone to talk to strangers
Machine guns and a camera lens
So when you’re asked to fight a war that’s over nothing
It’s best to join the side that’s gonna win
And no one’s sure how all of this got started
But we’re gonna make them goddam certain how its gonna end
Oh ya we will, oh ya we will!
Well I could have been a famous singer
If I had someone else’s voice
But failure’s always sounded better
Lets fuck it up boys, make some noise!
The sun came up with no conclusion
Flowers sleeping in their beds
This city's cemetery's humming
I’m wide awake, it’s morning
@theshewolf7932
"Well i could have been a famous singer if i had someone else's voice". Same.
@toxicchipmunk134
No one ever plans to sleep out gutter. Sometimes that's just the most comfortable place.
That line is just so relatable and lovely. 💗💗💖
@suecountryman3227
I thought he said "most convivial place". that's just a little darker
@shelbyrenicker1223
Especially in the winter time. It's not fun
@cr112784
VERY
@gianbaez2522
Yeah being homeless for 2 years in snow and desert heat makes you extremely grateful for the little things some take for granted
@1408Phantom
I'm actually floored that so many people see this as a lovely thought. How is having no better place to lay your head than a gutter a lovely thing? It sounds like about the lowest, most hopeless situation one could be in
@afortunatti
Elliott Smith and Connor make me believe that folk can be punk at the same time
@ron8256
Yes
@jriley8383
Listen to some Celtic, Gaelic, (whatever) fight songs. Those are definitely an origin for punk