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.
Seashell Tale
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's go place some money on the order of the horses
Break the ribbon of that famous finish line
And we'll gather up our stash babe
Find a little ranch baby and buy a lonely little pony to ride
Well I know I was lucky when the needle came and stuck me
So let me finish what I start babe open up your heart babe
I saw a land of milk and honey in your mind
Our flesh and blood has found me in your arms again
See the whisper of the wind has found your hair again
And though my heart said give me refuge in you dignity my dear
All I could do was put a seashell to your ear
Our flesh and blood has found me in your arms again
I see the whisper of the wind has found your hair again
And though my heart said give me refuge in your dignity my dear
All I could do was put a seashell to your ear
The lyrics to Bright Eyes's song Seashell Tale tell a story of longing and escapism. It starts with the singer suggesting that they go place some money on the order of the horses, break the ribbon of a famous finish line, gather up their stash, and buy a lonely little pony to ride. This serves as an indication of the singer's desire to escape from their mundane life and the reality of their situations. The singer expresses their need for something special and new, something that could take them away from where they are now. The next verse sees the singer alluding to their past misfortunes but stating that they were lucky when the needle came and stuck them. The singer, in a way, acknowledges that past experiences may have hurt them but that it makes them who they are today. They finish the verse by asking the person they are singing to open up their heart, saying that they saw a land of milk and honey in their mind. Here, the singer seems to imply that their partner's affection is something that they find solace in and perhaps even as a route to escapism.
The chorus has the singer telling their partner that their flesh and blood has found them in their arms again. This line shows the deep connection the two share and how being in each other's company is vital to them. The singer uses imagery to describe how the wind has found their partner's hair again, indicating that they have had to wait for the right moment to be together. The singer reveals their inner conflicts by saying that their heart wants refuge in their partner's dignity but, in reality, all they can do is put a seashell to their ear. This could mean that even though the singer needs their partner's dignity, they are not sure if they can offer the same in return. Hence, all they can do is listen and try to communicate through a seashell. Overall, the lyrics of Seashell Tale convey a desire for something beyond the norm and the comfort that love and affection can provide, even if it is just through a seashell.
Line by Line Meaning
Two three four
Just a count-off before the song begins
Let's go place some money on the order of the horses
Let's make a bet on horse racing
Break the ribbon of that famous finish line
Let's win the race
And we'll gather up our stash babe
Let's collect our winnings
Find a little ranch baby and buy a lonely little pony to ride
We can afford to buy ourselves a little house with land and horses now
Well I know I was lucky when the needle came and stuck me
I feel fortunate despite experiencing hardship
This porcupine came and poked my cactus hide
I've had some painful experiences recently
So let me finish what I start babe open up your heart babe
Let me explain myself and present my true intentions
I saw a land of milk and honey in your mind
I believe you have great aspirations and dreams
Our flesh and blood has found me in your arms again
We've reunited and our love is strong
See the whisper of the wind has found your hair again
You look beautiful and peaceful
And though my heart said give me refuge in your dignity my dear
Despite wanting to lean on you for support, I also value your independence
All I could do was put a seashell to your ear
I couldn't express everything I wanted to in words, so I gave you a seashell to listen to the sound of the ocean and feel my love
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Matthew Stephen Ward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AustFisch
beautiful song, I love bright eyes, conor is the best songwriter of my generation, easily.
Lou Radie
M. Ward's version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4TanQYErf4
fershologram
For some reason this song makes me get teary, goshh I love his music
Fairycwakes
Im learning this on guitar and the first time my teacher played it for me, i cries
Billy Roberts
Such a good cover.
Princess Balloon
This gives me peace
Jacob Sproul
so let's just say open up your heart babe. No one listens to this and I suppose that's okay. let your heart give you refuge. I'll find you in my arms again. Have you ever heard the ocean?
justin
hope anyone who’s listening to this rn is all good 💓
Salad Salad
all i could do was put a seashell to your ear
CannibalMoth848 Day Z
Forever Josephine's song so.long ago gone. Never forgotten