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.
Soon You Will Be Leaving Your Man
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Don't get so worked up" you'd say, but on the back deck you admit
That you haven't felt much like laughing lately anyway
And so I say, that could change
I noticed how you waste no time making your way across the room
You leave a wake of tongues still waving after you
And it isn't no coincidence where you finally choose to stand
It's a sweet smile and then a denial
Hey, you are just trying to be nice
But there is a meaning to every fleeting action you unconsciously decide
The clocks, they chime, now it's time
I know you try and play it cool but there are some thoughts
You just can't hide, only in your closest friends do you confide
The way you say you'll be seeing me, oh, like it's so offhand
I guess soon you will be leaving your man
You stare at me so boldly now, you have no lack of confidence
It's just those lessons on subtlety you missed
I know you dream of saving me like I'm some plane that you could land
But when you fly you'll be leaving your man
The lyrics of Bright Eyes’ song “Soon You Will Be Leaving Your Man” describe a situation where the singer has noticed that the woman he desires is unhappy with her current partner. The man she is with is insecure and gets mad at things she laughs at, while she admits that she hasn’t felt like laughing lately. The singer observes how she wastes no time making her way across the room, leaving a wake of tongues still waving after her, and how she unconsciously chooses where to stand. He knows that she is trying to play it cool but there are some thoughts that she just can’t hide, and only in her closest friends does she confide. She tells the singer that she’ll be seeing him, but she says it so offhand that he knows she’ll be leaving her man soon.
The lyrics are filled with metaphors and allegories that portray the woman’s feeling and the singer’s perception of them. For example, the clocks chime, indicating that time is running out for her to make a decision. The woman’s dream of saving the singer like he is some plane that she could land reveals her desire to be with him.
Overall, the lyrics of “Soon You Will Be Leaving Your Man” paint a picture of a woman who feels trapped in her current relationship and is looking for a way out. The singer is there for her, offering her love and support, but ultimately he knows that she must make the decision to leave her man on her own.
Line by Line Meaning
He always gets so mad things you laugh at
You find his temper unreasonable and childish, unable to take a joke.
"Don't get so worked up" you'd say, but on the back deck you admit
You try to placate him, but privately you acknowledge how exhausting it is to deal with his anger.
That you haven't felt much like laughing lately anyway
His behavior has caused you to lose your sense of humor and joy in life.
And so I say, that could change
As your friend, I offer hope that things could improve with time.
I noticed how you waste no time making your way across the room
You move with purpose, drawing attention and leaving an impression wherever you go.
You leave a wake of tongues still waving after you
People can't help but talk about you after you've passed by, wondering who you are and what you're about.
And it isn't no coincidence where you finally choose to stand
You strategically position yourself in a way that maximizes your impact and influence.
I guess soon you will be leaving your man
Your behavior suggests that you're considering leaving your current partner.
It's a sweet smile and then a denial
You often use a charming facade to deflect attention or criticism.
Hey, you are just trying to be nice
You don't want to come across as rude or unapproachable, even if you're not interested in the other person.
But there is a meaning to every fleeting action you unconsciously decide
Your actions, even if done on impulse, have deeper intentions behind them.
The clocks, they chime, now it's time
The timing of events seems to be aligning in a way that suggests change is imminent.
I know you try and play it cool but there are some thoughts
You attempt to hide your true feelings about things, but they still slip out in unguarded moments.
You just can't hide, only in your closest friends do you confide
Your true self is only visible to those you trust the most and feel comfortable around.
The way you say you'll be seeing me, oh, like it's so offhand
You invite me to spend time with you in a casual manner, but I sense that there's something more significant behind it.
I guess soon you will be leaving your man
Your actions suggest that you're contemplating leaving your current partner and pursuing something new.
You stare at me so boldly now, you have no lack of confidence
You look at me directly and with purpose, displaying a confidence and assertiveness that's attractive and intriguing.
It's just those lessons on subtlety you missed
You sometimes lack finesse or tact when it comes to expressing yourself or dealing with others.
I know you dream of saving me like I'm some plane that you could land
You have a desire to rescue or fix others, including me, as if we're helpless or in need of your guidance.
But when you fly you'll be leaving your man
You can't help others until you've taken care of yourself first, starting with making the necessary changes in your own life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OBERST, Conor Oberst
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind