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.
Theme to Pinata
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I'm fallin' mad for you
I can see the ground approachin' now
But I'm not sure what to do
I feel like the pinata
Once you take a swing at me
If you could just crack the shell open
And I hear you're like a hunter now
Your footsteps in the leaves
And I would gladly leave my hidin' place
I'm hopin' to be seen
So let your arrow fly and sing
I'm well within your aim
Lay your traps for a thousand miles
Please don't let me escape
Winter came to Omaha
It left us looking like a bride
A million perfect snowflakes now
And no two are alike
So it's hard for me imagining
The flaws in this design
I know debris, it covers everything
But still I am in love with this life
The lyrics to Bright Eyes's song "Theme To Pinata" are metaphorical and describe the feeling of falling in love. The singer wishes they had a parachute because they are falling madly in love with someone and they can see the ground approaching, but they are unsure of what to do. The second verse likens the singer to a pinata, saying that if their shell was cracked open, something sweet would be found inside. The singer hears the person they love is like a hunter now, but they are hoping to be seen and caught by them. The last verse talks about the winter coming to Omaha, a place that is now beautifully covered in snow. The singer acknowledges that there may be flaws and debris, but they are still in love with this life.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I had a parachute
I desire a safety net to protect me
'Cause I'm fallin' mad for you
I am uncontrollably falling in love with you
I can see the ground approachin' now
The end of something is imminent
But I'm not sure what to do
Uncertainty surrounds me
I feel like the pinata
I feel like something to be hit or taken advantage of
Once you take a swing at me
Once you take advantage of me
If you could just crack the shell open
If you could just get past my defenses
I think inside you would find something sweet
I have a positive aspect to me
And I hear you're like a hunter now
I hear that you are on a mission
Your footsteps in the leaves
I can hear you moving closer
And I would gladly leave my hidin' place
I would be willing to come out of hiding
I'm hopin' to be seen
I hope that you notice me
So let your arrow fly and sing
Attack me and take me over
I'm well within your aim
I am vulnerable to your advances
Lay your traps for a thousand miles
Use any means necessary to catch me
Please don't let me escape
Please keep me trapped or under your control
Winter came to Omaha
A difficult time has come to this place
It left us looking like a bride
It left everything looking pure and white
A million perfect snowflakes now
There are countless beautiful things to see
And no two are alike
Each one is unique
So it's hard for me imagining
I find it hard to imagine
The flaws in this design
The imperfections in this world
I know debris, it covers everything
I know that destruction is everywhere
But still I am in love with this life
But I still find the world beautiful and worth loving
Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.