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.
Singularity
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How to gather and analyze
Nothing is living if nothing dies
What an exception to make
Roundly rejecting our faith
When singularity comes
We will be fully revealed
Wandering limitless fields
When singularity comes
We will be abstraction then
We will buried within
All will be balanced
We will be one
Now we're on our way
All of our instincts accelerate
Nothing you imagine could keep this pace
We will know freedom at last
Finally make up for the past
When singularity comes
We will be faster than light
Whistling, skipping through time
When singularity comes
We will be children again
We will be cradled within
We will be perfect
We will be one
When singularity comes
Living in one mind
Every pin drop is amplified
Every outcome before its tried
Will make a rag doll of God
Wind up our new music box
When singularity comes
We will be fully revealed
Wandering limitless fields
When singularity comes
We'll be completely awake
Neophyte make no mistake
We're in this together
We will be one
When singularity comes
When singularity comes
The lyrics to Bright Eyes’s song Singularity are a reflection of the complex and ever-changing world we inhabit. Conor Oberst, the lead vocalist and main songwriter of the band, uses the concept of singularity to describe a moment in the future when humans will merge with technology, and they will become one entity. The song speaks about the excitement and fear that comes with this impending moment, as well as the promise of freedom and unity that could result from it.
The opening lines, "Learning on the fly, how to gather and analyze, nothing is living if nothing dies, what an exception to make," reflect the constant state of change and learning that comes with living in a world where technology rapidly evolves. The acceptance of death is considered an exception, as the pursuit of immortality is a central theme in modern society. The chorus, "When singularity comes, we will be fully revealed, wandering limitless fields," paints a picture of a future that is both limitless and undefined. It suggests the possibility of a utopian existence where humans will be free to explore the boundless space that technology could create.
The song also speaks about the idea of balance and unity that could come from the singularity. The lines, "All will be balanced, we will be one," suggest that the merging of humans and technology could create a world where everything is connected and harmonious. The final verse, "Living in one mind, every pin drop is amplified, every outcome before it’s tried, will make a rag doll of God, wind up our new music box," further emphasizes this unity by explaining how every action will have a ripple effect and shape the future.
Overall, Singularity is a thought-provoking and insightful commentary on the future of humanity and the role of technology in shaping our world.
Line by Line Meaning
Learning on the fly
We are constantly adapting and figuring things out as we go along
How to gather and analyze
We are learning how to collect and study information
Nothing is living if nothing dies
Death is what gives life purpose and meaning
What an exception to make
This concept goes against the norm and is unusual
Roundly rejecting our faith
We are questioning and pushing back against our beliefs
When singularity comes
Referring to a hypothetical moment when technology and humanity merge to create a new era
We will be fully revealed
All will be made known and transparent
Wandering limitless fields
Exploring without boundaries or limits
We will be abstraction then
Our physical form will no longer be necessary and we will exist in a more abstract state
We will buried within
We will be deeply embedded and connected with everything else around us
All will be balanced
Harmony will be achieved and maintained
We will be one
Unified and indivisible
Now we're on our way
We are making progress and moving forward
All of our instincts accelerate
Our natural inclinations and desires are gaining more momentum
Nothing you imagine could keep this pace
No thought or idea could keep up with the speed of our progress and development
We will know freedom at last
We will achieve true and complete autonomy
Finally make up for the past
We will rectify past mistakes and injustices
We will be faster than light
We will surpass even the fastest and most elusive natural phenomenon
Whistling, skipping through time
We will move through time with ease and joy
We will be children again
We will regain a sense of innocence and joy like that of a child
We will be cradled within
We will be held and protected by something greater than ourselves
We will be perfect
We will be flawless in our nature and existence
Living in one mind
We will share a collective consciousness
Every pin drop is amplified
Even the smallest thing can have a significant impact
Every outcome before its tried
The results of any action are already predetermined or predictable
Will make a rag doll of God
Our power and influence will supersede that of traditional religious beliefs
Wind up our new music box
We are preparing for a new era and a new way of being
We'll be completely awake
We will be fully conscious and aware of our surroundings
Neophyte make no mistake
We are beginners, but this is not an error or miscalculation
We're in this together
We are all connected and working towards a common goal
We will be one
Unified and indivisible
When singularity comes
Referring to a hypothetical moment when technology and humanity merge to create a new era
When singularity comes
Referring to a hypothetical moment when technology and humanity merge to create a new era
Contributed by Benjamin O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RevenantEternal
This is possibly the best composition of music I have ever heard.
Dr. Doctor Lee
surely heard something better yet...
after 8 years
Loki Laufeyson
Ugh there is so much to take from this song. It really is a masterpiece. Thank you for posting this!
god i love rab track number 4
i found this song like a year ago and now i realized i havent commented on how much i love this song yet, so naturally i needed to fix that
Savannah Jackson
One of my all-time BE favorites.
Andrew Sisk
I think this song might be sold only as a single. If it is on an album, the album is 'The People's Key', but, the song is not on the track list of the album so it may not be on there. I love this song. It always makes me happy. I'll just treat it as a single piece.
Dulgrim Grudgebearer
it's a bonus track for the deluxe edition of the people's key not an EP
Celine Gil
Brilliant song
ilikejamesbrown
took me a minute just like every conor song. now i cant help but sing along
sonnerrlovesyou
awesome. Thanks for posting!