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.
Take It Easy
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A downpour of sweat, damp cotton clouds.
I was a fool, you were my friend. We made it happen.
You took off your clothes, left on the light. You stood there so brave. You used to be shy. Each feature improved, each movement refined and eyes like a showroom.
Now they are spreading out the blankets on the beach.
That weatherman is a liar.
Left by the lamp, right next to the bed, on a cartoon cat pat you scratched with a pen, "Everything is as it has always been. This never happened.
Don't take it so bad it is nothing you did. It's just once something dies you can't make it live. You are a beautiful boy.
You're a sweet little kid but I am a woman." So I laid back down and wrapped myself up in the sheet.
And I must have looked like a ghost because something frightened me and since then I've been so good at vanishing.
Now I do as I please and lie through my teeth. Someone might get hurt but it won't be me.
I should probably feel cheap but I just feel free and a little bit empty.
No it isn't so hard to get close to me. There will be no arguments.
We will always agree.
And I will try and be kind when I ask you to leave. We will both take it easy.
But if you stay too long inside my memory, I will trap you in a song tied to a melody and I will keep you there so you can't bother me
The lyrics of Bright Eyes’s song Take It Easy paint a vivid picture of a momentary connection between two people. The first few lines describe the physicality of their encounter: “First with your hands and then with your mouth. A downpour of sweat, damp cotton clouds.” The singer then reflects on their relationship, acknowledging foolishness and highlighting the bravery and growth of the other person. However, the encounter seems to be marked by an abrupt ending, as evidenced by the cartoon cat drawing with the words “This never happened.”
The rest of the song explores the aftermath of the encounter, including a sense of numbness and detachment from emotions. The singer describes feeling like a ghost, and admits to lying and manipulating situations to benefit themselves. The final lines suggest a desire to detach from this person entirely, with a warning that they will become a mere memory or a song, with the singer in control, if they stay in the singer’s head for too long.
Overall, Take It Easy is a complex, emotional song about a fleeting encounter and the lingering effects on both people involved. It explores themes of physicality, emotional detachment, and the tension between wanting to be close to someone and wanting to maintain autonomy.
Line by Line Meaning
First with your hands and then with your mouth.
We started off physical and then pursued emotional intimacy.
A downpour of sweat, damp cotton clouds.
We had a physically intense experience.
I was a fool, you were my friend. We made it happen.
I was naive, you were my companion, but we managed to make things work.
You took off your clothes, left on the light. You stood there so brave. You used to be shy. Each feature improved, each movement refined and eyes like a showroom.
You undressed, left the light on, and displayed confident body language. You were once timid, but now you exude sophistication and poise.
Now they are spreading out the blankets on the beach.
The setting has changed to a beach.
That weatherman is a liar. He said it would be raining but it is clear and blue as far as I can see.
The weather forecast was incorrect.
Left by the lamp, right next to the bed, on a cartoon cat pat you scratched with a pen, "Everything is as it has always been. This never happened.
A note left behind states that the encounter was insignificant and should be forgotten.
Don't take it so bad it is nothing you did. It's just once something dies you can't make it live. You are a beautiful boy. You're a sweet little kid but I am a woman."
It's not your fault it didn't work out; once love dies, it's impossible to revive. You're attractive and charming, but I'm more mature and experienced.
So I laid back down and wrapped myself up in the sheet. And I must have looked like a ghost because something frightened me and since then I've been so good at vanishing.
I retreated within myself and became more reclusive.
Now I do as I please and lie through my teeth. Someone might get hurt but it won't be me. I should probably feel cheap but I just feel free and a little bit empty.
I act selfishly and deceive others without remorse. I should feel ashamed, but I feel liberated and emotionally numb.
No it isn't so hard to get close to me. There will be no arguments. We will always agree. And I will try and be kind when I ask you to leave. We will both take it easy.
I'm easy to be around, and we won't have any conflicts. When it's time for you to go, I'll be polite. We'll both relax.
But if you stay too long inside my memory, I will trap you in a song tied to a melody and I will keep you there so you can't bother me
But if you stay in my thoughts for too long, I'll immortalize you in a song and imprison you there, freeing myself from being bothered by you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONOR OBERST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jessie
"I should probably feel cheap, but I just feel free, and a little bit empty" So perfect.
CleanArtCollective
nearly 20 years later and Digital Ash is still my favorite Bright Eyes album
cpt
conor oberst is the most creative amazing musician. i hate that our culture tells us that this freely written creative music somehow isn't valuable. this album and all conor's music means more to me than any tv show ever could.
My Melancholy Snooze93
Good lord!! I forgot about digital ash! Soooo underrated, so many good songs
Mr.Krinkle
every time i listen to bright eyes a part of me dies and goes to heaven
starlightman
every time i listen to bright eyes a part of me dies and goes to hell
Ada Snow
I remember listening to this when I was a teenager 10 years ago and totally relating to Bright Eyes. Heard this song by coincidence on the radio and I immediately time travelled <3 what a feeling!
Dynaborne
I wish his music was streamed more over the radio. It is so worthy of radio time. I have only heard 1 song by them on radio in the 14 years of driving.
Dr. MOoObius
Odd, this is one of the songs by Bright Eyes that I probably relate to the most, and I relate to a lot of them, in one way or another.
Justin P
i saw him live yesterday at artpark and he was amazing. This was probably my favorite song he played because I've never heard it before and that is why im listening to it right now.