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.
Spent on Rainy Day
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause they're the hardest to stay dry
Got no self control
I'm always beggin' into telephones
And then I
I bought a little from my brother's friend
Yeah, well just to get me by
I don't trust his cut
I think I'll print it in the personals
That I'm looking for a match
Someone to light me up
Someone to burn the proof of the things that I've done
Each day there's hours
skip like a stone
I just crawl in a bag
I'm gonna live my life like somebody's shadow
I know I'm lazy with the little things
I mean I never held a door
But I still loved you more
Then anyone; Since or before
You're always saying that I owe you one
Well lets consolidate this debt
Get on a payment plan
I'll pay compliments, you can still treat me bad
But, now this isn't getting easier
to leave you and this town behind
I'll do some travelin'
Once I'm gone tell all our friend you've got even
I felt like an object, been set aside
You know, I'm back on the shelve
Not locked in the drawer
I'm mint in the box
But you'd still sell me for cost
Pull out a parachute
A blanket on top of you
The window you're looking through
Pull out a parachute
Pull out a parachute
In Bright Eyes's song Spent on Rainy Days, the lyricist speaks to the hardships of addiction, particularly drug addiction. The opening lines express the wish that the singer had saved some of their drug supply for rainy days because those are the hardest to stay sober during. This sentiment is echoed later in the song when the singer describes skipping through days like a stone, crawling into a bag and living life like somebody's shadow. These lines all speak to the feeling of being numb and disconnected, particularly when it comes to dealing with the difficulties of day-to-day life.
The song also touches on the addictive nature of drug use, particularly the sense of wanting more once you have a taste. The singer describes buying some drugs from their brother's friend just to get through and how they don't trust the quality of the drugs. This feeling of wanting more is reinforced when the singer talks about how they're always begging others on the phone, searching for a way to get their fix. The lyrics "I think I'll print it in the personals / That I'm looking for a match / Someone to light me up / Someone to burn the proof of the things that I've done" are particularly evocative of this idea of wanting to erase one's past and start fresh with the help of drugs.
Overall, Spent on Rainy Days is a powerful song that speaks to the struggles of drug addiction and the desire to escape from oneself. The lyrics are poignant and evocative, and Bright Eyes's signature acoustic sound serves as a beautiful backdrop to the despair and longing that is woven throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I saved it for rainy days
I wish I had saved my resources for hard times
'Cause they're the hardest to stay dry
Because when it's raining it's difficult to avoid getting wet
Got no self control
I lack self discipline
I'm always beggin' into telephones
I often ask for things from others via phone
And then I
Afterwards
I bought a little from my brother's friend
I purchased something from my sibling's acquaintance
Yeah, well just to get me by
Just enough to get through
I don't trust his cut
I don't trust the quality of what I bought
The effect's never as high as the markup
The results never justify the price
I think I'll print it in the personals
I'm considering advertising my needs
That I'm looking for a match
That I'm seeking someone who complements me
Someone to light me up
Someone who brings me joy
Someone to burn the proof of the things that I've done
Someone who helps me forget my past mistakes
Each day there's hours
Each day has many hours
skip like a stone
Which pass quickly
I just crawl in a bag
I retreat into myself
I'm gonna live my life like somebody's shadow
I'm planning to take a passive role in my own existence
I know I'm lazy with the little things
I'm aware that I'm irresponsible with minor tasks
I mean I never held a door
I've never been chivalrous
But I still loved you more
But I cherished you regardless
Then anyone; Since or before
More than anyone ever has
You're always saying that I owe you one
You frequently accuse me of being indebted to you
Well lets consolidate this debt
Let's reconcile this disagreement
Get on a payment plan
Create a payment arrangement
I'll pay compliments, you can still treat me bad
I'll be kind to you even if you mistreat me
But, now this isn't getting easier
However, it's not improving
to leave you and this town behind
To abandon you and this location
I'll do some travelin'
I'll go on some trips
Once I'm gone tell all our friend you've got even
After I depart, tell our friends that we're even
I felt like an object, been set aside
I felt like a castaway in our relationship
You know, I'm back on the shelve
You know, that's how I feel now
Not locked in the drawer
Not forgotten or ignored
I'm mint in the box
I'm in perfect condition
But you'd still sell me for cost
You'd still dispose of me for a cheap price
Pull out a parachute
Use a safety net
A blanket on top of you
A cover to keep you warm
The window you're looking through
The way you're viewing the world
Pull out a parachute
Use a safety net
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DANIEL, OBERST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anthony Martin
Just heard this for the first time two days ago. Speaks to me on so many levels. Literally raining the day I listened, starting to get dope sick. It's an amazing song, so glad my buddy showed it to me. Love you Moe.
Walker Goff
Who still listening in 2022? This song is raw. Conor is still one of the best lyricists to do it.
275percent
This has kind of the same sound as Cartoon Blues. I love it.
Darks Pace
absolutely wonderful
Bisera Vlahova
New Bright Eyes favorite!
Carrie
Bright Eyes + Britt Daniels on guitar and the “I’ll be anything.”
chris rhodes
rap is cool conner oberst is cool just listen to everything its more fun that way,
Space Cadet Wallyson
FAVORITE SONG POSSIBLY. MAYBE, Yeah it is.
SlowDown101
Still waiting for the Pete Doherty and Conor Oberst collaboration.
inverted crown
i'm always begging into telephones