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.
The Night Before Christmas
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there
The children were nestled, all snug in their beds
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer
With a little old driver, so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack
His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night"
The lyrics of "The Night Before Christmas" by Bright Eyes depict the scene of a family on Christmas Eve, waiting for Santa Claus to come. The first stanza sets up the scene for the rest of the song, describing the quietness of the house and the anticipation of the children's dreams. In the second stanza, the singer hears a noise outside, jumps out of bed, and looks out of the window to see Santa Claus arriving in his sleigh with his reindeers. The third and fourth stanzas describe Santa Claus' character and his actions - the way he descends from the chimney and fills the stockings with toys, and then, ultimately, his departure from the house.
The lyrics of "The Night Before Christmas" capture the magical feeling of Christmas Eve, and the wonder of childhood and the belief in Santa Claus. They convey the importance of family and tradition, while also tapping into the nostalgia many people feel at this time of year. The song has become a beloved classic during the holiday season and gives us a glimpse into the excitement and wonder that the holiday season brings.
Line by Line Meaning
It was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
It was late in the evening on the day before Christmas, and the house was quiet.
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
Nobody in the house was making any noise, not even a small animal like a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
The family had hung their stockings (socks to be filled with presents) on the fireplace with great care and attention to detail.
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there
They hung the stockings hoping that a legendary gift-giver named St. Nicholas would visit them to fill them with presents.
The children were nestled, all snug in their beds
The children were sleeping comfortably in their beds.
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads
The children were dreaming about sweet treats called sugar-plums.
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap
The mother and father of the family were dressed for bed, with the mother wearing a headscarf and the father wearing a nighttime hat.
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap
The parents had just gotten comfortable in bed and were ready to sleep for a long time.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
Suddenly, they heard a loud noise outside in the yard.
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter
The father quickly got out of bed to see what was happening.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
He ran quickly to the window to see what was going on outside.
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash
He opened the shutters on the window and pulled it open quickly to get a better look.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
The moon was shining down on the recently fallen snow.
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below
The moon's light was so bright that it made it look like daytime outside.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
Suddenly, he saw something surprising with his own eyes.
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer
He saw a small sled with eight small reindeer pulling it.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick
The driver of the sled was an older person who was full of energy and moved quickly.
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick
The father immediately recognized the driver as St. Nicholas, the legendary gift-giver.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came
The reindeer pulling St. Nicholas's sled moved quickly, faster than eagles.
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name
St. Nicholas called out to the reindeer by name and whistled to communicate with them.
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
St. Nicholas called out to the individual reindeer by name, starting with Dasher, then Dancer, then Prancer, and finally Vixen.
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
He then called out to the other reindeer by name, starting with Comet, then Cupid, then Donder (sometimes called Donner), and finally Blitzen (sometimes spelled Blixen).
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
St. Nicholas instructed the reindeer to fly up to the highest point of the house, which was the porch roof.
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
He urged the reindeer to move quickly and fly away as fast as they could.
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
The sound of the reindeer taking off was loud and reminded the father of the way that dry leaves fly around in a hurricane.
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
If the reindeer faced a challenge or obstruction, they could fly higher into the air to get over it.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew
The reindeer flew all the way to the top of the house, to the rooftop where the chimney was located.
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too
St. Nicholas and his sled were loaded up with toys to deliver to the children in the family.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
Suddenly, the father heard a noise on the roof above his head.
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof
The sound was made by the reindeer's hooves as they pranced and pawed at the roof to land safely and start the delivery.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around
The father was turning around to go back to bed and noticed in his peripheral vision what was happening.
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound
St. Nicholas descended down the chimney, jumping down with a quick movement.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot
St. Nicholas was wearing a full coat made of fur, from the top of his head down to his feet.
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot
His coat was dirty and covered with black material that looked like ash or soot, from climbing down the chimney.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
St. Nicholas had a large bundle of toys that he carried on his back.
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack
He looked like a traveling salesperson who was just starting to show his products to customers, because of the large bundle of toys.
His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
St. Nicholas had a happy and friendly expression on his face, with bright and twinkling eyes and happy dimples on his cheeks.
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His skin was rosy and his nose was red, like a cherry.
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
His mouth was small and curved upwards, similar to the shape of a bow and arrow.
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow
He had a white beard on his chin that was the same color as snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth
St. Nicholas was holding a small piece of a smoking pipe between his teeth.
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath
The smoke from the pipe drifted up around his head and formed a circle, like a wreath made of smoke.
He had a broad face and a little round belly
St. Nicholas had a chubby face and a small, round belly.
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly
When he laughed, his belly shook back and forth like a bowl of jiggling jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf
St. Nicholas was a happy and cheerful person who was also overweight and looked like a cheerful elf.
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself
The father was so happy and amused by the sight of St. Nicholas that he couldn't help but laugh.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
St. Nicholas made a small gesture with his eye and turned his head slightly.
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread
The gesture made the father feel calm and reassured, knowing that there was nothing to be afraid of.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
St. Nicholas didn't say anything, but immediately went to work with filling the stockings with toys.
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk
He quickly filled all of the stockings with toys, and then turned around suddenly.
And laying his finger aside of his nose
St. Nicholas put his finger alongside his nose, which was a signal to the father that he was leaving soon.
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose
He nodded his head and then went up the chimney to leave.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle
St. Nicholas quickly got into his sled and signaled to the reindeer to start moving.
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle
The reindeer and St. Nicholas flew quickly away from the house, like the lightweight and fluffy part of a thistle plant.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight
As he flew away, he spoke loud enough for the father to hear him.
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night"
He wished everyone a happy Christmas and said goodnight to them all.
Contributed by Mia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ReaperKing
More people need to listen to this it makes me so happy and joyful 😊
Leah Ruby
its almost christmas and i listen to this album every year:)
krystal rose
Yesss I can listen to this 24/7 now, oh Christmas time
Erika Lynn
So beautiful.
Reiki101
this is really cute. i can seriously fall asleep listening to this story ='3
Ryan.
That time of the year again!
Jody West
Now that i got weed, ice cream and bike parts im celebrating christmas with a bong, christmas lights and this record here on january 6th
mafbloggerdanny
another sappy old soul reporting for duty
user name
been waiting all year for christmas.
rockygirl
I didn't think it actually was, but they are similar in some ways.